Shoosmiths LLP

Partner, Commercial

Susie Wakefield is head of commercial insurance and specialises in commercial litigation, arbitration and (re)insurance.  She also advises clients in the energy and commodities sectors and has represented clients in complex, multimillion-dollar disputes with multijurisdictional aspects.  Susie has practised in New York, Bermuda and London and has advised clients in litigation in federal and state courts in NY, the Supreme Court of Bermuda, and the High Court.  Susie has also handled disputes under the Arbitration Act 1996, the Federal Arbitration Act, the Bermuda International Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1993 and the UNCITRAL Model Law as well as ad hoc arbitrations and under various institutional rules in the UK, Europe, and the US.

Susie advises on a broad array of claims and coverage disputes, including issues arising in connection with Bermuda Form policies and reinsurance arrangements involving captives and segregated account companies.  She has advised on complex policy wording reviews; significant P&C losses; claims involving allegations of fraud, misrepresentation and nondisclosure; breach of warranty claims; claims for contribution from co-insurers; and insolvency-related matters.  Her work spans many lines of risk including: CGL, property, business interruption, construction, energy, space, marine cargo, financial lines including D&O, E&O/PI, financial institutions PI, pensions trustees liability, POSI and liability including product liability, product recall, public liability, employers’ liability, IT, media, IP, and cyber.

Susie qualified in the UK in 1997, New York (2003) and Bermuda (2008).

Susie co-authored the ‘Lloyd’s and London Market’ chapter of volume seven of the New Appleman on Insurance Law Library Edition, 2012.

Susie is ranked in both Chambers UK and Chambers Global 2021 where she is described as “very responsive, detailed and picks up on issues quickly" and "really enjoyable to work with-clients are better for having her involved".  Susie is listed in the International Who’s Who of Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers and Women in Business Law.

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Susie joined Shoosmiths in 2017 from Taylor Wessing LLP where she was a partner in the disputes & investigations team and head of insurance (London). She practised at LeBoeuf in New York for 7 years