University of Stockholm, Sweden where she gained exposure to thought-leaders in the field, such as at the Stockholm Resilience Centre. She prepared a master thesis on law and the Planetary Boundaries discourse during this time, which further developed her research interests in the ways in which environmental law may be updated to fit more clearly to social-ecological contexts, and the transboundary dimensions of environmental law. She is also an observer to the UN Minamata Convention on Mercury and a member of the UN Expert Network on Harmony with Nature.

Prior to establishing Living Law, Susan worked for a number of years with the Scottish Government, where she supported the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC), with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and in Local Government, before spending a period with a large commercial firm. After completing her Masters (LLM), she further spent two years working with ClientEarth (the UK's leading public interest litigation non-governmental organisation), as a Project Leader for EU Energy and Coal within the Strategic Litigation programme. She established an EU-wide programme for ClientEarth to help drive and accelerate the energy transition and decarbonisation in Europe, working in partnership with leaders in the environmental field in Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, Turkey, and the UK, amongst others. This involved considerable engagement with public authorities and institutions, such as the European Commission, and provided key legal foundations for the 'Beyond Coal' Campaign in Europe. She is currently also involved in the movement to drive forward recognition and understanding of the Rights of Nature, collaborating with a network of high-ambition actors across the globe.  

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In her career to date, Susan has worked in various locations across the EU and with some of the country's (and indeed internationally) leading lawyers, academics, politicians, and policy-makers. Her resulting practical knowledge of the overall political and legal framework proves to be an invaluable asset to her clients – from the development of laws from conception, their implementation, and application in administrative and regulatory processes, through to their use in court.

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Susan's expertise covers a broad sphere of Scots Law, EU Law, and International Law – with particular expertise in the fields of environmental and planning law; energy law; climate change; human rights, and public administrative law. She has appeared before a range of national and international fora on environmental issues.  

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Whether you are a company looking to maximise the value of your assets and take your corporate social responsibilities seriously, or an individual looking to ensure your views are properly heard as part of an environmental decision-making process, the sheer volume of regulation can often seem daunting. Susan will help you understand your rights and obligations, liaise with public bodies and others on your behalf, and ensure you can obtain the information you are entitled to. 

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Susan is committed to helping clients resolve matters swiftly and to minimising the scope for dispute, wherever possible. Where further action is needed, Susan will ensure your case is presented in the best possible way at Committee Hearings, Public Inquiries and/or in Court.

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Clients particularly value Susan's dedication and outcome-focused approach, as well as her ability and willingness to draw on technical advice from experts in related professional fields. She is an advocate for transdisciplinary working.

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Just a few examples of previous client feedback are as follows:-