Rachel has two distinct areas of experience and expertise. As an employment lawyer, she brings a common-sense perspective to complex problems and is well versed in resolving employment and commercial issues strategically, using negotiation, mediation and litigation. As a qualified workplace mediator with a client base that includes both businesses and their executives, she is experienced in advising on exit strategy negotiations and in tribunal claims.
In addition, Rachel has an industry-leading specialism in the horseracing and equine world, acting for a range of businesses and individuals in the sector, including Turf TV and the European Breeders’ Fund, on a wide range of legal issues, often where industry knowledge is required. She is also personally involved in the racing industry as an owner and former amateur jockey.
Rachel brings value, commercial insight and a client’s perspective to HR issues having spent a period as a main board director of British horseracing’s administrators, Weatherbys. She also delivers leadership and people skills training to the British Racing School’s trainers’ licensing courses.
Rachel is a founder member of Women in Racing and a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.
In all seriousness, I could not have got through last year without your help and wise and honest counsel. I feel like I closed a chapter with the appropriate amount of fight and am ready to move on leaving it all behind. So thank you.
Senior Employee
Financial Services CompanyA big thank you for all your help. When you need a solicitor you need someone with clarity, clear direction and sense of calm. You have been all those three things and I am very grateful indeed.
Senior Employee
I have enjoyed talking with you and have appreciated the friendly and timely manner with which you dealt with this matter.
Engineer
Technology CompanyRachel Flynn of Keystone Law has an excellent understanding of the horse racing industry and an ability to cut through the 'legal speak' and present options clearly. The project for the European Breeders Fund was thoroughly researched and delivered on time.
Kerry Murphy, Chief Executive
European BreedersRachel and I struck up an immediate rapport and she was an extremely helpful adviser and confidante in what proved to be a long negotiation requiring patience but also perseverance. Rachel was always available and prepared to meet locally or in London to suit. She was quick to respond with helpful and practical changes or contract amendments as well as important legal ones. It was also a pleasure to work with a solicitor who was prepared to look for the big issues rather than nit-picking items. The final solution was achieved amicably and successfully with both parties satisfied.
Bill Dastur, Finance Director
Cambridge-based CompanyI was truly grateful for your help and equine expertise- sometimes peace of mind requires more than just a handshake!
Julia Hammond, Owner
International Showjumper“Rachel was knowledgeable and yet had a very practical approach that cut through the issues and got things resolved satisfactorily. Having used two other employment lawyers I would strongly recommend Rachel - she definitely stands out for me."
Mark Cusack
Whilst nobody wants to find themselves needing employment law advice, when it happens you need someone that not only knows the law but understands the impact such situations have on individuals. Rachel Flynn has been a pleasure to work with, a great combination of legal expertise with pragmatism and a touch of humour just at the right time. I would definitely recommend working with Rachel and the team at Keystone Law.
Jayne Oates
Executive Director, People & PerformanceThank you very much for everything, your help was extremely useful. Thanks to your advice I felt safe and signed the agreement today
Senior Employee
Leading Technology CompanyRachel Flynn’s pragmatic and practical approach to our employment law issue, combined with her knowledge of the racing and breeding industry, led to a quick, efficient and satisfactory resolution. I would recommend her to anyone with a similar issue
Oliver Gaisford-St. Lawrence
Stud Manager, Aislabie StudI worked with Rachel Flynn on an employment case and she was just brilliant! She gave well judged advice, helped me feel confident at a stressful time, and was amazing with the quick turnaround I needed.
Antony Cooke
Impeccable service, authoritative advice and amazing turnaround in results.
