Rachel read law at the University of Cambridge. She holds a Master of Commercial Law from Universiti Malaya and a Master of Philosophy (Criminology) from the University of Cambridge. As part of her professional development, Rachel underwent a family mediation training course with the ADR Group in London. She was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 2017 and in the High Court at Kuala Lumpur in 2018.
Rachel completed her pupillage in family law. In fulfilment of her scholarship bonds, Rachel has worked in-house in two government-linked companies. She also made a foray into academia as a law lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and as a senior research associate at the Asia School of Business. Equally proficient in both English and Malay, she has authored and co-authored articles published in local Malay newspapers as well as co-authored a journal article published in Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka’s Kanun.
Rachel has been engaged in a variety of volunteer work. She was a case worker for the National Centre for Domestic Violence in London, for which she drafted witness statements for complainants. She taught vulnerable children to read and helped children with their homework, in Seremban and Cambridge, respectively. She currently volunteers with a pet shelter and a women’s prison.
After serving her two scholarship bonds with Yayasan UEM and Yayasan Khazanah, Rachel joined legal practice. She brings with her commercial awareness, grit-driven problem-solving, and a flair for personable communication, honed carefully during her years spent in-house and with academic institutions.
At MWKA, Rachel’s areas of practice include family law, intellectual property law, and commercial law.
Career to date
2026 Associate, MahWengKwai & Associates
2025 Associate, Shook Lin & Bok
2024 Executive, UEM Lestra Berhad
2023 Senior Research Associate, ASEAN Research Centre, Asia School of Business
2022 Lecturer (Law), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2018 Management Executive (Legal & Corporate Secretarial), PLUS Malaysia Berhad
2017 Pupil-in-Chambers, Y N Foo & Partners
2016 Student Attachment Programme, Wong & Partners
2013 Intern (Legal & Secretarial Support), PLUS Malaysia Berhad
Affiliations
- Member, Inns of Court Malaysia
- Member, Persatuan Persaudaraan Penjara Katolik
- Subcommittee Member (Seminar and Talks), Pertubuhan Alumni Rumpun Fakulti Undang-Undang Universiti Malaya
- Committee Member, Newnham College Young Alumnae Committee, Cambridge
Professional and Educational Achievements
2022 Master of Philosophy (Criminology), University of Cambridge
2021 Master of Commercial Law (Distinction), Universiti Malaya
2019 Master of Arts (Law), University of Cambridge
2017 Postgraduate Diploma (Professional Legal Skills), City, University of London
2016 Bachelor of Arts (Law), University of Cambridge
Litigation and Advisory Experience
Intellectual Property
- Assisted with litigation on copyright, industrial design, patent, and trademark at the High Court.
- Assisted with a trademark matter at the Federal Court.
- Provided advice on intellectual property rights.
- Appeared at a hearing before the Registrar at MyIPO on a matter involving a geographical indication.
- Assisted with the prosecution of intellectual property rights.
- Assisted with lodging a complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
- Liaised with a federal territory authority to obtain relevant permission for use of a territorial name, as required under trademark law.
Other Experience in Information Technology/ Regulatory Compliance
- Assisted with the review and analysis of contractual agreements including concession agreements.
- Assisted with providing advice on imports of certain goods and the provision of certain services from outside Malaysia.
- Provided advice on the feasibility of contractual milestones.
Publications
Articles
- Shamim Husna Sharizal, Nurfatini Alya Ahmad Sallehudins & Rachel Decruz, Capaian Terhadap Pendidikan: Analisis Khusus Berkenaan Orang Kurang Upaya, Kanun, 36(2) 307, 2 July 2024.
- Rachel Decruz, Berapa lama mahu biar rakyat tanpa warganegara di sebalik ‘tirai besi’?, Utusan Malaysia, 8 January 2024.
- Rachel Decruz, Jawatankuasa khas, Ombudsman usaha lindungi anak tak bernegara, Berita Harian, 8 January 2024.
- Nur Akrimi Mathwa Ahmad Zamri & Rachel Decruz, Keberkesanan RMT dalam Sektor Pendidikan, MalaysiaKini, 13 February 2023.
- S. Subash Rajah & Rachel Decruz, Pelarian Bebas Bergerak Asalkan Tidak Mudarat, Utusan Malaysia, 31 January 2023.
- Chuah Cee Wei & Rachel Decruz, Kesaksamaan Selepas Menembusi Dunia Tirai Besi, Malaysia Gazette, 10 December 2022.
Speaking Engagements
- Speaker on “YIPP Voices- Young IP Practitioners Webinar Series on Certification Marks and Collective Marks” by Malaysian Intellectual Property Association (MIPA) 2026
- Speaker at two of Yayasan UEM’s Scholars’ programmes 2024
- Speaker on “Refugee Stereotypes: Origins of a Narrative” on Consider This at Astro Awani 2024
- Moderator on “Panel Discussion: Am I Not Malaysian? The Crisis of Statelessness” at ARC x Suhakam Lecture, Asia School of Business 2024
- Keynote Speaker on “Malaysia’s Legal System” at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia’s International Law Unit’s ASEAN Classroom 2023
University Engagements
- Competition Judge, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (National Preliminary Rounds) 2026
- Competition Judge, Introduction to Advocacy (Moot) Undergraduate Exam at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024
- Competition Judge, Statelessness in Malaysia Poster Presentation Challenge at Taylor’s University 2023
- National Administrator, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition (National Rounds) 2023
CONTACT
Tel: 03-7887 2702
rachel.decruz@mahwengkwai.com
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Dispute ResolutionIndividuals & Families
