Clare was awarded ‘Chancery Silk of the Year’ at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards 2022, and was also nominated in the same category at The Legal 500 Awards 2022.
Clare’s practice focuses heavily on three key areas: commercial / business disputes, professional liability, and private client/trust litigation.
Clare is usually instructed in highly contentious and often hostile disputes, and provides advice across the range of areas in which she practices, helping clients to achieve their commercial aims without the need to prolong litigation.
Praised for her written and oral advocacy, she is often involved in actions brought onshore and offshore in litigation involving claims for breach of trust and fiduciary duty, cross-border insolvency and major fraud cases.
Asset tracing, especially through complex offshore structures involving foreign law
Banking and finance disputes
Civil Fraud litigation
Company & Partnership disputes
Commercial arbitration
Insolvency
Recommended in the Directories as a Leading Silk for:
Company (The Legal 500)
Commercial Litigation (The Legal 500)
Offshore (The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners)
Insolvency (The Legal 500)
Chancery: Commercial (Chambers & Partners)
Civil Fraud (The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal)
What the Directories say:
‘Her advocacy is exceptional – you won’t find better in terms of pitching the case in exactly the right way to the court’ (The Legal 500, 2023, Commercial Litigation)
‘Clare has an exceptional grasp of the facts, is tactically excellent and fantastic with clients – putting them at ease and instilling confidence through her hard-hitting advocacy.’ (The Legal 500, 2023, Civil Fraud)
‘Her tactical and thorough approach is a massive asset and her judgment is spot on.’ (The Legal 500, 2023, Company)
‘Clare’s grip of what the court will ultimately be interested and how to make the most of it in her client’s favour is very impressive.’ (The Legal 500, 2023, Insolvency)
‘Clare is a calm presence in contentious litigation – her clarity of thought, clear direction, impressive responsiveness, generous accessibility, and enormously fun personality make her an absolute pleasure to deal with. Her advocacy is clear, forceful, and convincing.’ (The Legal 500, 2023, The English Bar Offshore)
‘A steely performer whose advice is characterised by great clarity. She is a very pleasant advocate who is easy to deal with.’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2023, Chancery Commercial)
‘She is a very forceful advocate and a firm opponent.’ and ‘She is incredibly confident and robust in her approach. She fills those around her with confidence.’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2023, Offshore)
‘Clare is technically brilliant, really easy to work with and great on her feet.’ (The Legal 500, 2022, Commercial Litigation)
‘An outstanding and well-liked practitioner who cuts to the chase quickly and always gives exemplary advice.’ (The Legal 500, 2022, Civil Fraud)
‘Clare has a real ability to cut through the detail and identify the heart of the issues before proposing simply distilled and clear counter-arguments and solutions’ (The Legal 500, 2022, Insolvency)
‘Unflappable and has brilliant knowledge and experience of the law and the court process generally. She has pretty fearsome cross-examination skills and is a very good tactician’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2022, Chancery: Commercial)
‘She is outstandingly good, has terrific insights and is also very user-friendly.’ ‘She’s really excellent in both her written submission and oral submissions’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2022, Offshore)
Recent cases:
Kuwait Ports Authority v Port Link GP Ltd and others (current) – US$100 million claim for breach of fiduciary duty, knowing receipt, dishonest assistance and conspiracy in relation to an exempted limited partnership. Security for costs, partnership accounts, derivative actions.
Mitchell v Al Jaber (2023) – alleged US$3.5 billion claim against directors for breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy in relation to assets of a BVI company in liquidation. See Al Jaber v Mitchell[2022] Ch 212 on an appeal to the Court of Appeal on the issue of immunity from suit in connection with examinations under s. 236 Insolvency Act 1986, in which Clare acted for the successful appellant.
East West Bank v Gusinksi (2023) –a conspiracy claim alleging a combination to avoid paying debts by misusing insolvency procedures in various jurisdictions to prevent the bank from enforcing against the assets of various companies in a group. Reported on an interim application at which Clare acted for the successful party East West Bank v Gusinski[2022] EWHC 3056 (Ch).
Re a company (2023) – acting in a double derivative claim and related unfair prejudice petition.
In the matter of Avivo Group (FSD 145 of 2022 (RPJ)), 16 December 2022, Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. One of the first reported decisions on the test that the court should apply when deciding whether to appoint inspectors to examine into the affairs of a company and report to the Court. Clare acted for the successful respondent.
In the Matter of Olalekan Akinyanmi v Lekoil Ltd (FSD 382 of 2021 (IKJ)), 14 March 2022, Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. Successful application to discharge ex parte injunction restraining company from issuing shares. Sufficiency of evidence as to plaintiff’s ability to comply with cross undertaking, and application of the English rule of practice that all material shown to the Court cannot be withheld from the respondent.
BDO Cayman Ltd. and BDO Trinity Ltd. v Ardent Harmony Fund Inc. (In Official Liquidation) (FSD 74 of 2020 (MRHJ)), 19 November 2020. Clare acted for the successful respondent in resisting an application to commence proceedings against a company in liquidation and to lift the statutory moratorium. Indemnity costs also awarded.
