The practice of Clements and Porter was founded by two partners, Elspeth Clements and David Porter in 1979. Prior to setting up the practice, Elspeth Clements had worked for the GLC Architects Housing Division and David Porter for the London Borough of Camden Architects Housing Division. As a result, both brought considerable expertise in housing design to the practice.

Like many small practices initial commissions consisted of renovation and extensions to houses for domestic clients. This developed into a larger range and size of projects. The practice is currently 9 strong and specialises in residential projects in inner urban and difficult sites. This includes regenerating redundant industrial sites and buildings to provide housing for both private and public clients.

Recent projects have included "loft" style apartments in Victorian warehouses, penthouse apartments on the top of existing occupied buildings, planning approvals for schemes on difficult infill sites.

The practice also works on the restoration and conversion of listed buildings and has worked on a number of projects in the Spitalfields area of east London following the recommendations from the local authority. The practice is approved as conservation architects in the London boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Conservation work has frequently involved the successful negotiation of grants.

New build work ranges from one off houses for private clients to schemes for both public and private developers. New build work has involved both traditional and Design and Build procurement methods and the practice is happy to provide a sole point of contact for consultants.

Many projects, as they involve inner urban sites, require a mixed use development to meet with planning requirements. The practice has useful expertise in community, restaurant, office and health work. Recently completed mixed use schemes include a conversion of a warehouse which has a restaurant on the ground floor and the conversion of a hostel for a housing association to provide 15 residential plots and a community hall and creche.

Services offered by the practice include Health and Safety Planning Supervision, interior design and space planning, party wall negotiations and project management. Elspeth Clements has worked as an expert witness in cases involving disability adaptations, building defects and professional services.

The practice has been approved by the Construction Directorate of the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions as reaching the required technical, managerial and financial standards (Constructionline).