Call: 2006
Door Tenant
Since 2008 Claire has been based in the British Virgin Islands, working with two offshore firms on a variety of international commercial, company and insolvency law matters. She is currently based at Harney Westwood & Riegels, as part of the litigation team where she has appeared as an advocate in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Court of Appeal, the Commercial Court, the High Court and Compensation Tribunals.
Notable cases include the key Court of Appeal decision in Trade and Commerce Bank v. Island Point Properties SA (Civil Appeal No. 12/2009) relating to the inherent jurisdiction of a Court to set aside statutory demands, and Pioneer Freight Futures Ltd. v Worldlink Shipping Ltd. Samoa (BVIHCV 135/2009) concerning English choice of law and jurisdiction clauses.
She also has experience of obtaining a variety of injunctions, including Norwich Pharmacal and freezing injunctions.
Whilst at 4 New Square Claire worked on a variety of professional liability and commercial matters including work with Ben Hubble on a solicitors' negligence case featured on BBC1's "Panorama" programme. She was also involved in the major construction law dispute in the TCC relating to the refurbishment of the London Blackwall Tunnel. She has experience of a range of professional liability work including solicitors, architects and travel services providers.
Claire has also written a number of articles which have been published by a variety of offshore journals including Mondaq.com and ILO, including “Point Taken: ECSC Hands Down Landmark Insolvency Ruling”, and articles concerning the decision in Westford Asset Management Ltd. v Barfield Nominees Ltd. (where she acted as Junior Counsel in the Court of Appeal), which determines whether a shareholder with a claim based on redemption proceeds has standing to wind up a company under the BVI Insolvency Act. She is a co-contributor to the BVI chapter of “International Fraud and Asset Tracing” (2010).
As an undergraduate, Claire obtained a double first in law from New College, Oxford, receiving the Martin Wronker prize for the highest first in her year and a Gibbs prize for contract, land, tort and trusts. She then completed the BCL at Lincoln College, Oxford, obtaining a Lord Crewe scholarship and the Supperstone scholarship for future barristers.
Claire is a member of Lincoln’s Inn, where she obtained a Lord Mansfield scholarship, a Hardwicke entrance award, a Sheldon pupillage scholarship and a Buchanan prize. Claire was graded outstanding in BVC finals, obtaining the College of Law prize for best student in negotiation.
Education
BA (Oxon), BCL.