Clare has a mixed civil and criminal practice which focuses on reparation, personal injury, FAIs and Public Inquiries, health and safety prosecutions and regulatory crime. She has experience of appearing in all levels of civil and criminal courts including the UKSC. She was appointed as an ad-hoc Advocate Depute in 2023.
Clare is currently instructed in a large number of complex product liability cases. Clare has successfully pursued and defended personal injury actions involving medical negligence, public liability, occupiers liability, employer’s liability, road traffic accidents, industrial disease and fatal cases. Her experience and expertise is recognised by both Chambers UK and the Legal 500.
Applying her extensive knowledge of civil and criminal law has proven to be particularly effective in Fatal Accident Inquiries and Public Inquiries. Clare is currently instructed in the Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry and the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry. Clare is commended for her inquiry prowess in Chambers UK 2025 noting her "broader practice provides a strong skill set for high-profile inquiry work. She earns praise for her representation of bereaved families and private interested parties."
Clare has substantial experience of defence representation in regulatory and financial crime. As counsel for the first accused in the longest trial in UK legal history (20 months duration), involving charges of fraud and money laundering, she expertly managed thousands of productions and hundreds of witness statements.
Utilising the skills and expertise developed whilst a Senior Lecturer at the School of Law, University of Glasgow, Clare is regularly instructed in non-routine cases that require a broad and deep knowledge of legal principle. Clare has represented appellants in civil actions involving Freedom of Information and applicants in Judicial Review. She has appeared before First Tier Tribunals and the Upper Tribunal.
Clare is the editor of Green's Criminal Law Bulletin.
