Bio
Claire is King’s Counsel and Partner at Appleby’s Bermuda office where she is Practice Group Head of the Private Client and Trusts department and a member of the Dispute Resolution department.
She has a broad private client practice advising on domestic and offshore wealth structuring and estate planning matters including the establishment, restructuring, variation and termination of trust structures, matters relating to trust administration, as well as probate and testamentary issues. She has extensive experience advising and representing global businesses, financial institutions, public bodies, trustees, beneficiaries, settlors, protectors, private individuals and families.
Claire’s dispute resolution practice extends to advocacy, strategic expertise and tactical advice in domestic and multi-jurisdictional high-value litigation, and the resolution of complex disputes in the fields of trusts, estates, commercial, insolvency and insurance law. As an expert in private international law, she is also well equipped to advise on cross border elements that arise in these fields.
Claire was called to the Bermuda Bar in 2022. Prior to this, she was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2003 and practised as a barrister in London in the fields of civil and commercial litigation, trusts and estates, mental capacity and administrative/regulatory law, which led to her appointment as King’s Counsel in 2023. Alongside her practice, Claire also taught private international law on the LL.M course at University College London for 6 years.
Bio
Claire is King’s Counsel and Partner at Appleby’s Bermuda office where she is Practice Group Head of the Private Client and Trusts department and a member of the Dispute Resolution department.
She has a broad private client practice advising on domestic and offshore wealth structuring and estate planning matters including the establishment, restructuring, variation and termination of trust structures, matters relating to trust administration, as well as probate and testamentary issues. She has extensive experience advising and representing global businesses, financial institutions, public bodies, trustees, beneficiaries, settlors, protectors, private individuals and families.
Claire’s dispute resolution practice extends to advocacy, strategic expertise and tactical advice in domestic and multi-jurisdictional high-value litigation, and the resolution of complex disputes in the fields of trusts, estates, commercial, insolvency and insurance law. As an expert in private international law, she is also well equipped to advise on cross border elements that arise in these fields.
Claire was called to the Bermuda Bar in 2022. Prior to this, she was called to the Bar of England & Wales in 2003 and practised as a barrister in London in the fields of civil and commercial litigation, trusts and estates, mental capacity and administrative/regulatory law, which led to her appointment as King’s Counsel in 2023. Alongside her practice, Claire also taught private international law on the LL.M course at University College London for 6 years.
Recognition
Claire is ranked by Chambers and Partners High Net Worth 2025: Offshore Trusts Directory and recognised as a ‘Leading Partner’ by Legal 500 in the Trusts/Private Client category. Claire is also featured in Tier 1 of the Private Client Global Elite Directory, which is a respected global directory of the world’s top private client and trusts and estates lawyers.
Prior to joining the Bermuda Bar, Claire was consistently ranked by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for her work done at the Bar of England & Wales.
Claire is ranked by Chambers and Partners High Net Worth 2025: Offshore Trusts Directory and recognised as a ‘Leading Partner’ by Legal 500 in the Trusts/Private Client category. Claire is also featured in Tier 1 of the Private Client Global Elite Directory, which is a respected global directory of the world’s top private client and trusts and estates lawyers.
Prior to joining the Bermuda Bar, Claire was consistently ranked by Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 for her work done at the Bar of England & Wales.
Coverage & Insights
Claire is a recognised expert in the field of mental capacity law and an editor of the International Protection of Adults (Oxford University Press), which provides comparative analysis of private international law rules relating to mental capacity law and the Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults.
- Bermuda: Asset Tracing and Recovery – Asset Tracing and Recovery Comparative Guide – Legal 500 – April 2026
- Purpose trusts: Bermuda’s answer to modern asset structuring – Globe Law and Business – April 2026
- Lexology Panoramic: Private Client 2026 – Bermuda – Lexology – April 2026
- Privy Council decision in X Trusts – redefining the role of the protector – March 2026
- Bermuda: A Dispute Resolution Overview – Chambers and Partners – February 2026
- Bermuda: Litigation 2026 – Trends and Developments – Chambers and Partners – December 2025
- Bermuda: Americas Restructuring Review 2026 – Americas Restructuring Review 2026 – Global Restructuring Review – November 2025
- Bermuda: An Introduction to Offshore: Trusts – Chambers and Partners – August 2025
- Bermuda: Restructuring & Insolvency – Legal 500 – July 2025
- Restructuring and Insolvency in Bermuda: Overview – Practical Law – June 2025
- Bankruptcy & Restructuring – To Enforce, or not to Enforce – Corporate Live Wire, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Expert Guide – May 2025
- Bermuda: An Introduction to Dispute Resolution 2025 – Chambers and Partners – February 2025
Claire is a recognised expert in the field of mental capacity law and an editor of the International Protection of Adults (Oxford University Press), which provides comparative analysis of private international law rules relating to mental capacity law and the Hague Convention on the International Protection of Adults.
- Bermuda: Asset Tracing and Recovery – Asset Tracing and Recovery Comparative Guide – Legal 500 – April 2026
- Purpose trusts: Bermuda’s answer to modern asset structuring – Globe Law and Business – April 2026
- Lexology Panoramic: Private Client 2026 – Bermuda – Lexology – April 2026
- Privy Council decision in X Trusts – redefining the role of the protector – March 2026
- Bermuda: A Dispute Resolution Overview – Chambers and Partners – February 2026
- Bermuda: Litigation 2026 – Trends and Developments – Chambers and Partners – December 2025
- Bermuda: Americas Restructuring Review 2026 – Americas Restructuring Review 2026 – Global Restructuring Review – November 2025
- Bermuda: An Introduction to Offshore: Trusts – Chambers and Partners – August 2025
- Bermuda: Restructuring & Insolvency – Legal 500 – July 2025
- Restructuring and Insolvency in Bermuda: Overview – Practical Law – June 2025
- Bankruptcy & Restructuring – To Enforce, or not to Enforce – Corporate Live Wire, Bankruptcy & Restructuring, Expert Guide – May 2025
- Bermuda: An Introduction to Dispute Resolution 2025 – Chambers and Partners – February 2025
Qualifications & Education
Appointed to King’s Counsel 2023
Called to the Bermuda Bar 2022
Called to the Bar of England & Wales 2003 (non -practising)
BVC Bristol Institute of Legal Practice 2003
LLM Public International Law, Leiden University 2001
LLB University College London 2000
Appointed to King’s Counsel 2023
Called to the Bermuda Bar 2022
Called to the Bar of England & Wales 2003 (non -practising)
BVC Bristol Institute of Legal Practice 2003
LLM Public International Law, Leiden University 2001
LLB University College London 2000
Memberships & Associations
Bermuda Human Rights Tribunal (Panel Chair) November 2022 to present
Bermuda Mental Health Review Tribunal (Panel Chair) February 2024 to present
Chancery Bar Association
STEP Bermuda Committee 2022 to present
STEP GRP Expert Panel 2022 to present
STEP Mental Capacity Global SIG Steering Committee (Chair) 2021 – 2023
STEP (Full Member)
University College London, Faculty of Law (teaching fellow in private international law) 2013-2018
Bermuda Human Rights Tribunal (Panel Chair) November 2022 to present
Bermuda Mental Health Review Tribunal (Panel Chair) February 2024 to present
Chancery Bar Association
STEP Bermuda Committee 2022 to present
STEP GRP Expert Panel 2022 to present
STEP Mental Capacity Global SIG Steering Committee (Chair) 2021 – 2023
STEP (Full Member)
University College London, Faculty of Law (teaching fellow in private international law) 2013-2018