Claire Cooke was born, raised and educated in South Africa and is fluent in both English and Afrikaans. She completed her BA at Rhodes University and her LLB at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University and converted her qualifications when she emigrated to New Zealand. Claire holds a practicing certificate issued by the New Zealand Law Society and is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Claire joined Cone Marshall in 2009 and has been mentored by both Karen Marshall and Geoffrey Cone in the area of international trust and tax planning. During her time at the firm, Claire has developed into a competent and skilled advisor who builds a rapport with clients and pays careful attention to their particular circumstances and needs.

Claire is a director of trust companies in the role of trustee. She has a wealth of experience in the trust and tax planning area, particularly with regards to the settlement and management of trusts, companies and limited partnerships in New Zealand and abroad and the migration of companies to and from New Zealand. Claire particularly relishes the challenges associated with the restructuring of existing structures which span over several jurisdictions.