Claire Womersley

HFW

Claire Womersley had an unconventional route into law. Before joining HFW, she worked at sea on P&O/Princess Cruises, reaching the rank of First Officer and became one of very few senior female navigators.

This experience put her in the right position when the most bizarre shipping story in years gripped the world’s attention. During that incident last year, when the Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal for six days, Womersley was instructed for the ship owners and P&I insurers of the container vessel.

If a Hot 100 spot is a rare accolade, Womersley does have one that is even rarer, for a lawyer at least. Late last year, she was awarded the Merchant Navy Medal for services to women and diversity in the maritime industry. In a very male-dominated industry, Womersley wants to make sure women who go to sea do not face the same challenges she faced when she first signed on at the age of 19.