7BR

Family Law; Public Inquiries; Personal Injury

Susannah Johnson is a highly experienced multi-disciplinary barrister who undertakes family work, public inquiry work and civil cases arising from sexual and physical abuse.

Family

Susannah regularly appears in the High Court in complex public and private law cases concerning children, including those involving serious and complex injuries, parental alienation, international child abduction and international adoption.  She acts for parents, guardians and local authorities and also has experience in forced marriage and Court of Protection cases. She has attracted positive comment on her advocacy skills from both clients and the judiciary.

Public Inquiries

Susannah undertakes public inquiry work and is renowned for her sound judgment and sensitive approach.  During 2020 and 2021 she was instructed by Switalskis in the Lambeth investigation within the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and represented 28 Core Participants.

Susannah is currently instructed as one of the junior counsel to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry.

Personal Injury

Susannah has particular expertise in representing and advising adults and children, in recent and non-recent sexual and physical abuse in institutional settings and is known for her sensitive approach, sound judgment.  Susannah has been instructed by the Official Solicitor and has extensive experience of group litigation.

Called to the Bar 1996; Middle Temple.

Publications of note:

‘Challenges in cases of fabricated and Induced illness’ (co-author), Family Law Journal.

‘Children Giving Evidence in Family Proceedings: Time for a Change’ (co-author), Family Law Journal.

Pupil supervisor;  mentor to junior member of chambers.

Regular contributor to chambers seminars on topics of interest to professional clients.

Volunteer work:

7BR outreach work in secondary school sector to encourage underrepresented groups to consider a career at the bar.

Bridging the Bar: formulated, co-managed and taught on chambers-based advocacy programme for underrepresented groups; student mentor.

10,000 Black Interns: advocacy trainer.

The Schools Consent Project: outreach work in schools teaching children about the issue of consent in the context of sexual offences.

Honourable Society of Middle Temple: equality and diversity and ethics workshop; chair and finance officer of scholarship interview panel.

Basic Italian.

Midland Circuit; South Eastern Circuit; Family Law Bar Association; Personal Injury Bar Association; Association of Child Abuse Lawyers.

BA (Hons); LLB (Hons); BVC.