Clare Crawford

Clare is a Senior Associate based in our Glasgow office. She is also a Solicitor Advocate and appears regularly in courts throughout Scotland. Clare trained with Charles Hennessy & Co and has specialised in civil and commercial litigation since the beginning of her career. She qualified as a solicitor in Scotland in 2007. Clare has worked with Kennedys since it opened in Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2015 and has made a major contribution to the development of the firm’s liability practice in Scotland. She has recently completed the firm’s Future Leaders programme.

Clare represents insurers and self-insureds across the full range of liability matters. Her caseload includes employers’ liability, disease and fatal and catastrophic injury cases and other complex and high-value claims including allegations of historic abuse. She has extensive experience in dealing with fatal accident inquiries and in acting for public sector organisations, including local authorities. 

Clare also has the advantage of having acted for claimants in previous roles, which gives her invaluable tactical and technical insight in advising clients and dealing with opponents. She has a particular knowledge of the emergency services, having worked in-house for Strathclyde Fire & Rescue for two years and having also previously acted for the police authorities. She is an expert in data protection and freedom of information legislation and regularly advises on compliance issues. She has also contributed to Kennedy’s cyber initiative.

Clare has an excellent reputation in the Scottish market. She excels in using her technical knowledge to develop junior members of the liability team. She also tutors part time at the University of Strathclyde on the postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, where she has taught civil litigation, advocacy, personal injury litigation and claims handling to those joining the profession since 2013.

Clare has contributed to two leading Scottish texts – Civil Procedure & Practice (now in its fourth edition) and Practical Advocacy in the Sheriff Court: Skills for Successful Practice. She also regularly delivers training for clients and colleagues.

Clare is a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL). She is a member of FOIL’s Rules and Procedure Committee for Scotland. She is also involved in mentoring the Schools Mock Court Project, which is led by the Right Hon Lady Dorrian, with three of her six teams in 2017/18 placed in the finals.

Clare has been involved in a number of landmark cases. Her track record of positive results gives clients the confidence to take decisions based on clear and straightforward advice in relation to all their options, including remedies that might not typically be considered.

Qualifications

• Qualified in Scotland in 2007