After a career as a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, Claire joined media group, EMAP plc, as Group Solicitor and Deputy Company Secretary and then Greene King plc as their Company Secretary. Next, she established and ran Quorate, a legal and company secretarial consultancy, until she joined one of her technology clients, now part of Qualcomm, as their General Counsel.

Following a serious health issue, Claire resigned from her role and subsequently took the opportunity to return to academia. She completed an undergraduate degree, an MPhil and started a PhD at Cambridge University. She also has a law degree from LJMU.

Claire retrained as an Executive Coach to pursue her interest in enabling high achievers to unlock their full potential by working in more sustainable and fulfilling ways. She now works full time as an Executive Coach, Consultant, Facilitator and Trainer and also lectures at Cambridge University’s Judge Business School.  Claire lives in Cambridge with her husband and their two children.

Claire is an experienced Executive Coach, Consultant, Facilitator and Trainer offering individual and team coaching primarily in professional service firms, financial services and technology businesses. With a particular interest in helping high achievers perform with greater ease, Claire’s coaching helps develop gravitas, impact and influence, it increases resilience, confidence and self-awareness and it challenges limiting beliefs such as perfectionism, fear of failure and impostor syndrome. Her work includes enhancing authentic and effective leadership skills, supporting partner candidates through their selection and transition to partnership, client and business development and returner coaching.

Claire’s coaching is dynamic, collaborative and purposeful. Deeply pragmatic and solution-focussed, Claire draws on her experience as an M&A lawyer and general counsel to help her clients develop the key skills, behaviours and beliefs they need to fulfil their potential.

She uses a range of coaching methods and techniques, theory and best practice to underpin her coaching, but her key focus is building honest coaching relationships and equal partnerships with clients.

Qualifications: 

• Claire has an LLB, BA, MA, MPhil and completed the probationary stage of her PhD (LMJU, Cantab). She trained with The Performance Coach (now TPC Leadership) at Practitioner, Senior Practitioner and Master Coach level. Claire is accredited by EMCC Global as a team coach and at Senior Practitioner level. She is also an EMCC Global Assessor and an accredited user of EQ-I 2.0 & EQ360°.

• Claire is committed to her ongoing professional development. In line with industry best practice, Claire receives regular individual, group and peer supervision which affords clients an additional level of quality assurance. She abides by the EMCC’s strict Global Code of Ethics. She is also a Fellow of the RSA.

“Claire works quickly, carefully and constructively to help the individuals that she works with to achieve their professional goals.  Claire brings exceptional emotional intelligence to this process, which injects a level of dynamism that one rarely sees in executive coaches.  She helped us to develop the next generation of our talent, with a flexibility of thought that allowed us to tailor the programme towards our commercial goals.”

CEO, Investment Management Company

Read more testimonials below

Coaching

“I found the coaching sessions with Claire during my partner election process extremely helpful. We had very good conversations which helped me to further develop a focus on key aspects of my ‘case’ and my development into a new role. Claire is very friendly, engaged, positive and highly professional and is a great partner in testing ideas.”

Partner, Magic Circle Law Firm

“I was going through a very difficult period professionally and personally. Claire helped me not only to get through it, but to come out stronger than ever. I cannot recommend her highly enough.”

Partner, US Law Firm

“Claire is a superb coach. Her approach is to identify and challenge behaviour, practices and methods used in the context of one’s whole life in order for the individual to discover and implement a better way. Claire’s own professional background meant that she quickly understood the environment in which I work and she showed remarkable insight, kindness and loyalty during the coaching sessions. I would highly recommend her as an executive coach.”

Partner, International Law Firm

“Claire has been a fantastic coach. I had joined the process feeling tired and frustrated, and uncertain around the direction of my career. Claire brought my work practices and behaviours into sharp focus, and how these could be holding me back. We explored a number of concepts around leadership, influence, and feeling in control. She helped to bring clarity, structure and a new resolve to achieve my ambitions. It has been an invaluable experience, and one I would recommend to anyone looking to develop professionally.”

