Practice Overview
Susan represents all parties including children, vulnerable adults, prospective adopters and local authorities, as well as extended family members. Her knowledge and approach to cases is enhanced by her substantial experience sitting as a tribunal judge, particularly in cases involving immigration, social security or human rights issues.
She has particular expertise in the following areas:
- Serious injuries to children; infant death and near fatal injuries;
- Complex neglect/emotional abuse;
- Sexual abuse of children, she has extensive experience of representing child and adult victims of inter-familial and/or generational abuse – leading junior in three-week High Court sexual abuse case involving four generations;
- Fabricated illness and other complex medical injury cases;
- Complex private law proceedings; representation of rule 9.5 Guardians and parents;
- Adoption, Special Guardianship and Wardship;
- Forced marriage
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What the Directories Say
"She works really hard to understand the issues in the case and she then presents them fairly and thoroughly." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
"She has good advocacy skills and is good at dealing with complex cases." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
"A fearless advocate." Band 3 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
"Susan has the skill to make even clients facing the most difficult hearings feel that their case has been put as strongly as they would have hoped." Band 4 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
"Sue gets to grips quickly with the real issues in the case. She is excellent with the most demanding of professional clients and ensures her instructing solicitor is very much part of the team even if they are not at the hearing." Band 4 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
"Susan has a very personable approach, and she's a very strong advocate with excellent legal knowledge." Band 4 - Chambers and Partners, 2023
"Personable with the client and a fighter like no one else." "She is friendly, knowledgeable, and works with a view towards conflict resolution." "One of the most dependable barristers you can instruct. She calmly gets to what is important in a case and is a breath of fresh air." Band 4 - Chambers and Partners, 2021
“She’s wonderfully kind, has lots of humility and makes clients see that she understands what’s happening to them.” Band 4 - Chambers and Partners, 2020
"Her approach to a case is always reassuring and she’s always exceptionally prepared." Chambers and Partners, 2019
"She is a very effective advocate." Chambers and Partners, 2019
"She is very well respected by judges and other lawyers. If she makes a point in a case she is listened to because she is never known for saying things for the sake of it." Chambers and Partners, 2018
"She is a very balanced lawyer; in court she is an excellent judge of when to press forward and when to hold back. She is very caring towards clients and gives excellent advice." Chambers and Partners, 2017
"An excellent all-rounder, who is very experienced and empathetic with clients." Chambers and Partners, 2016
"She will fight her corner but she’s a realistic advocate." Chambers and Partners, 2016
"An experienced junior respected by her peers for her work representing guardians, parents and local authorities in some of the most serious public children law cases." Chambers and Partners, 2015
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Notable Cases
Re G & H (Children: Placement for Adoption) [2023] EWFC 3
J, G And H (Children: Supervision Orders) [2021] EWHC 884 (Fam) (29 March 2021)
A Local Authority v JK & Anor [2021] EWHC 33 (Fam)
A (A Child: Flawed Placement Application) [2020] EWFC B2 (10 January 2020)
Re M (Female Genital Mutilation Protection Order: No Order on Application) [2019] EWHC 527 (Fam)
A v SM & Anor [2012] EWHC 435 (Fam) – Forced marriage case heard by Baker J which included consideration of applications for forced marriage protection orders under Part 4A of the Family Law Act.
London Borough of Haringey v S [2007] 1 FLR 387, [2006] EWHC 2001 (Fam) – 8-year-old Angolan child accused of witchcraft involving serious physical and emotional abuse. Concurrent criminal proceedings. ([2006] EWCA Crim 749, [2006] 2 Cr App R (S) 87)
News
Chambers and Partners
Ranked
Band 3 - 2024
Chambers and Partners
Ranked
Band 4 - 2023
Chambers and Partners
Ranked
Band 4 - 2022
Chambers and Partners
Ranked
Band 4 - 2021
Chambers and Partners
Ranked
Band 4 - 2020
