Suzie is a partner in Reed Smith’s Global Commercial Disputes Group. She specialises in international arbitration, in particular investment treaty arbitration and public international law. Suzie is currently working on a significant high-value ad-hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules, as well as arbitrations under the rules of major international arbitration institutions, including the ICC and ICSID. Suzie also has experience of annulment applications and the enforcement of awards, as well as applications to remove arbitrators and English High Court proceedings under the Arbitration Act 1996.
She acts for respondent states, and has been involved in cases in the oil, gas, mining, energy and banking sectors. Suzie has experience dealing with disputes arising out of Bilateral Investment Treaties and the Energy Charter Treaty, dealing with such issues as jurisdiction, unlawful expropriation, unfair and inequitable treatment and denial of justice. The subject matter of the disputes she has worked on include oil transportation and transhipment, oil and gas exploration and production, power facilities and trading companies and finance. Her recent experience includes disputes over the alleged nationalisation of strategic assets, the effect and enforceability of stabilisation provisions, and breaches of other commercial agreements.
Suzie also has experience of regulatory investigations (including FCPA and OFAC investigations), and general commercial litigation. Suzie also has experience of advising companies in connection with issues of bribery and corruption, in particular the implications of the UK Bribery Act 2010.
Suzie previously served as office managing partner of Reed Smith’s Astana office. She regularly lectures to students in Kazakhstan on international arbitration issues.