As a trainee and the only black female fee earner at the firm at the time, Rachel quickly targeted ethnic minority women’s representation as a need she was going to address at Bird & Bird. Rachel founded Bird & Bird’s first ethnic minority network, Embrace, which she now chairs. Since its founding, Embrace has hosted workshops, community events, film screenings, a book signing client event on D&I, and several social media campaigns showcasing diversity, with an emphasis on intersectionality across diverse strands. Through this role, Rachel began collaborating with several partners and HR on improving gender representation at the firm with an intersectional approach to also tackle improved ethnic minority, LGBT+, disability and social mobility representation. Externally, Rachel dedicates time to engaging with those who aspire to law. She mentors university students and is a Professional Ambassador in the Aspiring Solicitors programme, while also actively engaging in informal mentorship with students and trainees. Rachel is also a regular volunteer at the South Westminster Legal Advice Clinic, a free legal drop-in advice service helping those on low incomes many of whom are ethnic minority women.