Susanna Heley > Weightmans > London, England > Lawyer Profile
Weightmans Offices
85 FLEET STREET
LONDON
EC4Y 1AE
England
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Susanna Heley
Work Department
Solicitors Regulation
Position
Susanna is a Partner in the Solicitors Regulation department, specialising in regulatory law and professional disciplinary work for legal professionals. She is an experienced litigator, acting for solicitors, partners and employees of legal practices in all professional disciplinary matters including SRA investigations, applications and appeals relating to Practising Certificate conditions, disciplinary proceedings before SRA adjudicators, LeO complaints, referrals to the SDT, statutory appeals to the High Court, (challenging intervention decisions, appeals against sanctions and judicial review proceedings). Susanna advises on compliance and reporting obligations and has assisted COLPs and COFAs in relation to compliance investigations and applications for approval as role holders. She advises on the Separate Business Rule, applications for recognition and approval and Alternative Business Structures. Susanna’s litigation experience includes contractual disputes, challenging the refusal of professional indemnity cover, partnership issues, insolvency and general commercial disputes. She has a column in the Solicitors’ Journal as a regulatory lawyer and is a contributor for LexisNexis.
Career
Susanna is a co-author of the Law Society’s book on ‘The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal – law and practice’ published in December 2015 and a co-author of ‘The Solicitor’s Handbook’ – published in September 2019.
Memberships
Susanna is a member of the Professional Matters Committee and Past President (2013-2014) of the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society, a committee member and panel member of the Solicitors Assistance Scheme, and a member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers (ARDL).
Lawyer Rankings
London > Dispute resolution > Professional discipline
Recently merged with RadcliffesLeBrasseur LLP, Weightmans LLP is ‘without a doubt the leader in this field‘. The practice is highly experienced in representing healthcare professionals, and has enviable expertise in solicitor and legal services-related regulation. The team additionally acts in matters concerning architects and accountants. Richard Jolly is national health sector lead, while William Childs, Sam Flew, Anne Green and Simon Gomersall are also health sector specialists. Likewise highly rated, Susanna Heley ‘represents clients before the Solicitors Tribunal methodologically and effectively‘; Ian Sadler acts for medical defence organisations and healthcare professionals; Nigel West‘s ‘success rate is excellent‘; Alistair Hewitt is experienced in a range of disciplinary investigations; and Michaela Nicholas defends doctors, dentists, nurses and podiatrists before their regulatory bodies. Healthcare expert Stewart Duffy is an active legal director, while Alex Leslie and Richard Privett are experienced consultants. The ‘very competent‘ Tom Thurlow is a partner since May 2023.
London > Corporate and commercial > Partnership
Led by the ‘ever-excellent’ Andrew Cromby, who frequently handles partnership disputes, professional partnerships in management and restrictive covenants, Weightmans LLP provides ‘top level advice’ particularly in relation to the team’s niche offering in restructuring and insolvency matters in partnership practices. Alongside expertise in structuring LLPs and alternative business structures, the team is also instructed by clients in the health sector with Edwina Farrell leading on matters relating to medical partnerships. The firm’s June 2022 merger with RadcliffesLeBrasseur LLP saw legal partnership experts Susanna Heley and Nigel West join, bolstering the regulatory capabilities at the practice. Michelle Garlick, who is based in Manchester, provides compliance, regulatory support and assistance on partnership matters.
Lawyer Rankings
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Insurance > Clinical negligence: defendant
- Public sector > Education: institutions
- Public sector > Local government
- Corporate and commercial > Partnership
- Insurance > Personal injury: defendant
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Transport > Travel
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Water
- Transport > Aviation
- Private client > Court of protection
- Private client > Family
- Employment > Health and safety
- Public sector > Healthcare
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media: Video games
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Real estate > Residential property
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Transport > Shipping
- Public sector > Administrative and public law
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market
- Employment > Employers