AI Magazine Issue 8 2018

Acquisition International - Issue 8 2018 27 Called to the Bar in 2010, Helen Rutherford has made a striking impression on the legal arena for her unique expertise, and passion, for equine and animal law. Indeed, this expertise has led to her being recognised by Acquisition International Magazine, as the Most Influential Woman in Equine Law in the UK. On the back of this win, we profiled this extraordinary barrister to find out how she has forged a remarkable career in a niche area. n experienced horse owner and competitive rider, Helen has moved her passion from the paddocks, to the courtroom; as a Barrister at Zenith Chambers, she has instructed claimants and defendants in all areas of civil litigation, but thrives in cases that involve animal and equine law. In this area she has gained notable renown – to her peers, she is a robust, highly capable advocate in often-complex processes. To her clients, she is knowledgeable, effective and thorough - an ally that will fight for their best interests. Helen has noted skill in negligent veterinary or farriery treatments, the mis-selling of equines and problematic loan agreements. To fortify her position as a leader in the field, Helen has obtained a number of qualifications through both the British Horse Society and the Association of British Riding Schools. Further, she is a regular writer and a member of the expert panel for a national magazine dealing with equine interests. Equine law has seen a noted rise in popularity in the last ten years; deals which used to be concluded by way of handshake are now being tied to legally- binding contracts, as people are becoming more aware of a need to protect their assets down the road. Equally, over the same time period, the number of horse-owners has grown rapidly, leading unfortunately and perhaps inevitably, to an increasing number of negligence claims under the Animal Welfare Act of 2006. Ultimately, what was considered an incredibly niche area of law has grown Contact: Helen Rutherford Company: Zenith Chambers 10 Park Square, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 2LH, UK Telephone: 0113 245 5438 Web Address: www.zenithchambers.co.uk Taking the Reins: Excellence in Equine Law A 1807AI30 to become far more mainstream – Helen, it seems, will have no shortage of clients in the years to come. Nonetheless, though Helen was recognised by AI Magazine for her influence in equine law, she does practice in a variety of other areas, including road traffic accidents, employer’s liability, CICA appeals, public liability, and land disputes – to name but a few. In these fields, Helen has made her name as a preferred advocate, primarily for cases that involve highly complex elements. Her diligent nature lends itself well to those cases; where a meticulous approach to case preparation is not only needed, but essential to getting the desired result. To give a recent example, Helen acted on the behalf of a claimant involving an accident at work, which resulted in an amputation of the lower leg. Regardless of the disputed employment status of the claimant, and the circumstances surrounding the accident, Helen achieved a successful result. By all regards, her skills seem well placed at Zenith Chambers – a multi-disciplinary Barristers Chambers in Leeds. Committed to providing the highest levels of service, they have built a reputation as highly-respected advocates for clients needing legal guidance in a plethora of practice areas. “Helen has moved her passion from the paddocks, to the courtroom; as a Barrister at Zenith Chambers, she has instructed claimants and defendants in all areas of civil litigation, but thrives in cases that involve animal and equine law.”