
Employment law firm Watershed has appointed Rachel Richardson as an employment lawyer, furthering its expansion across Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Based in Belfast, Rachel brings over 20 years’ post-qualification experience and joins from DWF, where she led the employment team in Northern Ireland.
Dual-qualified in Northern Ireland and Great Britain, Rachel has built a reputation for handling complex, multi-jurisdictional employment matters. ‘It’s refreshing to join a firm where senior lawyers are empowered to deliver high-quality work without the politics of partnership structures,’ she said. Her expertise spans TUPE, senior executive exits, and discrimination and whistleblowing claims.
Rachel has represented clients from family-run businesses to PLCs, and her advocacy includes multi-day hearings in both the Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunal in Northern Ireland and Employment Tribunals in England. Her appointment supports Watershed’s strategy to attract senior lawyers seeking high-impact work in a non-hierarchical environment.
Victoria Young, head of firm, commented: ‘Rachel’s reputation speaks for itself… she brings outstanding technical ability, real-world pragmatism, and a strong track record of leading teams and complex cases.’ Watershed, part of Collinson Grant, continues to advise major employers on legal matters tied to business transformation, including union negotiations and C-suite investigations.