A Client
Expertise
Employment
- Settlement agreements
- Dismissal, disciplinary, and grievance procedures
- Employment documentation including terms and conditions of employment, staff handbooks, directors service agreements, and consultancy agreements
- Employment law training and workshops
- Restructuring and redundancy
- TUPE and outsourcing and tenders
- Defending and bringing employment tribunal claims
- Discrimination, unfair dismissal,and wrongful dismissal claims
- Redundancy, restructuring, and outsourcing
Horseracing and equine
- Disputes relating to the sale and purchase of horses
- Veterinary negligence claims
- Recovery of debts including livery fees, stallion nomination fees, and training fees
- Bloodstock and equine contracts including sale agreements, syndication agreements, foal share agreements, and multiple ownership schemes
- Terms of business
- Health and safety in the equine industry
Experience
Employment
- Advising on restrictive covenants and negotiating the exit of a director on agreed terms within 48 hours
- Successfully defending in the employment tribunal a claim by the former MD for unpaid wages
- Dealing with the management and exit of an employee raising multiple complaints of discrimination and several grievances
- Strategic commercial advice on issues arising from an intended team move
- Advised an educational institution on challenging employment issues
- Advised Racing UK, Turf TV and RMG on various employment issues
- Strategic TUPE advice for a leading stud farm
- Advised an Isle of Man-based international business and its shareholders in relation to potential unfair prejudice and employment matters arising in relation to settling with a departing shareholder founder and employee
- Provided strategic employment law advice to the Irish human resources team in a redundancy exercise that is constantly evolving and which is likely to result in the dismissal by reason of redundancy of several of this Irish based client’s staff in England
- Advised and supported a global financial services company throughout the grievance and subsequent disciplinary process for several complex grievances made by individuals within the sales team against their manager, which involved complaints of bullying, harassment, and discrimination
- Advised on very difficult matter involving a director/founder/shareholder who had raised multiple grievances and already been offered a settlement agreement without taking legal advice
- Advised the US parent of a newly founded crypto FX business that had recruited its first employee and wished to recruit his former colleagues without inducing a breach of contract
- Provided a range of employment law advice to a law firm in the East of England. They have made great strides very quickly, opening three offices and operating an interesting and novel engagement model
- Provided advice on various employment law aspects to a departing founder, shareholder and employee of a rapidly growing tech business
- Provided strategic employment law advice and assistance to the Irish human resources team in a redundancy exercise likely to result in the dismissal by reason of redundancy of several of this Irish based client’s staff in England.
- Advised the client on several grievances made by individuals within the sales team against their manager. It involved complaints of bullying and harassment and discrimination
- Provided advice on various employment and HR aspects to pharmaceutical client relating to defence claims of unfair prejudice and unfair dismissal a former founder
- Advised a Global HR director on the termination of her employment with an advantageous and substantial package in a prompt and timely manner
- Advised a senior Independent Financial Advisor on her exit from a business that she had co-founded with a business partner
Horseracing and equine
- Principal legal advisors to the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, providing a legal advice helpline to their 2,500 members
- Legal advisors to the European Breeders’ Fund, advising on strategic constitutional issues and internal restructure
- Acting for a leading UK stud in relation to a dispute with Tattersalls over the sale of a horse in training
- Advised a well-known Newmarket stud farm on various thorny employment law issues
- Advised Jockey Club Racecourses on a diverse range of legal issues
- Dealing with professional negligence claims against veterinary surgeons and negotiating settlements with the Veterinary Defence Society
- Advising on contracts for the sale and training of international show jumper
- Advising on a contract for sale and part ownership of a valuable broodmare prospect to the US
- Dealing with insurance claims relating to first-season infertility of stallions
- Successfully defending at trial a tribunal claim against a Newmarket stud
- Speaker at British Horseracing Authority trainers’ course on leadership skills
- Advising the Thoroughbred Breeders’Association and British Horseracing Authority on their guide, ‘Healthand Safety in the Racing and Breeding Industry‘
- Acted for a leading and acquisitive force in the global horse racing, breeding and bloodstock world
- Acted for a leading racehorse trainer regarding their intended proposed changes to the horse racing industry standard staff employment contract to reflect their own modern working practices
