About Susanna
I help professionals – principally but not exclusively solicitors - navigate the increasingly fraught world of regulation. From AML and LASPO compliance, through to privilege and duties in litigation to toxic work environments and dishonesty allegations, I take very seriously that my clients trust me to safeguard their professional future
Susanna Heley is a legal director specialising in professional regulation with a particular focus on legal services. She advises law firms and individuals in all branches of the legal profession on professional obligations, including AML compliance and self-reports.
Susanna guides clients through disciplinary and regulatory proceedings and is a well-known advocate in the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. Much of her work is highly sensitive and confidential and will never be published. She has worked with all tiers of the profession from the largest international firms to sole practitioners, trainees and employees.
A co-author of The Solicitors Handbook and textbooks on practice and procedure in the SDT and SRA investigations, Susanna is an acknowledged expert in regulatory law. She is a technical editor of Halsburys Legal Services volume and writes a quarterly digest for Practical Law reviewing all published SRA and SDT decisions identifying developing trends in regulation.
Susanna advises on compliance and reporting obligations and has assisted COLPs and COFAs in relation to investigations and applications for approval as role holders and firm authorisation. She frequently advises on cases involving issues such as alleged sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment, dishonesty, improper conduct of litigation and AML requirements.
Susanna's litigation experience is varied and includes contractual disputes, construction and procurement issues, challenging the refusal of professional indemnity cover via arbitration, partnership issues, insolvency and general commercial disputes. She has acted for institutional clients, companies and individuals in a variety of courts and ADR processes.
She's a wonderful support who prides herself on the level of service she offers and the care that comes with it. She's very well respected and admired by the profession as a whole.
Experience
Advised hundreds of solicitor clients on SRA investigations and SDT proceedings across a wide variety of issues, most commonly including:
- dishonesty
- Accounts Rules breaches
- AML requirements
- sexual misconduct and harassment
- duties in litigation
Susanna Heley is an excellent advocate, who is very persuasive in her arguments. Has a wealth of case law, and is clear with her points. To be recommended as an advocate before the SDT Tribunal any day.
Notable work
Most of Susanna's work is highly confidential. Recently published cases include:
- SRA -v- Teacher Stern & Ors (SDT)
- SRA -v- Sa’id (SDT and High Court)
- SRA -v- Hogarty & Vickery (SDT)
- SRA -v- Dadu (SDT
She is incredibly enthusiastic and looks for creative answers to legal problems, which can be very successful. She has a great enthusiasm for work and knowledge of the law.
Education
Obtained a dual honours degree in Law with German from the University of Sheffield, including a year at the University of Vienna. Undertook the LPC at Nottingham Law School.
Memberships
- International Bar Association
- City of London Solicitors Company
Publications
- The Solicitors Handbook 2019, 2022 and 2024
- Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal (2nd ed)
- SRA Investigations
- [Practical Law Quarterly Reviews]