Rachael Kelsey

Spear’s Review

Based in Edinburgh, SKO Family Law founding partner Rachael Kelsey is proud of her ‘good, small jurisdiction’. 

‘The majority of interesting work is done by a small number of practitioners, and a small number of cases are litigated, unlike down south,’ she says.

Few Scottish family lawyers operate at her level: ‘She is a phenomenally good lawyer and is widely regarded as Scotland’s doyenne of family law,’ says one noted peer.

Likeable and razor-sharp, Kelsey has extensive experience acting for cases involving privacy concerns, and many of her cases have international or intra-UK jurisdictional issues. For her, the career is a perfect fit. ‘I like working with people, I love the law, and I get bored easily, so what could I possibly have done other than family law?’

Adviser Profile

Rachael Kelsey has particular expertise advising wealthy clients on international matters. She is known as someone who is adept at using her considerable knowledge of the law to deliver novel, yet practical, solutions for clients. She has unique experience in Scotland in acting for individuals for whom there are privacy concerns and is used to managing the issues that flow from people’s private lives being in the public eye.  

Rachael has top ranking in the current editions of Chambers and Partners Family/Matrimonial and HNW, where she is the only Scot in the first tier, and the Legal 500, where she is the only ‘Hall of Fame’ named individual. The current edition of Chambers and Partners High Net Worth Guide 2023 notes, “Rachael is the leading practitioner in the field in Scotland. Truly untouchable.”

Rachael was elected as President of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) in 2023. She is the first woman from the UK to be elected President, and one of only seven people from the UK to hold the position in the Academy’s thirty-seven year history. She splits her time between Edinburgh and London and many of her clients are based in England or meet her there to consult.

Rachael has consistently superb feedback for the work she does, and how she does it in the peer journals. The current Edition of Chambers HNW reports, “Rachael is just outstanding in every way – you feel such confidence when she is working on your case. She’s also kind and insightful and has a great ability to see things from the client’s perspective.” The Family/Matrimonial Guide notes, “I had complete confidence in all aspects of her advice and she provided outstanding support through a challenging period.”