Farore Law

Employment

Managing Partner of Farore Law

Suzanne McKie KC has a full 30 years of experience of acting for clients in the employment and partnership fields, with a particular emphasis  on discrimination and whistle-blowing. She qualified in 1993 and became a QC in 2012 (now KC), and is a dual qualified solicitor and barrister. She has in-house experience having worked in a finance house for 2 years in 2015-2017 as a GC/Managing Director. She is a former Chair of the Employment Lawyers' Association and currently sits on 2 of its committees. Suzanne spent many years being instructed to act as "prosecuting counsel" for regulatory bodies, giving her insight into the management of regulatory issues. She sits on the legal panels/management committees of 4 charities. Suzanne is uniquely able to manage high-level litigation; provide advice at a very senior level; undertake advocacy and provide strategic commercial advice.

In the last 12 months Suzanne has represented a CEO/President in a multi-million pounds whistle-blowing claim against a mining company; represented John Bannerjee in his long-running whistle-blowing claim against RBC; acted for the former Adviser to an MP resulting in a significant damages award in the Employment Tribunal for discrimination, victimisation and harassment; a CEO of a finance house accused of gross misconduct; a CHRO in a sex discrimination claim; a Head of Global Marketing in a race discrimination claim; an equity partner accused of sexual harassment; and a senior partner in an entertainments agency accusing the agency of sex discrimination. She is currently representing a global magazine company in a claim brought by a senior executive for discrimination and harassment; and is acting for the House of Lords Peer, Lord Ranger, in relation to several discrimination claims.  She is at present also acting for a senior managing director in a private equity house in relation to a discrimination/bonus/carried interest claim involving the challenge to a "bad leaver" clause; a former equity partner in a neurodiversity disability discrimination claim and advising two FinTech and Med Tech start-ups.

Suzanne is a former Chair of the Employment Lawyers Association. She has worked in City Firms, in practice at Barristers Chambers and as a managing director/general finance house in London. With this wealth of cross board experience, Suzanne started Farore Law in 2017 and is its Managing Partner. She has featured in the legal directors as a Leading Individual for many years. She sits on the management committees/legal panels of four charities in the diversity arena. She lectures regularly and is a qualified mediator. She was made The Times Lawyer of the Week in June 2022.

Suzanne McKie KC specialises in employment and partnership law, in particular covering the areas of discrimination, whistle-blowing and misconduct. Suzanne's focus is on providing advice and advocacy services to Senior Executives, including partners, founders of businesses and other senior professionals in the finance, retail, consultancy, medical and legal fields. Suzanne and her firm also manage litigation from start to finish should commencement of legal proceedings be necessary. Suzanne and her team uniquely provide both advocacy and advisory services, providing a "one-shop" approach to litigation and case management. Suzanne also acts for companies, firms and provides a service for start-ups. Many of her whistle-blowing cases have involved allegations of breach of codes of conduct and legislation in the finance arena and involving market place abuses. Her discrimination claims cover all categories, including race, harassment, gender and equal pay, as well as disability - the primary focus with disability being mental illness and neurodiversity.

Suzanne represents private individuals who are accused of misconduct across all fields; she has particular expertise in analysing and challenging evidence and undertaking "mock-cross-examination" of clients accused of misconduct, for the purposes of assisting with disciplinary hearings and to advise on litigation or settlement. She has wide-ranging regulatory expertise for those professionals at risk of regulatory intervention.

As part of Farore Law she has created a dedicated Pro Bono Unit which advises and acts for clients referred to the firm by charities.

Publishable clients include Hearst Magazines; Sun Mark Ltd and Lord Ranger; John Bannerjee (in his long running whistle-blowing case against RBC). The vast majority of her clients are non-publishable as their cases/matters are not in the public domain. She has in the last year acted for equity partners, CHROs, CFOs, CTOs and CEOS; managing directors in finance houses, law firms, retail operations, fashion houses, Tech companies and in professional services firms, as well senior medical professionals and Agents in the entertainment field. In 2022, the Times made her Lawyer of the Week, following a damages award she achieved for one of her clients. Suzanne represents private individuals who are accused of misconduct across all fields; she has particular expertise in analysing and challenging evidence and putting those accused "through their paces" for the purposes of assisting with disciplinary hearings and to advise on litigation or settlement. She has wide-ranging regulatory expertise for those professionals at risk of regulatory intervention, and advises on the duties to self-report.

Employment Lawyers' Association; member of its Ethics and Pro Bono Committees

Nottingham University, First Class LLB (hons); qualified Barrister and Solicitor (London)

Suzanne lives in Surrey with her son and Cavapoo.