A force to be reckoned with and at the top of her game. She is technically brilliant, really forensic in her approach and an absolutely formidable advocate.
Chambers & Partners 2025
Clare is a recognised talent, well deserving of the accolades she has received. A go-to choice for any difficult case.
Chambers & Partners 2025
Clare holds the ear of the court. She is better prepared than any of her opponents. She adds real value by thinking outside the box.
Legal 500 2025
Clare is frighteningly intelligent, but with a personal touch not often seen at the bar. Absolutely brilliant on her feet.
Legal 500 2025
She is a captivating advocate and an absolute force in the courtroom. She has true expert knowledge of her practice areas and commercial nous.
Solicitors: negligence claims, and also fraud and trust claims against solicitors.
Trustees and fiduciaries: acts for beneficiaries, third-parties, trustees in claims for negligence, breach of fiduciary duty cases, fraud, constructive trusteeship and asset tracing.
What the Directories say:
‘Fantastic attention to detail, real persistence in getting to the heart of a matter, tenacious and meticulous advocate. Extremely user friendly and popular with clients. Extremely responsive and genuinely cares about the outcome of a matter.’ (The Legal 500, 2023, Professional Negligence)
‘Clare is a pleasure to deal with and is very popular with clients. She is brilliant on her feet and has a calm, no-nonsense approach.’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2023, Professional Negligence)
“She is a go-to barrister for any professional negligence case with chancery issues.’; ‘Very approachable and personable, she gives good strategic advice that looks at all the commercial aspects and not just the law.’; ‘Great at assessing the strengths and weaknesses of difficult and complex cases. Very impressive grasp of the detail and the ability to distil it down.’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2022, Professional Negligence)
‘Clare is a total star. She is a fierce cross-examiner, super-smart, hard working and gets to the key issues instantly. She can quickly break down the most complicated of cases into comprehensible parts.’ (The Legal 500, 2022, Professional Negligence)
‘Her grasp of the law is phenomenal, and she has immense knowledge which is so wide-ranging. Fantastic in court, very persuasive, and knows how to get the judge on side.’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2021, Professional Negligence)
‘Clare is superb; she reads everything, understands all the nuances and gives clear pragmatic advice on the law (of which she has an exceptional grasp) and commercial considerations. Extremely client friendly and to top it off, fantastic advocacy skills.’ (The Legal 500, 2021, Professional Negligence)
‘Superb, a delight to work with. She is very clever and is great with clients.” “She’s very precise and incisive in the way she goes about things.’ (Chambers & Partners, UK Bar, 2020, Professional Negligence)
Recent cases (where parties are confidential, names have been anonymised):
X Ltd v A firm of accountants – acting for claimant company in a negligence claim against its auditors for negligently failing to notify the directors of a massive fraud being perpetrated by third-parties. Claim raised issues of illegality, attribution, and ‘wilful default’.
The Trustees of the A fund v A (a firm): acting for the trustees of a high value Guernsey trust suing well known private client firm of solicitors for negligent drafting of a trust instrument.
Mrs X v B (a firm): acting for West End firm of solicitors in relation to allegedly negligent tax planning and restructuring work done in connection with a number of offshore structures.
C & D v E (a firm): acting for well-known private client firm defending a claim that they gave negligent tax planning advice in relation to setting up of a disabled person’s trust.
advising solicitors in a threatened claim by non-clients arising out of the solicitors acting for another party in litigation.
advising solicitors in a claim that they had received money from non-clients on trust for the non-client, and paid it out in breach of trust.
A force to be reckoned with and at the top of her game. She is technically brilliant, really forensic in her approach and an absolutely formidable advocate.
Chambers & Partners 2025
Clare is a recognised talent, well deserving of the accolades she has received. A go-to choice for any difficult case.
Chambers & Partners 2025
Clare holds the ear of the court. She is better prepared than any of her opponents. She adds real value by thinking outside the box.
Legal 500 2025
Clare is frighteningly intelligent, but with a personal touch not often seen at the bar. Absolutely brilliant on her feet.
Legal 500 2025
She is a captivating advocate and an absolute force in the courtroom. She has true expert knowledge of her practice areas and commercial nous.
Contentious trust litigation between beneficiaries and trustees, and claims by third-parties.
Disputes involving wills, estates and family provision.
International cross-border trust litigation.
