Overview
Real Estate Advocacy
Rachel counsels corporate and individual clients on disputes involving real property interests. She has helped clients navigate a variety of claims arising from real estate transactions, including breach of contract claims, corporate governance issues and white collar criminal defense. Rachel has experience with disputes involving common interest ownership associations and special tax districts. She also represents tenants and landlords in commercial lease disputes such as forcible entry and detainer actions.
Construction
Rachel advises both contractors and owners on construction-related disputes. She handles disputes related to schedule impacts, defective work and payment withholding. She is familiar with the mechanic’s lien statute and the Construction Defect Action Reform Act. Rachel has experience advocating on behalf of clients in both state court and in proceedings before the American Arbitration Association. She is also knowledgeable regarding the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA) contract forms for design and construction projects.
Land Use and Eminent Domain
Rachel assists both landowners and condemning entities in eminent domain proceedings. She advises clients and works with expert appraisers on complex valuation issues arising from the condemnation of real estate interests. She has also advocated on behalf of landowners and developers seeking land use rights and entitlements from municipal entities.
Past Experience
Prior to joining Faegre Baker Daniels, Rachel clerked for Judge David C. Godbey at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. She also worked as a litigation associate at a Dallas firm, which was consistently ranked among the top firms in the country for its litigation and appellate practice.
During law school, Rachel interned with Judge Laura Taylor Swain at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Eastern District of California.
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Colorado
Clerkships
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Hon. David C. Godbey, 2015-2016
Education
Columbia Law School
J.D. Columbia Human Rights Law Review, A Jailhouse Lawyer's Manual (Articles Editor) (2014)
University of Texas at Austin
B.A. in History, cum laude, Certificate in International Studies (2010)
Experience
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June 2019 1 min readConstruction Manager Obtains Favorable Settlement on Football Stadium ProjectReal Estate, Construction & Environmental Construction Projects & Contracts
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October 2017 1 min readReal Estate Developer Awarded $4.1M in City Condemnation ActionEminent Domain Real Estate Development Real Estate & Construction Disputes
Insights & Events
Insights
Other Perspectives
- Responding to Discovery Subpoenas: Colorado
Co-author, Practical Law, February 6, 2019 - Additional Civil Appeals: Colorado
Co-Author, Practical Law, March 20, 2017
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
- Colorado Legal Services — Regular volunteer at clinic serving needs of low-income tenants facing eviction in Denver County Court.
- Invictus Initiative — Member of legal team focused on improving the circumstances of Nepalese migrant workers
- Represented veteran suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other service-connected disabilities in administrative proceedings to correct their military records.
- Investigated procedural due process violations in Colorado municipal courts in partnership with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) with an eye on potential legislative reform.
- Obtained a writ of habeas corpus from the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on behalf of a federal prisoner whose right to self-representation had been violated in state court.
Civic Activities
Rachel serves as a member of the Judicial Committee for the Colorado Women’s Bar Association (CBWA). Rachel is also a member of the Rocky Mountain chapter of the University of Texas alumni group.
Honors
- Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2017-2018
- Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Columbia Law School
- Parker School Certificate in Foreign and Comparative Law — Columbia Law School