- Acted for a horse racing related charitable housing organisation based , which was planning a restructure of one of its divisions and had received initial advice on the employment implications of its intended proposal
- Continue to advise the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association on a wide variety of legal enquiries on behalf of its 3000 members
- Acted for a high profile major stud owner in relation to employment law advice
- Advised on a dispute over the sale of a leisure horse for a significant sum in circumstances where buyer and seller had their names and reputations to protect but the horse was unsatisfactory for veterinary reasons and owing to its unpredictable behaviour
- Conducted a strategic review of employment arrangements and contracts for all staff of a charity distributing funds to charitable causes within the racing and thoroughbred industry
- Provided employment law and HR advice and support to one of the leading bloodstock and stud operators. In particular, in relation to the intended exit of a senior and long serving member of staff in sensitive and difficult circumstances
- Provided specialist equine law and employment advice in structuring the creation of a club and syndicates for a Middle East based equine lifestyle opportunity. The constitution of the intended racing syndicate/part ownership was very quickly produced in accordance with British Horseracing Authority rules
- Conducted a review of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s standard terms for a member mare boarding agreement and the industry-standard terms for the sale of stallion nominations, on both 1st October and Live foal terms, and an outline foal share agreement
- Drafting and advising on a sale and part ownership agreement for the sale for a seven figure sum of a 50% share of an Olympic dressage horse who was changing nationality
- Advised the organisers of a global interest charity event on the legal aspects of a sale of nominations on a pro bono basis, which took place within three weeks of the conception of the idea.
- Advised TBA members on maintenance of employment documents, and on a range of specialist horseracing and equine topics This included advice on employment law, part ownership agreements and bespoke breeding stock arrangements as well as litigation, including professional negligence and nonpayment of invoices.
- Provided advice to client relating to a mare boarding stud on the recovery of money owed by an ex pat businessperson. This involved advice on the interface with debts owed to others in respect of the mares and the best strategic approach to recovering the monies from the sale of the mares and their offspring
- Acted for a major stallion stud in the recovery of high value nomination fees from an individual whose assets (including the relevant broodmares and other breeding stock) were the subject of a freezing order from the FCA.
- Advised a leading sales consigor and boarding stud on limiting the value of claims under a care custody and control liability document
- Helped a major stallion stud to explain and set down in terms a novel set of draft new terms for sale for stallion nominations with original and different payment terms
- Helped a leading Newmarket based racehorse trainer with several different staffing issues
- Advised a high level executive in the horse racing industry on the end of his employment. Involved sensitive negotiations done in a direct but non-confrontational way to secure the best possible outcome in the shortest time.
Charities
- Managed out longstanding CEO of large charity in sensitive circumstances requiring tact, diplomacy and strategic negotiation skills. This allowed the charity to manage their departure and the CEO to leave in an organised way with dignity
- Providing The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association’s legal assistance to a members’ telephone advice scheme to its 2,500 thoroughbred breeder members
- Advising within 24 hours in writing on the employment implications of a proposed reorganisation/restructure between two related charities
- Provided guidance to The Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association members on child and vulnerable adult safeguarding.
- Advised on changes to the constitution of The Racing Foundation
- Advised on the employment tribunal, investigation and exit process for the senior management team and the Board of a London-based charity that works globally and provides humanitarian support, in relation to an employee whose employment was terminated due to performance issues.
- Conducted a strategic review of employment arrangements for one of the major charitable donors within the racing industry.
Agricultural
- Advised on one of the biggest stud farm purchases of the last 30 years
- Advising on the employment and bloodstock work for a stud farm
- Advised entrepreneurial client on a difficult matter prior to the insolvency of their company, having raised multiple grievances and already been offered a settlement agreement without taking legal advice, the client was looking for a rescue package.
- Advised an individual on the management and resolution of a dispute with family members regarding the estate of a late relative.
