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Rachel Williams LLB

She/herLegal Director
Rachel is a source of Property knowledge on large infrastructure projects and land transactions around that sector. She demonstrates an awareness and interest in the changing factors in the market, including the green revolution and alternatives investment markets.
— Chambers, Legal 500, Clients
Birmingham
About

Rachel provides advice on large scale developments and infrastructure projects, that support government policy and helps to regenerate England and Wales.

Rachel is a lead senior lawyer for HS2, Sembcorp, National Grid, the Department for Transport and the Land Trust. Rachel has managed clients’ portfolios worth over GBP150m, undertaken promotion and developments for developer clients, and financed c.GBP300m for iconic developments such as Kings Cross. Rachel assists several long standing clients of DLA, with international and American clients who trust Rachel and the team with their real estate investments in England and Wales.

Areas of FocusEnergy and Natural ResourcesInfrastructure, Construction and TransportReal Estate

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising High Speed Two (HS2) Limited on Europe’s largest public infrastructure project, relating to all real estate matters ranging from temporary rights to build and construct, acquiring permanent rights, relocation of businesses and compensation, private acquisitions and compulsory purchase. Rachel was seconded to this client in 2018 and some notable projects include: the relocation of a local football club academy training ground; the relocation of a water ski club for the Colne Valley Viaduct; the West Ruislip Tunnel and future development around the golf course; redevelopment around Old Oak Common and Euston Stations; redevelopment of the land surrounding Curzon Street Station.
  • Acting for Land Trust on several of their schemes, providing the open space solutions to bring forward commercial and residential developments nationwide. We have advised on several transfers of Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces at Long Reach, Ash Lodge and Bin Wood, Ockford Park, Runfold Ridge Tongham, Dawlish and South West Exeter with Teignbridge District Council and Bucklers Forest with CALA Homes. We have assisted this client in supporting the Omega masterplan, and Greenwich Ecology Park. We also on this clients strategic position and Carbon offsetting including the use of biodiversity within their landholdings and strategic land acquisitions in light of the Environment Act.
  • Advising the UK’s largest on-shore oil producer and one of the main developers of underground gas storage at a 90 hector site where there was need for compulsory purchase over 2,200 legal interests. Also advising on a carbon capture, commercial usage and storage project, which will supply 3m homes a year with clean and reliable renewable energy, petitioning against the DCO proposals but offering a cooperative land agreement with the promoter.
  • Advising the National Grid on a strategic project to review, assess and action several of its landholdings, in order to maximise its assets and the use of them within the business, resulting in regearing, remediation, development and/or disposals to effectively generate capital to support the businesses wider ambitions. Also advising another part of the business regarding the upgrade of the infrastructure to help support the government achieve its net zero targets by 2050.
  • Acting for a local Midlands developer for over 6 years on their freehold and leasehold disposals with planning and development obligations, to occupiers, residential developers and utility companies, including their corporate restructure and financing for the USD130 million property portfolio. In addition Rachel has taken asset management for DLA clients such as Aviva, and global leisure sector client on the ancillary matters of their Birmingham development known as Resorts World, Star City as well as their nationwide portfolio.
  • Acting for several banks in funding developments such USD250m on motorway service stations, USD300m at Kings Cross, USD100m shopping centre, over USD175m in the hotels sector across England, USD50m on mixed use schemes, and USD30m refinancing a local Midlands developer.
Education

    Publications

    Prior Experience

    • 2011- to date, Solicitor, Real Estate, DLA Piper UK LLP
    • 2008-11, Qualified solicitor for Real Estate, at a National law firm that became a Global one during this period
    • 2006-08, Trainee solicitor, at a then National and now Global law firm, Birmingham

    Pro Bono

    Rachel participated in DLA’s unique New Perimeter Global Pro Bono Initiative in 2016 where she taught Law at the University of Zambia to support access to justice.

    Memberships And Affiliations

    • Member and Midlands Board appointment of the Investment Property Forum – since January 2016
    • Member Nominated Trustee for the DLA Piper UK Pension Scheme – since July 2021

    Connect

    Phone

    0121 262 5669
    (Work, Birmingham)
    07738 295 101
    (Work)
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