Commercial

Banking and Finance Litigation

A core area, with an emphasis on contentious banking, factoring, (non-consumer) finance law and security issues.

Contractual Disputes

Another focus of Susanne’s practice from substantial breach of warranty actions in the High Court to multi track damages claims in the county courts.

Professional Negligence

Susanne is regularly retained to act in professional negligence litigation, especially in cases with a strong financial flavour (solicitors, accountants, financial advisors).

Insurance

Susanne is regularly instructed to appear for a major international insurer covering trial and advisory work in the High Court and in county court actions.

Partnership

Susanne acts and advises in partnership disputes with a focus on solicitors’ and accountants’ professional practices.

Trial Advocacy

Susanne is recognised as an experienced and effective trial advocate.
Her Legal 500 2008 entry commended her for having “performed very well in some tricky cases”.
Legal 500 2009 recommends her as a specialist in banking and finance disputes.
Legal 500 2010 recommends her as an experienced commercial litigator.

REPORTED CASES

Jolley v Cartmel Ltd [2000] 3 EGLR 68
[construction of contractual provision and the right to rescind for breach – led by David Berkely QC]

Rosling King v Rothschild Trust [2002] EWHC (Ch) 1346 and commentary in The Lawyer, June 2002
[resisting solicitor’s claim to recover fees grossly in excess of costs estimate]

Russell v Finn [2002] EWCA Civ 399 (CA)
[resisting appeal of trial judge’s findings of fact – led by David Berkley QC]

In the matter of Ultra Motorhomes International Ltd v Ultra Vehicle Design Ltd and Behlke Electronic GmbH [2005] EWHC 872 (Ch), Lloyd J
[preliminary issue trial on jurisdiction and applicable law in a complex cross border insolvency case.]

In the matter of Ultra Motorhomes International Ltd v Ultra Vehicle Design Ltd and Behlke Electronic GmbH [2006] EWHC 3236 (Ch), Patten J
[trial of complex title dispute over substantial assets between the supervisor of the CVA of an (insolvent) UK company and its German customer with an apparent security interest over the asset]

Highwater Estates Ltd v Evelyn Graybill [2009] EWHC 1192 (QC)
[Successfully represented defendant in a preliminary issue trial asserting claimant's failure to comply with notice provisions of a share sale agreement. This effectively shaved £2,000,000 off the claim, and the case settled without further litigation.]

AXA Sun Life Services Plc v Campbell Martin Ltd (and 4 further cases) [2011] EWCA Civ 133
Represented AXA on fresh determination by Court of Appeal of preliminary issues concerning the effect of certain clauses in a standard form agreement between AXA and its appointed representatives and UCTA reasonableness of those clauses - led by Simon Picken QC.

Mediation

Susanne is developing her practice as a mediator following her CEDR accreditation in January 2007. She also has considerable experience as an advocate appearing in complex/high value mediations of commercial, chancery and professional negligence cases and has a strong track record of successfully settling the majority of her mediated cases.