Rachael Padgett

Counsel | She/Her/Hers

Overview

With a practice focused on the intersection of litigation and regulatory counseling, Rachael Padgett is a trusted adviser for clients navigating complex product risk challenges, particularly in the transportation and consumer products sectors. She brings a rare combination of regulatory knowledge and hands-on litigation experience to advise clients on navigating product risk and deliver creative, business-minded solutions.

As a counsel in the Litigation and Transportation groups, Rachael handles all aspects of product liability litigation and advises clients on the full range of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulatory matters, including federal motor vehicle safety standard compliance, safety defect reporting obligations, recall requirements, and penalty exposure, as well as on Consumer Product Safety Commission, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Food and Drug Administration regulatory matters. Rachael also advises clients on product liability and transportation-adjacent commercial disputes, with particular strength in disputes involving product recalls, injuries, or product-related losses.

Rachael maintains a pro bono practice with a focus on representing children in immigration cases and as guardian ad litem.

During law school, Rachael served as articles editor for The George Washington Law Review and received numerous awards, including the Jacob Burns Award for the First Place Team in the Van Vleck Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition, the Henry R. Berger Award for Excellence in the Area of Tort Law, and the Jennie Hassler Walburn Award for Excellence in the Area of Civil Procedure. She also worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Michael O’Keefe in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia’s Family Court and regularly volunteered at the Family Court Self-Help Center.

Career & Education

    • James Madison University, B.A., 2015
    • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with highest honors, 2018
    • James Madison University, B.A., 2015
    • The George Washington University Law School, J.D., with highest honors, 2018
    • District of Columbia
    • District of Columbia