Rachel Cubela

Rachel is a senior lawyer with extensive experience in personal injuries, litigation, administrative and regulatory law since being admitted to practice in 1996.

Rachel has worked with multiple leading Australian law firms, such as Ryan Carlisle Thomas Lawyers, Mills Oakley and Lander & Rogers. She has acted for employers, self-insurers and injured workers in Australian Commonwealth and State schemes, particularly in Victoria. Rachel is also a former barrister and member of the Victorian Bar.

Rachel held the role of Director, Corporate Legal Services at the Victorian workers compensation and occupational health and safety regulator, WorkSafe Victoria, and represented WorkSafe in their role as Secretariat of the Heads of Workers Compensation Authorities (HWCA). As a Director of WorkSafe, Rachel contributed extensively to the development of Victoria’s workers compensation legislation and WorkSafe policy, guidelines and procedures. Additional responsibilities included advising WorkSafe on issues affecting the operation of the Victorian workers compensation scheme, dangerous goods and occupational health and safety (OHS) licensing systems and working with the Transport Accident Commission on joint health services initiatives.

More recently, Rachel has been the Victorian Senior Legal Manager for EML, a WorkSafe authorised claims agent and Comcare licensed self-insurer claims manager.

Rachel is recognised as an influential leader, with strong negotiation, communication and problem-solving skills, who can provide practical and strategic guidance in plain English on a wide range of legal, policy, licensing and stakeholder issues. Rachel is experienced in liaising and networking with workers, unions, government, industry and representative associations and offers well qualified and pragmatic advice.

This diverse background has provided Rachel with unparalleled insights into how best to navigate the complex and high risk area of workers compensation and OHS regulation and led to Rachel in July 2018 establishing her own law firm, Cubela & Co, with the aim of providing client services that extend far beyond those offered by traditional bricks and mortar firms.

Often described as "not just a lawyer", Rachel is approachable, friendly and self-sufficient and happiest when helping clients get the best outcomes in the most efficient and effective way, minus the legalese. Rather than requiring clients to come to her, Rachel goes to them, investing the time to get to know their business, staff and organisational goals. Rachel especially enjoys working in-house, whether for a specific project or on a short-term or regular basis. With no minimum spend or service commitment and Rachel's less formal and more client-focused approach, any costs savings are directly transferred to Cubela & Co clients, providing them with a Best Lawyers experience without the high-end price tag.

Rachel can assist workers, employers, self-insurers, claims agents and government with injury and claims management; workers compensation insurance; disputes and litigation; return to work planning, consultation and compliance; OHS licensing and regulatory matters; notice, policy and procedure writing; and regulator, stakeholder and provider engagement.