Susannah is a Partner in the Firm’s Employment Department. She acts for employers and employees on contentious and non-contentious matters with experience of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court and Employment Tribunal. She works at the forefront of the legal landscape advising clients on matters arising out of the “gig” economy and is a recognised commentator in both the press and legal profession on matters relating to worker status. Susannah acted for Pimlico Plumbers in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in the landmark case on worker status and holiday pay respectively.
Susannah frequently advises businesses and individuals in relation to restrictive covenant, theft of confidential information and team move cases, including in respect of applications for injunctive relief. She is recognised in this area and has authored a chapter on the subject in the pre-eminent employment practitioners' textbook: Harvey on Industrial Relations and Employment Law.
Susannah also advises both businesses and senior individuals in relation to (and conducts) investigations, particularly (but not exclusively) in circumstances where there is a regulatory and/or serious reputational risk for her clients.
Susannah advises on strategic issues as well as on terminations, redundancies, settlement agreements, all aspects of discrimination and whistleblowing legislation, restrictive covenants, executive remuneration issues and corporate strategy and structuring issues. Susannah also has experience of advising on confidentiality and privacy issues in relation to both Court and Tribunal proceedings.
Susannah frequently advises C-Suite Executives on a wide-range of employment-related issues.
Susannah is recognised as having a strategic, pragmatic and commercial approach by her clients who come from a range of sectors including financial services, private equity, insurance, professional services, Fin Tech, design, fashion and recruitment.
Susannah is a member of the Firm’s Technology Group, Retail and Fashion Group and Recruitment Services Group and advises on start-up and scale-up issues for companies. Susannah is also a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association, the Association of Partnership Practitioners, and a board member of Cosmetic Executive Women.
Susannah undertakes regular pro-bono work. She represented the Jewish Labour Movement in relation to the referral of the Labour Party to the Equality and Human Rights Commission on issues of antisemitism. Susannah also advised the Criminal Bar Association in respect of the Equality Act issues arising out of the proposed extended operating hours. She also acted for the family of Siham Hamud in connection with the legal proceedings threatened by her school following her refusal to comply with the school's uniform policy on the grounds of her religious belief.
Key Experience
- Leading a piece of litigation up to the Supreme Court for Pimlico Plumbers on the complicated issue of employment status.
- Advising a number of Tech companies on issues around employment status in relation to the "gig" economy.
- Litigating in the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal defending a high profile individual and advising on related issues concerning privacy and confidentiality.
- Assisting on a piece of litigation for a family office in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, which considered the question of whether an individual was an employee and/or a member of an LLP.
- Acting as an investigator in relation to allegations of sexual misconduct.
- Advising clients from professional and financial services in relation to investigations into allegations of victimisation, sexual harassment and whistleblowing.
- Advising firms in the financial services and recruitment space on issues relating to team moves.
- Acting for a number of clients in successfully obtaining undertakings and interim relief in relation to the theft of confidential information and breaches of restrictive covenants.
- Negotiating high value settlements for individuals in respect of both sex discrimination and whistleblowing disputes across a wide range of industry sectors.
- Acting for a high profile individual in the exit from his senior financial services position and advised on the start-up of a new fund.
- Advising a number of Senior Executives from leading PLCs, Financial Services and the fashion sector in relation to the renegotiation of terms and exit terms.
Career History
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Managing Associate, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Associate, Mishcon de Reya
Solicitor, Mishcon de Reya
Trainee, Lovells LLP
Legal Practice Course at BPP
Leeds University (LLB Hons)