Introduction

Rachanda was a court advocate prior to joining 33 Bedford Row and was instructed in over 650 cases prior to accepting tenancy, giving her experience far beyond her year of call. She combines a strong focus on client care with thorough preparation, persuasive advocacy and clear, practical advice. She is instructed repeatedly by solicitors, with outstanding testimonials from both lay and professional clients. 

Rachanda is building a practice which reflects the range of chambers’ expertise in family law whilst continuing to represent her clients in areas of civil law. 

Rachanda accepts instructions through Public Access.

Civil

Rachanda has established a busy practice and is experienced in drafting pleadings, applications and witness statements, assessing quantum and liability, and preparing schedule of loss and opinions.

She regularly represents both Claimants and Defendants across small claims, fast track, applications, CMCs and CCMCs and has also has significant experience in landlord and tenant disputes, HMO licencing, breach of contract, road traffic accidents, personal injury, flight delay, credit hire, consumer rights, debt recovery and bankruptcy.

She acts for a large property company in seeking possession and damages for one of their properties valued over £2million which received national newspaper coverage.

Recently, Rachanda has advised on a significant claim for damages against Royal Mail which included making a formal application for relief from sanctions and amending grounds of appeal. She has also advised on quantum for three Claimants against a local authority for personal injury and harassment. She has since advised on a significant claim for psychiatric damages against the West Midlands Police. 

Rachanda is regularly instructed to represent the Ministry of Justice through the Government Legal Department.

Family

Prior to joining chambers, Rachanda worked in litigation financing for matrimonial proceedings and Financial Dispute Resolution in respect of family disputes. She has used this experience to successfully navigate financially complex cases, some of which have involved international couples with offshore assets. She is regularly instructed to represent parties at FDAs, FDRs, Preliminary and Final Hearings.

Rachanda has gained significant experience representing clients in private children proceedings. Her experience includes child arrangement orders, prohibited steps orders and specific issue orders and represents individuals at First Hearing Dispute Resolution Appointments, Direction Appointments, Fact-Finding Hearings and contested Final Hearings.

She has been instructed regularly in cases involving domestic abuse, sexual assault and parental alienation and is particularly adept at dealing with cases where there is a cross-over between applications for child arrangement orders, non-molestation orders and occupations orders. She strives to ensure clients feel like their voices are being heard during the course of proceedings.

In addition to private children proceedings, Rachanda has experience with private law family matters, both with notice and without, involving occupation orders, transfer of tenancy and non-molestation proceedings. She has been instructed at all stages of the proceedings including for Fact-Findings and Final Hearings.

Rachanda is more recently instructed in Public Law matters acting on behalf of the parents.

Direct Access

Rachanda is accredited to accept work under Public access, also known as Direct access, in suitable cases. In order to instruct Rachanda on a Public access basis, contact the clerks on +44 (0) 20 7242 6476 or at clerks@33bedfordrow.co.uk.

Testimonials

"Rachanda consistently puts forward our complex position clearly, concisely and firmly which has resulted in great successes. Thanks Rachanda, look forward to continuing to work together on technical disputes in the future."

Travis Perkins Plc 

Rachanda has attended over a hundred cases for us. She is always professional, approachable and very reliable. Extremely thorough and always well prepared. She has excellent advocacy skills and she is always a pleasure to work with. We are confident in her ability and have no hesitation to instruct her on complex cases. Rachanda is a talented and tenacious advocate.

Kearns Solicitors

Having previously instructed Rachanda to advocate on behalf of a client, I found her to be co-operative, efficient, and professional in her work. She took time to have a conference prior to the hearing and then followed up with an update both verbal and in writing post hearing. I shall certainly be instructing Rachanda again in the future.

Summerfield Browne Solicitors

Transparency Notice

Rachanda Shafei’s entry on the Barristers’ Register can be viewed on the Bar Standards Board website.

The Legal Ombudsman's decision data website can be found here, and the Bar Standards Board who regulate Rachanda have their website here.

Rachanda can be instructed via her clerks at 33 Bedford Row by professional, licensed access and/or lay clients, in order to obtain a quotation for legal services.  Her clerks' contact details are at the bottom right of this webpage (please click on the image) and/or via clerks@33bedfordrow.co.uk or 0207 242 6476.

Rachanda accepts, where appropriate, publicly funded work and Conditional Fee Agreements (including Partial CFAs).

Rachanda’s most commonly used pricing models for privately funded work, are:

(a) for specific drafting work - a fixed fee;

(b)  for specific hearings – a fixed fee;

(c) for other work - hourly rates.

Rachanda’s drafting fees are based on an hourly rate of £200 plus VAT per hour.  This is indicative only and may vary depending on various factors - please ask for a quotation.

Rachanda is VAT registered and VAT is charged on her fees, where applicable.  Rachanda’s VAT Registration Number is: 377406671.

Rachanda accepts Direct Access and Public Access work. However, she is not authorised to 'conduct litigation' as a solicitor can. While Rachanda can draft documents, and advise and guide a Direct Access/Public Access client, the Direct Access/Public Access client will need to issue proceedings, file documents at court, and serve documents on other parties themselves. The scope of Rachanda’s services should be discussed with her clerk.

Email policy: If an email is received by Rachanda after 6pm, it will not be deemed as read until 9am the following business day.

A website called Legal Choices is run by the frontline legal regulators. It can be a good source of information for those looking to instruct a lawyer.

Rachanda has professional indemnity insurance cover for all types of legal services she supplies to the public and businesses

Rachanda is registered Data Contoller with the ICO, with the following registration number:  ZA494628.

GDPR Notice

Rachanda is a self employed barrister in independent practice. During the course of providing legal services as a barrister, Rachanda collects and uses personal information.  She is the data controller in respect of this information for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation ('GDPR').

33 Bedford Row is separate and has its own Data Protection Act 2018/GDPR 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement', in respect to personal information collected, used and stored by or related to it. This covers personal information arising from, or related to, 33 Bedford Row providing services as a barristers chambers, as well as use of its website. This 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement' sets out what information they obtain about you, why and how they use it.  This policy also sets out your rights.

You can view 33 Bedford Row's 'Privacy Policy and Data Protection Statement' on 33 Bedford Row's website. Hard copies are available on request by contacting chambers directly.