Claire looks back on her time with us, where late-night teamwork and camaraderie left a lasting impression. Now Head of Legal and Compliance at Bridgestone EMEA R&D, she’s driving cultural change in a global organisation, drawing on experience across IT, pharma, and automotive. Her story is one of adaptability, commercial instinct, and a passion for building strong, values-led teams.
What is your fondest memory of your time at Eversheds Sutherland?
This may sound bizarre, but some of my fondest memories were the late evenings in the Birmingham office, where there was a last-minute dash to finish a project, contract, or due diligence exercise, and all hands were on deck. The camaraderie, laughter, teamwork, and like-mindedness really struck me and was so infectious. It was a time when I made some great friendships, and the sense of team was very evident. Teamwork holds a very significant place in my cultural priorities.
You’ve held legal roles across industries like IT, pharma, and now automotive. What drew you to Bridgestone and the mobility space?
The opportunity to drive a legal and compliance culture within an organisation that – despite its size and brand – needed to significantly develop its legal governance. Together with my European counterparts, we’ve been putting legal and compliance on the agenda and bringing its importance to the fore. It’s been challenging at times, but very rewarding.
What’s been the most surprising part of your career journey since leaving the firm?
The diverse mix of industries I’ve worked in, which shows just how transferable our legal skills are, and how it’s OK to take a leap of faith into a different industry.
You’ve worked in-house both before and after your time at the firm – what is it you value about in-house work?
I pride myself on being commercially minded, so I thoroughly enjoy working closely with our sales and operational teams – something you can miss when working in private practice. Some say I’d make a very good salesperson… maybe that will be my next calling!
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
“When you qualify as a lawyer, everyone will think you know everything about the law. Don’t’ pretend, be straight when you do not know the answer.” I was given this advice during a vacation scheme, before even completing my Legal Practice Course. It was very salient advice and one I tell students frequently.
If you could go back and give your trainee self one piece of advice, what would it be?
You might be not the smartest, but your determination and hard work will pay off, so stick at it girl.
What's one thing people might not know about you?
Back in the day (I won’t say how far), I was ranked in the top ten UK rankings in England for 200m sprints at U21 level.