Allen & Overy will welcome Susanna Charlwood as a partner in the Litigation & Investigations group in London. The addition comes as the firm continues to invest in its commercial litigation practice to advise corporate clients on their most complex challenges. Susanna is an accomplished litigator, with a wealth of expertise across transportation, mining, telecoms, energy, and utilities sectors. She will join from Shearman & Sterling where she is currently a partner.
Karen Seward, Allen & Overy’s global head of litigation, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome Susanna back to A&O. Her broad experience across commercial and corporate disputes makes her a valuable addition to the litigation practice and bolsters our bench strength at a time when our corporate clients are operating in a trading environment fraught with uncertainty. We have seen a sustained uptick in corporate and commercial disputes over the last six months. Susanna’s versatility will be a huge asset in helping our clients manage their most business critical risks. Her diversified sector knowledge, including advising alternative asset managers, will also give further depth to our practice in areas that we have identified as strategic priorities. As the current economic cycle continues to present new challenges to businesses, we are determined to be down in the trenches with our clients.”
Susanna arrives with a proven track-record on big-ticket commercial litigation, including insolvency and restructuring related litigation. Building on her experience, A&O’s global platform and warehouse of blue chip corporate clients provides significant opportunities to continue developing her thriving practice. The move also marks a return ‘home’ for Susanna, having trained with and spent a number of years as an associate at A&O earlier in her career.
“We are committed to investing in our Litigation and Investigations practice to provide the highest quality service to our clients. This of course relies on the quality of our people, and attracting and recruiting the best talent in the market”, commented Arno Chakrabarti, London head of litigation. “Susanna is well known and highly regarded by our partners, and I know that the team – myself included – are looking forward to working closely with her.”
“I’m delighted to be returning to A&O. I still have many friends from my time at the firm and look forward to making new connections, both with colleagues and clients. A&O has an enviable corporate client base across a multitude of sectors. I’m looking forward to further developing the firm’s commercial litigation offering by supporting corporate and other clients in their most challenging contentious situations,” commented Susanna Charlwood.
