Episode 202 - Clare Quinn-Waters of Edwin Coe on Building a Growth Function from Scratch

Building a growth function from scratch has never been more important for law firms, yet it remains one of the hardest things to get right. It means bringing in new people, shaping roles that have never existed before, and responding to a shifting market, all while respecting a firm's culture and heritage. Getting that all right is no mean feat. 

On today's episode of the CMO Series Podcast, Will Eke is joined by Clare Quinn-Waters, Chief Growth Officer at Edwin Coe, a role she stepped into in September 2024, and one that still doesn't exist at most law firms. With a 25-year career spanning strategic leadership across legal, professional services, and recruitment, Clare brings a distinctive perspective on what it actually takes to build a growth engine inside a firm with strong heritage and even stronger ambitions.

Clare dives into:

• How her career across professional services and recruitment has shaped her approach to growth
• The state of the team when she joined and what was expected of a brand new Chief Growth Officer
• Her early priorities, what she changed immediately and what she deliberately left untouched
• How a CGO role differs from a traditional CMO or BD Director, and why that distinction mattered for Edwin Coe
• What the growth function looks like today and how her decade in recruitment has helped her hire the right people, with practical tips for other leaders building out their teams
• What's on the horizon for Edwin Coe's growth strategy over the next 6 to 12 months
• Her number one piece of advice for anyone building a growth function from the ground up