Claire read law at Cambridge University and trained in a London City law firm qualifying as a solicitor in 1996. She practiced as a family lawyer in England and then worked in Kosovo as a legal advisor for the United Nations before returning home to Northern Ireland to pursue her legal career.

Claire joined Francis Hanna and Co in 2004 to set up the Family Law Department. She was made a partner in 2010 with overall responsibility for the Divorce and Family Law Department.

Claire specialises in all aspects of family and relationship law including divorce, financial resolution, child and domestic violence matters. She also provides advice and representation in relation to civil partnerships, international family law cases and prenuptial agreements. She represents both parents and children in public law cases having been appointed to the Children Order Panel in 2007 and the Guardian ad Litem Panel of Solicitors in 2012. She was appointed to the International Children Law Panel of Solicitors in 2019.

Claire is an accredited collaborative lawyer and family mediator. She has been selected by Women's Aid to provide legal advices in their advice forum. She has served as a Director of Gingerbread and Director of the Children's Law Centre. Claire chairs the Belfast Domestic Violence Partnership Protection and Justice Working group. She has been invited to present at the European Conference on Domestic Violence, Stormont and the Vital Voices International Institute on Gender Based Violence.

Claire has a keen interest in high value financial settlements and has specialist experience representing clients in divorce proceedings and matrimonial negotiations involving complex business valuations and international issues.