Shepherd and Wedderburn

Banking and Head of Clean Energy

Clare is the head of Shepherd and Wedderburn's Clean Energy sector and, as a Partner in our Banking team, also leads our Project Finance practice. She has been involved in many high-profile and innovative finance transactions in the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Clare has been active in the UK energy sector since the late 1990s. In the clean energy sector, she advises a variety of clients on projects spanning various clean energy technologies (including onshore renewables (wind, hydro, solar, biomass and battery), offshore wind (fixed, floating and tidal), carbon sequestration and decarbonisation).

Clare’s involvement in infrastructure started in the late 1990s. Her experience extends across all procurement models – including PFI, PPP, NPD and latterly Hub – and she has worked for a variety of private and public sector clients across a significant number of infrastructure transactions in the transport, healthcare, education and defence sectors.

In both sectors Clare represents developers, lenders, consortia/sponsors, and authorities both north and south of the border; she typically leads the multi-disciplinary team required to bring deals swiftly to financial close.

Clare is often asked to speak at industry events on topics such as onshore and offshore wind, sustainability, ports and finance. She is a frequent contributor to the legal and national press on clean energy topics, and was a director on the board of industry body RenewableUK between 2019 and 2022. Clare also led the Edinburgh Climate Compact from 2020-2025. She remains an active member, working with leading businesses and employers in Edinburgh to take action to contribute to decarbonisation and to radically reduce the capital city’s carbon emissions.

Trained Shepherd and Wedderburn; admitted as a solicitor in Scotland 1996; assistant solicitor/senior solicitor Dundas & Wilson C.S 1996-2001; admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales 1998; associate McGrigors 2001-03; senior associate Dundas & Wilson C.S LLP 2003-06; partner Pinsent Masons LLP 2006-2012; partner Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP 2012 to date.

Law Society of Scotland; Law Society (England and Wales).

University of Strathclyde (1993 LLB (Hons), 1994 DipLP); College of Law, London (1998).

Swimming, tennis, travel.