- Advised a mare boarding stud on the recovery of money owed by an ex-pat businessman. This involved advice on the interface with debts owed to others in respect of the mares and the best strategic approach to recovering the monies from the sale of the mares and their offspring.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in Chambers UK for Sport: Horse Racing & Equestrian (2021-2025)
“Her specialist advice is invaluable.”Chambers UK 2025
“If I were buying a stud including horses, I’d need someone who knows what they’re on about, and Rachel is the person.”Chambers UK 2025
“Rachel is an undoubted expert in the bloodstock industry and she also is an acute observer of people and adapts her approach accordingly.”Chambers UK 2025
“Rachel Flynn knows the subject thoroughly and is very pragmatic in her approach to get the best result.”Chambers UK 2025
“Rachel’s depth and breadth of knowledge in the sector is second to none.“Chambers UK 2025
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 for having a wide-ranging equestrian law practice sees her advise on contentious work, such as veterinary negligence and contractual disputes, as well as commercial, employment and regulatory issues.
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Sport (2020-2025)
“Rachel Flynn – direct industry knowledge, commercial acumen, transparent on pricing, practical outlook (the art of the possible).” The Legal 500 2025
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Employment (2024-2025)
“Rachel provides consistently valuable and up-to-date support and advice that is relevant to the industry.” Chambers UK 2024
“Her depth of knowledge in the field is outstanding.” Chambers UK 2024
“Rachel’s knowledge of the racing sector is second to none. She is extremely approachable and commercially savvy.” Chambers UK 2023
“Rachel provides us with expert and pragmatic advice.” Chambers UK 2023
“She stayed very focused on the task at hand and handled some difficult conversations well.” Chambers UK 2022
“Rachel Flynn has a unique understanding of TB racing/breeding industry.” The Legal 500 2022
“She gives good, practical advice and she provides quick responses.” Chambers UK 2021
“Rachel Flynn brings considerable expertise of someone who knows the racing world from the inside but an energy and determination which was exceptional. She stands out as a strategist by possessing the rare ability to combine expertise with impeccable judgement in litigation.” Legal 500 2021
Rachel Flynn has a specialist focus on the horse racing industry and acts for businesses and trainers on the full range of issues arising in the field. Clients say she is “thorough, pragmatic and understands the industry,” adding: “She is very good at getting to the point and simplifying complex issues.” Chambers UK 2020
Rachel Flynn of Keystone Law is praised for her “pragmatic and empathetic” approach to horse-racing matters, with sources noting that “she understands this industry inside out and upside-down.” Chambers UK 2019
Recognised by The Legal 500 2018 for Sport
“Quick, practical, clear communicator” Legal 500 2018
“Extremely helpful” Legal 500 2018
“Really understands the industry and cuts through to the key issues” Legal 500 2018
Consultant solicitor Rachel Flynn of Keystone Law is singled out by sources for her deep experience and practical approach. She specialises in terms of business, data rights and employment issues. She recently assisted the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association with its legal helpline, which provides assistance for its 3,000 UK members. Chambers UK 2018
Rachel Flynn is recognised by the Legal 500 2017.
Clients say Rachel Flynn of Keystone Law stands out for her “ability to cut through the legal speak and explain options in layman’s terms,” as well as her “excellent understanding of the bloodstock industry and horse racing.” She recently advised Racing UK and the British Racing School on various employment and safety issues. Chambers UK 2017
Speaker at 2012 National Annual Equine Law Conference in Kentucky; British Equine Veterinary Association Annual Congress 2012 and Winter Conference 2011; British Racing School’s trainers’ and supervisory management courses & Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association, Country Landowners’ Association, Agricultural Law Association and National Stud courses. Published: Horace Hayes’ ‘bible’ Veterinary Notes for Horse Owners and Westlaw Encyclopaedia on the subject of ‘horses’.
Consistently top-rated in Legal 500 and Chambers for horseracing and bloodstock.
Legal 500: ‘particularly excellent; her knowledge and expertise in the industry are unparalleled’, ‘efficient and effective’ and ‘knows the bloodstock industry like the back of her hand’. Also rated a rising star for employment work.
Career
Rachel qualified as a solicitor in 1994. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2015, she worked at Taylor Vinters.