Clare Barnard

Clare is an associate in Dechert’s global Trial, Investigations and Securities practice specialising in multijurisdictional bribery and corruption investigations, as well as being a qualified yoga teacher.

Clare studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University but had always considered a career in the Law. Clare taught windsurfing around her studies for the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course. In her mid-twenties, she left beach life in the Dominican Republic in order to start her training contract at the London office of a US law firm. On qualification, Clare joined their global disputes practice where she developed her experience in complex commercial litigation, civil fraud, investigations and financial regulation.

Clare moved to Dechert in order to specialise in white collar crime. She has most recently worked on the landmark Airbus SE case: a global investigation into allegations of fraud, bribery and corruption, and subsequent coordinated settlements with the UK Serious Fraud Office, French Parquet National Financier, U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of State.

Clare is co-chair of Dechert London’s Global Women’s Initiative, and seeks to collaborate with new and existing clients in diversity events and initiatives. She is also an Aspiring Solicitors Ambassador, having attended comprehensive schools and received a full bursary while at Oxford. In 2020, Clare received a Dechert Exceptional Teachers award for her mentoring of junior lawyers.

Clare loves to teach things that she loves to others. Clare trained as a yoga teacher over the course of a year in her spare time in order to fill the gap from no longer teaching windsurfing. She finds that yoga balances the more contentious aspects of her day job and brings a greater sense of mindfulness into her work. Clare enjoys teaching a free weekly lunchtime yoga class to her colleagues in the office, which is attended by all levels of fee-earners and staff. Clare continues to windsurf, has most recently developed her kitesurfing skills, and remains happiest in, on or under the water.