Trust arbitration
Court of Protection
Recommended in the Directories as a Leading Silk for:
Chancery Traditional (Band 1 – Chambers & Partners)
Trusts (Band 1 – Chambers & Partners)
Private Client: Trusts and Probate (Tier 1 – The Legal 500)
Offshore (Tier 1 – The Legal 500)
Private Client (‘Among the highest-ranked barristers’ – Who’s Who Legal)
What the Directories say:
‘Clare is a titan when it comes to complex litigation. She is very bright and commands the respect of judges.’ And ‘Clare is the go-to silk for trusts litigation. A clear expert and a superb advocate, who is loved by clients.’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2023, Trusts – ranked Band 1)
‘Her ability to cut to the chase on offshore trust matters is her particular skill.’ And ‘She is a very forceful advocate and a firm opponent.’ And ‘She is incredibly confident and robust in her approach. She fills those around her with confidence.’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2023, Offshore)
‘Clare is a formidable advocate. Her preparation is as thorough as it is possible to be, and her oral presentation is both forceful and compelling.’ (The Legal 500, 2023, Private Client: Trusts and Probate – ranked Tier 1)
‘Clare is a calm presence in contentious litigation – her clarity of thought, clear direction, impressive responsiveness, generous accessibility, and enormously fun personality make her an absolute pleasure to deal with. Her advocacy is clear, forceful, and convincing.’ (The Legal 500, 2023, Offshore – ranked Tier 1)
‘Clare is a pleasure to deal with and is very popular with clients. She is brilliant on her feet and has a calm approach. She knows trusts law back to front but also has a very strong strategic vision’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2023, Chancery: Traditional – ranked Band 1)
‘Great on her feet and quickly gets a sense of where the judge is heading. Clare is excellent with clients and always has a fresh strategic perspective to offer. She is completely across the finer points of trusts law and never loses sight of the clients’ broader aims. She is a pleasure to work with and delivers excellent results.’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2022, Chancery: Traditional)
‘She is outstandingly good, has terrific insights and is also very user-friendly.’ And ‘She’s really excellent in both her written submission and oral submissions’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2022, Offshore)
‘A skilled advocate who builds great relationships with clients. Clare combines a down to earth approach with an encyclopaedic and authoritative knowledge of trusts law. She is thoroughly across the detail yet maintains a clear strategic focus and is completely committed to pursuing the best result for the client.’ (The Legal 500, 2022, Private Client: Trusts & Probate)
‘A highly skilled and utterly fearless advocate, and a first choice for representation in any contentious trusts or estate situation.’ (The Legal 500, 2022, Offshore)
Recent cases (where parties are confidential, names have been anonymized):
Halabi v Equity Trust [2022] UKPC 36. Acted for the successful Jersey appellant in what is now the leading case on distribution of trust assets in an insolvent trust. Trustee’s lien, priorities between former and present trustee in relation to claims for exoneration and reimbursement.
In the estate of Reginald Bond (current). Acting for two of the beneficiaries of a valuable estate defending a claim that their father lacked capacity to make his will and/or that he did not know and approve its contents.
Re the Estate of S (2022). Advising executor of a high value estate in relation to the proving of a copy codicil which incorporated the terms of an (invalid) will by reference. Presumption of revocation where the original will cannot be found.
Equity Trust v Velarde [2021] EWHC 1528 (Ch). Acting for trustees of an Isle of Man trust in construction application for a determination as to whether a provision in the will of the life tenant was the exercise of the power of appointment under the trust in favour of all three of her children.
Re X Trusts (2021) advising trustees as to the role of a protector in the context of a trustee’s application for blessing.
PTNZ v AS [2020] EWHC 3114 (Ch). Dispute about very valuable English law trusts with Jersey trustees. Dispute about the construction of the trust instrument and whether a new protector had been validly appointed. Also considers the role of the protector in that case (who had wide veto and consent powers)
Ali v Taj [2020] EWHC 213 (Fam): power of the Probate Registrar to order executors to file an inventory and account of the administration of an estate under the Administration of Justice Act 1925 s.25.
Re LG and others (2020): acting for trustees of two English trusts which together held a majority shareholding in a privately owned trading company, seeking court blessing for a sale of all of the trusts’ shares to a third-party.
Re E Trust (2020): acting for complaining beneficiaries of an English trust which holds property portfolio through a corporate structure; momentous decision of trustees to appoint some of trust assets to the other beneficiaries, and thereafter to exclude them from benefiting.
Y v C (2020): acting for beneficiaries in a 1975 Act claim by the Deceased’s former partner claiming share of a high value estate which comprised illiquid non-majority shareholding in a family company. Executors did not remain neutral and were ordered to pay the claimant’s costs.
A force to be reckoned with and at the top of her game. She is technically brilliant, really forensic in her approach and an absolutely formidable advocate.
Chambers & Partners 2025
Clare is a recognised talent, well deserving of the accolades she has received. A go-to choice for any difficult case.
Chambers & Partners 2025
Clare holds the ear of the court. She is better prepared than any of her opponents. She adds real value by thinking outside the box.
Legal 500 2025
Clare is frighteningly intelligent, but with a personal touch not often seen at the bar. Absolutely brilliant on her feet.
Legal 500 2025
She is a captivating advocate and an absolute force in the courtroom. She has true expert knowledge of her practice areas and commercial nous.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly Necessary Cookies should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
Statistics Cookies
Statistic cookies help website owners to understand how visitors interact with websites by collecting and reporting information anonymously.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
Cookie Policy
WHAT ARE COOKIES AND HOW DO WE USE THEM?
A cookie is a small text file which is stored on your computer, tablet or phone when you visit a website. These cookies allow us to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our website.
This website uses cookies.
Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.
The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site. For all other types of cookies we need your permission.
This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.
You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.
A force to be reckoned with and at the top of her game. She is technically brilliant, really forensic in her approach and an absolutely formidable advocate.
