About Us

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Equine Legal Solutions (ELS) is a leading equine law firm with its principal office near Portland, Oregon and licensed to practice in four states:  California, New York, Oregon and Washington. For all breeds and disciplines, ELS offers equine dispute resolution, customized horse contracts, representation in disciplinary hearings, and incorporation and business planning services for equine businesses.
Customized Equine Contracts For clients with specialized needs, ELS drafts customized contracts tailored to the clients’ individual situations.  ELS is proud to offer this service to its clients at a fixed price of just $500, which includes up to two drafts and attorney consulting time.  For clients who have purchased one of ELS’ form contracts and later need customization, ELS is always happy to credit the forms purchase price toward the customized agreement.   Incorporation and LLC Formation ELS advises its clients to incorporate or form a limited liability company for their businesses.  Among other benefits, operating an equine business as a corporation or limited liability company can help protect the business owners’ personal assets from liability. To make the process affordable for its clients, ELS offers incorporation or LLC formation for a fixed price of just $500, plus expenses. USEF and Breed Association Disciplinary Hearings ELS regularly represents clients in disciplinary hearings before the United States Equestrian Federation, the American Quarter Horse Association and other governing bodies of horse sport.  For this service, ELS charges a flat fee.  Because each association has its own disciplinary process and the processes vary in timing and complexity, ELS’ fee is dependent upon which association has brought disciplinary action against the client.  Small Litigation Matters Though small claims court may be designed for self-representation, many of ELS’ clients find it helpful to have an experienced attorney guide them through the process.  In particular, clients may need an attorney’s help to collect their small claims court judgment.  For horse related small claims court matters, ELS provides assistance to clients for a fixed fee of $500, plus court costs and other out-of-pocket expenses.  Other Litigation Matters While many equine disputes can be resolved in small claims court, others are much broader in scope.  For cases litigated outside of small claims court, as well as matters subject to mediation and arbitration, Equine Legal Solutions charges an hourly rate of $350 and requires an initial retainer of 50% of the total estimated cost of the legal matter.  Free Attorney Consultations   At Equine Legal Solutions, initial 15-minute phone consultations about horse related legal matters are always free.  Cost of Legal Representation Equine Legal Solutions understands that expense is a major consideration when clients hire a lawyer.  Where possible, ELS offers fixed-price services.  For services performed at an hourly rate, ELS provides its clients with estimates, which may be revised over time as a legal matter evolves.   Attorney Bio ELS’ founder and owner, Rachel Kosmal McCart, is a graduate of Duke University School of Law with years of legal experience. Rachel is a member in good standing of the Oregon, Washington, California and New York bars. Prior to founding Equine Legal Solutions, Rachel was a corporate lawyer at two major law firms in New York and California, and she also served as in-house securities counsel at Silicon Graphics and Intel Corporation. Rachel grew up on a horse farm in Tipp City, Ohio and competed as a youth rider in nearly every discipline at Appaloosa, Quarter Horse and hunter/jumper shows. To help raise money for their horse show efforts, Rachel and her mother Mary Kosmal bought, retrained and sold horses. As a 10-year member of Miami County Ohio 4-H, Rachel never missed 4-H horse camp, and she had a lot of fun (and learned something, too!) as part of winning horse bowl and judging teams.  Rachel is a member in good standing of the AQHA Professional Horsemen, United States Equestrian Federation, the US Hunter/Jumper Association, and the American Paint Horse Association.  She currently serves as Vice President of the Oregon Paint Horse Club, and is the sponsorship coordinator for the Zone One Paint breed show, one of the top ten largest APHA shows in the nation. Rachel shows her Paint gelding, ZW Cut to the Chase, in APHA breed shows, and the team has earned numerous open and amateur APHA points in almost every event.  They have also won many year-end APHA regional awards in a wide variety of different events. Rachel and her husband Erin keep Chase and their other Paint horses at their home in Beavercreek, Oregon, which is shared by Emmy, a sweet blue merle Australian Shepherd adopted from Aussie Rescue & Placement Helpline; Squawkus, a sassy housecat who lives up to her name; Seussy, an Oriental Shorthair who gives new meaning to “Velcro cat”; and Jordan, Callie and Bee, the feline rodent patrol. Speaking Engagements and Events Rachel McCart regularly speaks on equine legal topics, and has been a guest lecturer at numerous prominent horse industry gatherings, including the American Quarter Horse Association Convention and the California Horse Expo.  Because Rachel believes that equine legal information should be readily accessible to everyone, she does not charge a speaker fee.  Rachel enjoys meeting other horse people, and she is always glad to present to groups of all sizes, including local horse clubs in the Pacific Northwest.  Publications Rachel McCart has written numerous articles published in some of the industry’s most prestigious magazines, including the Quarter Horse Journal and the Paint Horse Journal.  She is always happy to grant interviews to equine journalists, and she is frequently quoted in national publications as an expert on equine law. Contact Equine Legal Solutions   Call us toll free (866) 385-2972. You can also email us for more information or to schedule your free initial 15-minute legal consultation.    Northwest Coordinating Committee (NWCC) High Point Open Hunter Hack High Point Open Utility Driving High Point Amateur Hunter Hack High Point Amateur Pleasure Driving High Point Amateur Utility Driving High Point N. Amateur Hunter Hack High Point N. Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation High Point N. Amateur Pole Bending Reserve High Point Open Working Hunter Reserve High Point Open Pleasure Driving Third Overall High Point N. Amateur Third N. Amateur Hunter Under Saddle Oregon Coordinating Committee (OCC) High Point Open Senior Hunter Hack High Point Amateur Hunter Hack High Point N. Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation Reserve High Point N. Amateur Hunter Under Saddle Third Overall High Point N. Amateur Oregon Paint Horse Club High Point Open Hunter Hack High Point Amateur Hunter Hack Reserve High Point N. Amateur Hunter Under Saddle Reserve High Point N. Amateur Hunt Seat Equitation Rachel and her husband are also the proud parents of Son Made Raider, a Paint gelding, Emmy, an Australian Shepherd adopted from Aussie Rescue & Placement Helpline; Jordan, Callie and Bee, the feline rodent patrol; and Seussy and Squawkus, rather pampered housecats. Contact Equine Legal Solutions   Call us toll free (866) 385-2972. You can also email us for more information or to schedule your free initial 15-minute legal consultation.