Rachel Guthrie

Overview

I’m Counsel, Head of our Guernsey Employment practice and a qualified Notary Public.

I joined the firm in January 2011 after moving from London, where I practised as a Solicitor with Allen & Overy. I was called to the Guernsey Bar in 2014.

My areas of practice are employment law, data protection and litigation. I specialise in all areas of contentious and non-contentious employment  and data protection law, advising global and local companies.

Our employment team has wide experience in all areas of employment law including the drafting of employment contracts and handbooks, negotiating compromise agreements, providing representation at the Employment and Discrimination Tribunal and giving support to our corporate team on mergers and acquisitions and directors’ duties. We also regularly advise on relocation issues including housing and immigration, as well as data protection and compliance issues.  

In 2021, I won 'Woman of the Year - Future Leaders - Senior Associate' Gold Award at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards 2021.

I have written the Guernsey chapter in the current issue of Data Protection: Laws of the World.

Professional qualifications

• Appointed as a Notary Public, 2021
• Called to the Guernsey Bar, July 2014
• Certificat d'Etudes Juridiques Françaises et Normandes from the Université de Caen Basse-Normandie in France, December 2013
• Solicitor of England and Wales, 2008 (currently non-practising)
• Completed the Graduate Diploma in Law, 2004 and the Legal Practice Course, 2005
• Degree in Classics from Durham University, 2003

Memberships

• Member of Employment Lawyers Association and Employment Law Alliance
• Member of Association of Partnership Practitioners (APP) 
• IOD Committee member

Work highlights

• Successfully defending an unfair dismissal claim in the Employment Tribunal.

• Advising various clients in the successful settlement of Tribunal and Royal Court claims. 

• Advising a banking group on a significant acquisition and subsequent restructuring and alignment of employment contracts.

• Advising various clients on compliance with Guernsey data protection law. 

What the directories say

In Chambers and Partners UK 2024, Rachel is individually ranked in Offshore: Employment. A source comments: "Rachel has great experience behind her, and a great handle on managing her clients' perspectives." 

In Legal 500 UK 2024, Rachel is ranked as a Next Generation Partner and Recommended Lawyer in Employment. A source praises her "cool head, analytical brain and vast experience." 

In Legal 500 UK 2023, Rachel is named Next Generation Partner for Employment and is described as "supportive but at the same time sensible and obviously very knowledgeable" and is "calm, authoritative and commercial" in her approach.

In Chambers and Partners UK 2023, Rachel is listed as a Star Associate for Offshore: Employment and praised for being "technically very strong" with "excellent client service".

'In particular, Rachel Guthrie understood the key issues very quickly and with the minimum of fuss and drafted her advice accordingly.’ Legal 500, 2022

Chambers and Partners UK, 2021 states, 'She takes a very practical approach to employment law.'

'Rachel Guthrie always has a calm approach, no matter what the situation.’ Legal 500, 2020

Rachel Guthrie has recently acted for clients on the employment aspects of M&A transactions, in addition to advising on employment litigation. 'She knows our business really well,' comments one interviewee, adding: 'She produces documentation in a really clear way and is very personable and approachable.' Chambers and Partners 2020

Rachel Guthrie 'is a pleasure to work with.' Chambers and Partners 2019.

'Rachel Guthrie is praised for her 'knowledgeable and measured' approach to employment matters,' Chambers UK, 2016.