Rachel Hawkins

Partner | London


Client services contact Jane Ewles

Rachel is a Partner in the Private Client and Tax team and leads the UK Corporate Tax practice at Withers. She is a recognised expert in corporate and business tax, with deep experience advising on the tax dimensions of complex domestic and cross-border transactions.

Rachel’s practice spans a wide range of direct and indirect tax matters for businesses and corporates, including restructurings, share and asset sales, corporate finance transactions, investment fund formations, downstream investments, joint venture structuring and the tax aspects of employment and consultancy arrangements, and associated incentive arrangements.  She regularly acts for founders, entrepreneurs, corporates, non-profits, family offices, and private equity firms, delivering tax-efficient solutions that align with commercial objectives.

Her practice spans a broad range of sectors and geographies, with particular expertise in cross-border transactions. Rachel regularly acts for global clients on complex, multi-jurisdictional matters involving bespoke tax planning and structuring. She is known for her ability to navigate intricate tax frameworks and deliver commercially sound, technically robust solutions. 


Achievements

Since joining Withers in 2019, Rachel has transformed the UK corporate tax team from a support function into a standalone, high-performing practice. Under her leadership, the team has achieved consistent year-on-year growth and now competes directly with the Big Four on high-value mandates. Notable transactions include:
 
  •   Advising on the £108 million acquisition of a consulting company by a UK-based digital/technology firm.
  •   Providing ongoing strategic tax structuring for a fintech company on deals ranging from £200 million to £500 million.
  •  Supporting a biotech client from inception through acquisitions, shareholder exits, and employment tax planning.
  •  Providing structuring advice for various real estate portfolios, comprising of residential properties, hotels, and student housing
  •   Restructuring of international consulting group to move their headquarters to the UK
Headshot of Rachel Hawkins

Me in a minute

I particularly enjoy working closely with my clients; my approach is to become part of their team, understand their unique drivers and requirements, which enables me to best advise them how to meet their investment or business needs.

As someone who is naturally inquisitive and a problem solver, the law was an appealing career from early on for me. A certain Boston-based legal comedy drama which aired on tv whilst I was young may also have steered me somewhat, and whilst there may be less singing karaoke than this programme led me to believe, I count myself very lucky to have found a career that I love.

Track record

Global property solutions provider

Represented a global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider in its acquisition of a UK company, a provider of innovative mobile surveying and workflow management software in connection with the UK property market;

Sale of specialist fund manager

Advised on the sale of a London based specialist fund manager as part of a management buy-out;

Mauritian joint venture company

Provided tax advice with regard to the establishment of a Mauritian joint venture company for the purpose of investing in Indian portfolio assets;

Acquisition of pharmaceutical assets

Acted for a Chinese client in respect of its acquisition of pharmaceutical assets in the UK, China, Germany and Australia;

Tax aspects of $300m acquisition

Advised on the tax aspects of a $300m acquisition of equity and debt assets from an international bank, including the spin out of the management team;

Acquisition of US biotech business

Advising a premier R&D service provider for the life sciences industry with the acquisition of US biotech business;

Tax and structuring advice

Provided tax and structuring advice in respect of a family office's internal private equity investment fund structure;

Private investment firm

Advising a private investment firm focuses on investing in opportunities in the lower middle market, on the maiden investment from its new $500m fund, which involved the management buyout of a multi-channel marketing business and assets located in the UK, US and Australia;

Insight

Admissions

  • March 2009 - England and Wales


Education

  • Durham University, BA (Hons) History


Languages

  • English

Memberships

  • Chartered Institute of Taxation


Key dates

  • Year joined: 2019