Expertise

Susan works on all types of commercial disputes with particular expertise in resolving and managing high value complex disputes about technology, data, transformation projects, commercial contracts, indemnities and warranties, shareholder and boardroom issues, professional negligence, pensions, tax, trusts and public law matters.

Susan is experienced in seeking and defending claims for all types of relief including damages for loss of profits, revenue and wasted expenditure, injunctions, rectification, declaratory relief and judicial review remedies against public authorities and central government.  

Susan acts for both national and international clients and has considerable experience of advising private companies and public bodies in a range of sectors, including financial services, health, transport, retail, utilities and technology.

Susan conducts claims by all forms of alternative dispute resolution and forums including structured negotiation, mediation, expert determination, adjudication, First Tier and Upper Tier Tribunals, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, Court of Justice of the European Union and Court of Human Rights. She has higher rights of audience in civil proceedings.

Susan is a CEDR accredited mediator and has an enviable track record of successfully resolving disputes without the need for formal proceedings. Susan often advises clients on how best to achieve a successful outcome behind the scenes without the other party being aware of her involvement. 

Susan uses technology to save costs and time such as artificial intelligence to streamline disclosure processes and project management tools to efficiently manage large or multi party claims and control costs. Susan routinely advises clients on innovative ways to finance litigation such as third party funding, conditional fee arrangements and after the event insurance and is used to conducting litigation with either her clients or opponents using these financing models.

Susan is also a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers.

Susan is the litigation relationship partner for a number of Addleshaw Goddard's key clients.

Examples of Susan's work include:

• Acting for Co-operative Insurance Group Limited in a claim against IBM (UK) Limited for substantial wasted expenditure arising out of a failed IT transformation programme
• Acting for clients defending numerous claims arising out of data breaches
• Acting for a number of NHS Foundation Trusts asserting claims that they are entitled to mandatory business rate relief due to their charitable status
• Acted for the Trustees of the Gleeds Pension Scheme on its application to court for directions about the status of its governing documentation which included numerous amendment documents which had to be executed as deeds and were not
• Acting on numerous shareholder disputes, joint venture disputes and unfair prejudice claims. Obtained relief for clients including reinstatement as employee/director, purchase of opposing parties' shares, taking control of the Company, securing buy outs and compliance with shareholders' agreements