Senior Counsel, Pharma

“I reached a point in my career where I wanted to achieve and sustain ambitious stretch targets (more than doubling my existing output), but couldn’t clearly see a way to do that. With this ultimate goal firmly in mind, Claire worked with me to focus on the “why” and “how” in a structured and intentional manner. We identified priorities and efficiencies in my personal, social and professional life to eliminate wasted time and wasted opportunities, and optimise my approach to growth and balance. My journey through my coaching sessions also triggered new ideas around leadership and contribution to the firm, which expanded my horizons in positive and constructive ways. I feel that my behaviours at work and at home are much stronger and leaner as a result of Claire’s excellent coaching. I am well on my way to achieving my business goals, and am more resilient and creative in every other aspect. Brilliant experience.”

Partner, US Law Firm

"Claire has the rare ability to see through the fog to the very heart of an issue, and then skilfully lead individuals and teams to work together effectively to achieve their shared goals. She is passionate about enabling individuals and reinvigorating tired teams to find new ways of working together. Claire stands out from the crowd, delivers clear messages effectively, and inspires teams to find positive ways forward. She is practical, inspirational and driven."

Trustee, National Charity

“Claire is a hugely positive, supportive and insightful individual. She has the valuable skill of being able to help me identify options and strategies that I would not have thought of on my own and to guide me towards the optimal solution to a challenging candidate.”

CEO, IT company

“I have really enjoyed my coaching sessions with Claire over the last six months. Claire was informative, professional, creative and challenging throughout - exactly what I needed!  As the sessions progressed I could see how I was looking at things differently and using the techniques and thought processes discussed to tackle different situations. The coaching sessions have enabled me to approach situations with a renewed confidence which has aided my own effectiveness in my job role to no end and in turn had an impact on the team and the business.”

Emerging Leader, now Director of Client Services, PR & Marketing Company

"After every interaction with Claire I come away with greater clarity and focus.  She’s not afraid to ask the difficult questions and this is where I’ve had the most learning.  My confidence as a leader has grown exponentially thanks to Claire’s coaching and this has had huge benefits for our organisation too."

Director, Not for Profit

“Claire is a wonderful guide as you seek out ways to deliver your vision, to search your soul, to get body and mind working together, to tame your demons and make tangible progress in the work that matters to you. ”

Entrepreneur

“I have found our shared experience of working together immensely helpful and thought provoking and many aspects have had an impact, not just in the workplace, but on my life in general. Coaching with you has given me the space to identify the reasons for certain situations, examine habits and behaviour that are no longer helpful and to help move towards my goals. I’ve also been able to identify what my leadership looks like and how to implement that. Above all you have increased my confidence to be able to achieve my ambitions.”

Director, Specialist Insurance Broker

“Having such a well prepared and professional executive coach has allowed me the opportunity to spend quality time thinking through the issues I am facing and, perhaps more importantly, readying myself for the issues which lie ahead. Having that headspace, and an environment in which my views were challenged in a constructive way, allowed me the clarity of thought to make wholesale changes to the business.”

Head of Division, Financial Services

"Claire’s common-sense approach to every situation we presented her with has brought focus and innovation to our succession planning process. Her independent thinking encouraged us to evaluate what we really needed and brought clarity to how we could achieve our goals. Claire’s energy is invaluable."aspect. Brilliant experience.”

Head of HR, Financial Services Group

Training

“Claire is a very talented & exceptional trainer.”

Regional Training Director, National Charity

“Claire created an innovative development programme for our top talent, starting with an intensive 3 month preparation phase. It is perhaps not so much her wide experience and insights, although these are considerable advantages, as her ability to harness our own resources to help with the development programme. She managed to get my colleagues to help her and enjoy the experience in a way that has not only achieved the primary objective but also improved communication across the board.”

CEO, Investment Management Company

“Claire was tasked with the development of certain of our senior staff. In addition, she was asked to analyse and report to the Board on their potential as future leaders within the Company. She adopted a firm but sensitive approach and quickly gained the trust and respect of those with whom she dealt. Her attitude throughout was highly professional. Her advice was sound and extremely helpful to us in our subsequent deliberations. We are delighted that Claire continues as part of our ongoing development programme.”

Chairman of Investment Management Company and Former Law Firm Managing & Senior Partner