Seasoned litigation partner joins Shoosmiths’ growing team
August, 2017 - London, England
National law firm Shoosmiths has appointed international litigation partner Susannah Wakefield to its insurance practice in London. Susie joins from Taylor Wessing in London where she was partner and head of the insurance practice.
Having qualified at Cameron McKenna in 1997, Susie moved to LeBoeuf in London and spent seven years in their New York office handling complex high value (re)insurance litigation and arbitration. Susie was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2003 and remains dual-qualified. Susie then spent three years (2007 - 2010) in Bermuda as Counsel at local firm, ASW, specialising in insurance and commercial disputes, where she was admitted as a Barrister and Attorney before returning to London to accept a partnership with Taylor Wessing in 2010.
Susie will be working closely with Shoosmiths’ head of commercial insurance, Paul Eccles, to develop further the firm’s burgeoning insurance practice which has seen significant growth in the last three years. She has a broad practice with particular expertise in commercial insurance and reinsurance work, including acting for insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries and coverholders as well as policyholders, complementing Shoosmiths’ team expertise and their focus.
Susie said: “Shoosmiths is a modern firm with an excellent reputation for its client service. The firm’s insurance practice has grown significantly and Shoosmiths has a compelling vision in how this offering will grow, a vision which I share. I very much look forward to working with Paul and the team to further build this already successful practice.”
Alex Bishop, head of dispute resolution and compliance at Shoosmiths, said: “Susie has very impressive sector expertise and experience in the insurance market with the profile to match. The insurance sector represents a key growth market for DRC and the Commercial Practice Group.
“As a result of a strategic focus on this sector over the last three years, insurance related fee income has increased significantly. Susie will work closely with us to build our practice and it is a delight to welcome her to the firm.”
In the most recent Chambers legal directory, Susie is noted for her ‘Collaborative approach’ and in the Legal 500 is described as an ‘outstanding leader’ with ‘…significant experience of litigation across England New York and Bermuda’. Susie is also listed in the International Who’s Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers 2014 – 2016 and Women in Business Law 2014 – 2016.
