Clare is a highly sought after criminal defence advocate, who is instructed in the largest criminal cases nationally due to her meticulous case preparation and her persuasive and engaging court presence. Clare can be instructed on a direct access basis, under legal aid funding and on a private basis and operates at all levels of the judicial system including the Court of Appeal.
Clare is a leading junior who is instructed to defend in cases at the highest level of complexity involving murder, attempted murder, serious sexual, drugs, fraud or other violent offences. Her skills are in demand for complex sexual allegations, including historic abuse cases. Clare is experienced in cases involving additional complexities such as the involvement of intermediaries, parallel Family Court proceedings, third party materials held by various third-party authorities and those necessitating the cross-examination of children.
Clare is known for fighting extremely hard for clients, for providing robust and pragmatic advice when required, and for her ability to deal effectively and efficiently with complex matters of law and evidence.
For her lay clients, Clare is a confident and reassuring presence no matter at what stage of the proceedings she appears.
She also has substantial experience in advising upon and conducting cases with a mental health element, particularly relating to hospital order cases and M’Naghten defences or trials of issue.
Clare has exceptional strength in written work and is able to advise both private individuals/companies and public authorities on criminal and other regulatory issues.
Clare has regularly been invited to appear on radio to comment on topical issues related to the criminal justice system, including appearing on Radio 4, Radio 5Live and BBC Radio London.
Outside court, Clare previously trained undergraduate law students in the skills of advocacy and mooting in a highly successful programme at University of London (Birkbeck College), which ran between 2003-2023.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Clare travelled extensively in Europe and the US in her work as a journalist in the music business. She remains active in the underground music scene, and in 2024 ‘accidentally’ managed to start a record label, Crime Pays Recordings. The label has so far released two albums, with more recordings in the pipeline.
Notable Cases
R v O & Ors: Harrow Crown Court – instructed to defend in multi-handed allegations of kidnap, false imprisonment and robbery. Trial due in autumn 2025.
R v U & Ors: Winchester Crown Court – instructed to defend a juvenile in Operation Starship, trial relating to multiple counts of attempted murder. Trial due in summer 2025.
R v P & Ors: Central Criminal Court – led junior in Operation Antibell, trial ongoing in allegations of two counts of murder and one attempted murder at the scene of the recording of a drill rap video.
R v H: Wood Green Crown Court – defending in multi-handed case of alleged ‘paedophile ring’, involving complex issues of historic sexual offences, trial in absence and multiple legal complexities.
R v J: Luton Youth Court – defending on a certificate for counsel in youth court trial involving allegations of multiple rape, where the Defendant was aged 15 at the time. Acquitted on all counts at trial.
R v T: Chelmsford Crown Court – defending in multiple counts of serious historic sexual offending, committed when the Defendant was himself a juvenile. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3615zkg9zdo
R v O: Bournemouth Crown Court – defending against a KC in allegations of rape and coercive/controlling behaviour. Acquitted on all counts at trial.
R v H: Leicester Crown Court – defending in multiple counts of historic rape and other serious sexual offending, committed when the Defendant was himself a juvenile. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72v0zmgq3qo
R v B – Inner London Crown Court – defending in Operation Lodgepole on three counts of attempted murder, following zombie knife attack in pub. https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/13/walthamstow-stabbing-three-charged-with-attempted-murder-after-attack-18431433/
R v T – Cambridge Crown Court – successful defence of man accused of sexual offences against his step-daughter, involving s28 and dealing with complex medical issues.
R v S – Isleworth Crown Court – defending in Operation Erant, relating to wholesale supply of class A drugs in West London and the West Country by an organised crime group.
R v J – Bournemouth Crown Court – defending in £2.5million fraud relatingto cheating the public revenue.
R v Y – Central Criminal Court – successful defence in Operation Townsville of a client accused of assisting an offender in a knife murder. https://www.times-series.co.uk/news/23249217.dangerous-north-finchley-man-jailed-whetstone-murder/
R v H – Guildford Crown Court – Leading Junior for the Defence in Operation Hydrogen, a complex case of historical sexual offending involving eight separate complainants and complex issues of bad character, reported nationally. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11251689/Paedophile-football-coach-abused-boys-young-11-1996-2000-jailed-10-years.html
R v B & Ors – Court of Appeal – representing in successful appeal againstconviction in ‘small boats’ cases which identified widespread errors of law,reported nationally. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/channel-crossing-court-appeal-jail-b2010191.html
R v M – Wood Green Crown Court – Led Junior in trial involving multiple serial stranger rapes at knifepoint, reported nationally. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rapist-who-filmed-attacks-may-26859883
R v G – Aylesbury Crown Court – successfully defending in re-trial of masseur accused of sexually assaulting three clients (original jury having been unable to agree on verdicts).
R v G – Bournemouth Crown Court – defending in familial sexual abuse allegations, involving cross-examination of children.
R v T – Norwich Crown Court – defending in historic familial sexual abuse allegations.
R v K – Harrow Crown Court – successfully defending in coercive and controlling behaviour trial involving complex cultural issues.
R v H – Winchester Crown Court – successful defence to murder as led junior in ‘Operation Highlander’.
R v O & Ors – Harrow Crown Court – defending in Operation Bolshoy Kamen, multi-handed firearms case with alleged ‘gang’ background, including successful complex legal arguments to exclude alleged ‘police expert’ evidence of both gang activity/background and cell siting/telecoms. Acquitted.
R v R & Ors – Maidstone Crown Court – defending in lengthy trial relating to large scale public disorder arising from proceedings in coroner’s court.
R v T & Ors – Liverpool Crown Court – defending in Operation Anvil, a huge scale conspiracy to supply class A and B drugs case involving over 30 Defendants, centred on Liverpool but involving offences nationwide. Clare’s client was one of only two Defendants in this Operation who were acquitted of the conspiracy at trial. https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/notorious-gang-who-flooded-exeter-3666676
Qualifications
BA (Hons) 2:1 Drama and English (University of London, Goldsmith’s College)
LLB (Hons) 2:1 (University of London, Birkbeck College)
Membership & Associations
Inner Temple
Criminal Bar Association (Chambers Representative)
