Rachel Lowe 

Special regulatory counsel 
Proskauer Rose 
London 

An important person in my career 

Vanessa Sharp, former general counsel of KPMG, played a pivotal role in my development – offering incredible learning opportunities as a seconded trainee and providing mentorship at a crucial time that helped build my self-belief and resilience. Her support shaped my career path and my ongoing commitment to mentoring junior lawyers at this stage of my career. She would probably be amazed to read this with so many years having passed!   

If I wasn’t a lawyer, I’d probably be… 

A musician in a military band or with some kind of politics-related job, having dabbled in this prior to committing to law. 

Everyone’s talking about 

Value – specifically, how sustainability contributes to risk-adjusted returns and how to quantify its role in value creation. 

Why ESG/sustainability law? 

I particularly enjoy the political dimension of sustainable finance and corporate sustainability reporting regulation – especially how it reflects broader government agendas like the UK’s push to lead on sustainability, the EU’s balancing of green goals with economic competitiveness and defence or the blue v red state divide. 

I was politically active in my youth, including a brief stint elected in local government and working for Members of the European Parliament (long before ‘Brexit’ was a term!), and have always enjoyed keeping an eye on political developments.  For sustainability matters, we’re often required to interpret the regulatory landscape with an eye on how shifting politics can shape market expectations and client strategy.  

Favourite restaurant or meal 

Whilst I am lucky to dine in some wonderful places, I don’t think you can beat a sit-down curry in my local Indian restaurant – Hill Murry in Rugby!  

The most interesting place my job has taken me 

A theme park in Seville – I delivered a regulatory sustainability update to a private equity group at one of their portfolio sites, which was the theme park. It was a little surreal being invited to cruise the artificial lake by their Head of Sustainability, while the public looked on as we surveyed the log flume in full corporate attire. 

Reference 

“Rachel stands out as a leader in a time when ESG regulation is evolving rapidly and demanding greater transparency and accountability. Her ability to anticipate regulatory shifts and translate them into actionable, forward-thinking strategies is an invaluable asset for clients. Rachel combines technical expertise with a collaborative mindset, making her an essential partner in navigating today’s complex regulatory environment. Her clarity, integrity, and drive for excellence consistently elevate those around her and she is a valued member of the team at Proskauer. I have no hesitation in recommending Rachel for her leadership, adaptability and sophisticated understanding of ESG and its broader implications.” Nigel van Zyl, partner and co-head of the private funds group at Proskauer