This article is part of our Cambridge Spotlight series, profiling our lawyers based in our Cambridge office. In the series, we find out about their backgrounds, their journey through law and hear why Cambridge is important to them.
Claire Green is a Partner and co-leads our Technology Transactions Group in the Innovation department. She is a technology lawyer specialising in non-contentious technology matters, with a particular specialism in FinTech.
I knew I wanted to get into law when… I particularly enjoyed English at school and had a bit of a talent for arguing and negotiating. A careers teacher once told me that law might be the right place for me. As a child, I was regularly driven past the Taylor Vinters office on the way to school, so I knew about the firm from the start!
I came to be in Cambridge because… I was raised here. These days, I divide my time between Cambridge and London.
I chose technology law because… My career began in insolvency litigation, where I was involved in a dispute involving a tech business. Once the dispute settled, I was asked to handle some commercial work relating to the settlement. I really enjoyed the work which, rather than being a dispute, was about reaching a positive, collaborative ongoing working relationship . Coming from a litigation background, this came as a breath of fresh air, so I made a permanent switch. Working with cutting-edge and innovative businesses turned out to be a more enjoyable experience, playing to my strengths especially my negotiation skills.
The thing that motivates me most is… Getting the deal done for the client – it's not about winning every point, but about being able to reach the right result for the client to protect their interests and further their business in the process. I find the most rewarding thing is working with my clients as a seamless extension of their internal team. I like getting to know the business, the drivers, the personalities and the goals. That helps me be a better lawyer to my clients and really feel part of the team and a sense of achievement with them once we have done a deal.
The work achievement I'm most proud of is… I've negotiated with most of the world's leading banks across multiple jurisdictions for my clients. There was a time when I was an MA, negotiating five full banking platform deals at once with different banks across multiple time zones as part of a large scale project for the client. It was a lot of work but quite an accomplishment once it was done.
The thing that makes Cambridge such a hub of innovation is… It's the culture here. The environment allows for people and businesses push boundaries and be at the cutting edge, which is evident in the university and the ecosystem at large.
One opportunity from the merger is… The merger has opened up the chance for wider resources, enabling us to provide a more in-depth service than we could before. In my sector, this includes adding to our financial services capability. I work with Charlotte Wilson on FinTech – she's a regulatory lawyer. Before, I would have had to outsource this kind of work.
Somebody that has inspired me during my career is… There have been a lot of people over my career, but two stand out for me: Matt Meyer and Patrick Farrant. Both have been great inspirations. Matt and I worked closely together when I shifted to commercial law; he introduced me to the world of FinTech and technology and taught me an incredible amount about client service.
Patrick has been my team leader for the past 13 years and is an incredible lawyer. We work in different areas of technology, but his technical ability and calm presence is a real inspiration to me.
One thing I wish I knew when I started my career is… That a career isn't a straight line – this applies to your career path, the law and technology. I changed my practice area when I was three years qualified. Being adaptable is crucial, and your career can evolve with you. You're more likely to get further in your career if you enjoy what you're doing, and there will always be peaks and troughs along the way.
One future trend in my practice area is… The ongoing evolution of AI technology and its increasing application in various areas. In the FinTech space, operational resilience is a huge trend, with increasing legislation to ensure resilient systems and processes to prevent future financial disasters like those seen in the 2008 recession.
The one thing you don't know about me is... I am a professionally trained ballet dancer. I've done ballet since I was two and a half and also used to teach too.