Professional Background
Suzanne completed a Bachelor of Laws (Graduate) in 2000 at the University of Western Sydney and a Bachelor of Science (Architecture) in 1992 at the University of Sydney. She joined Champion Legal in January 2000 and was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW in 2001 and of the High Court in 2003.
Suzanne was a member of the inaugural Steering Committee for ConnectionX and served on the Committee from 2001 to 2005. ConnectionX, an initiative of the Western Sydney Business Connection, provides networking, advocacy and development to young business professionals aged 25 to 40. Suzanne has been a Director and Board member of Arlberg Ski Club Limited since 2002.
Current Practice
Suzanne is an Associate in the Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution team. She also heads up the Estate Litigation team. Suzanne has worked in these areas since she joined Champion Legal in 2000, and has gained a wide range of experience in assisting clients in identifying and managing risks, as well as acting for clients in disputes in the following areas:
Estate Litigation: Family Provision Act claims, Wills Probate and Administration Act claims, and intestate estates. Suzanne has acted for both Plaintiffs and Defendants / Executors in estate litigation matters. Her work in this area includes advising clients as well as acting for them in settlement negotiations, mediations and Supreme Court proceedings.
Corporate / Commercial: Partnership disputes, contractual disputes, trade practices, corporate recovery, professional negligence, building and construction disputes and intellectual property issues and disputes. Suzanne’s work in these areas includes advising clients as well as acting for them in settlement negotiations, mediations and Court proceedings. She has experience in a variety of courts including the Local, District and Supreme Court.
Industry Experience
Suzanne has acted for a wide range of clients, including both corporate clients and private clients.
Some of the matters that Suzanne has been involved in included:
Estate Litigation:
- Acting for a beneficiary in a contested estate matter in relation to testamentary capacity. The estate was worth approximately $30million and the matter was set down for a 5 week hearing, however, it settled after 3 days of hearing.
- Acting for the executor and a number of beneficiaries in a contested estate matter involving a dispute challenging the validity of 3 competing Wills. The estate was worth approximately $20million. The matter settled at a privately arranged mediation.
- Acting for the executor in a contested estate matter in relation to the alleged existence of an informal will document, as well as testamentary capacity. The estate was worth over $1million and judgment, along with an indemnity costs order, was in favour of our client.
- Acting for the de-facto widow in an intestate estate. The matter settled following informal settlement negotiations.
- Acting for the executor in a family provision act claim by a spouse involving both a residence and successful business. The matter settled at a court appointed mediation.
Corporate / Commercial:
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Acting for a large multinational company in relation to a damages claim arising out of the building and maintenance of an engine in a power station involving both national and international parties. The matter settled after mediation.
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Acting for an engineering company in Supreme Court proceedings in relation to a multimillion dollar construction project against a large multinational. The matter settled prior to hearing.
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Acting in a partnership dispute, over a number of pharmacies, in a week long Supreme Court hearing.
