Susanne Tanner KC (Scot)

Personal Injury

Over the last twenty years in practice, as Senior Counsel since 2016, Susanne has been instructed in numerous personal injury cases. It is one of the principal practice areas of her Scottish set.

As a result of her criminal law practice, in which she specialises in the prosecution of serious sexual offences, Susanne now specialises in various niche areas of personal injury work, including claims for rape and sexual abuse. In her criminal practice she has prosecuted numerous trials for charges of rape and other serious sexual offences.

She has been instructed in a number of claims for occupational stress.

She acts for both pursuers (claimants) and defenders (defendants).

Selected Cases

• McMillan and ors v Kennedy and ors; Baillie and ors v Kennedy and ors; Morrison v Ors v Kennedy and ors (2019-) – Senior Counsel for Pursuer (claimant) and 3rd third party in three connected actions for damages by relatives of three deceased men, arising out of the sinking of “The Louisa” fishing vessel off Stornoway. Complex cases with defenders and three third parties. Ongoing with proofs / jury trials to be fixed.
• Fotheringham v Glasgow City Council (2019-) – Senior Counsel for Pursuer in claim for damages for historical sexual abuse suffered whilst the Pursuer was in residential care with the defenders. Ongoing with upcoming proof.
• Thomson v Ingleton (2019) – Senior Counsel for Pursuer in claim for damages for injuries sustained while working at height for the defender. Ongoing with proof to be fixed.
• RT v Midlothian Council (2018/19). Senior Counsel for Pursuer in claim for damages for historical sexual abuse suffered while Pursuer was a child in holiday care with the defenders. Case settled without a substantive hearing.
• Wells v Scotia Gas and others (2015). For the Pursuer. Court of Session personal injuries action arising out an accident causing an electric shock. Common law and occupiers’ liability. Settled prior to proof.
• McMillan v Falkirk Council (2015-16). For the Pursuer. Court of Session damages claim for psychiatric injury caused by occupational stress. Case settled prior to Proof.
• Sanderson and ors v Lanarkshire Health Board (2016). For the defender (with Geoff Mitchell KC). Fatal claims by relatives. Case settled pre-proof.
• Marshall v Forth Valley Health Board (2015-16). For the defender (leader). Fatal claims by relatives. Case settled pre-proof.
• Cemetery client (2015). Advisory work (leader) for board of directors of cemetery in relation to potential liability for accidents on the premises.
• Waller and anr v Forth Valley Health Board (2015-16). For the defender (leader). Fatal claims by relatives. Case settled pre-proof.

News

• Susanne Tanner KC has been appointed as arbitrator for Motor Insurers’ Bureau cases for untraced and uninsured drivers
• Susanne Tanner KC of Crown Office Chambers appointed by SSSC as a Legally Qualified Chair

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Qualifications

• LLB (Hons) First Class Hons, University of Edinburgh (1996)
• Dip LP, University of Edinburgh (1997)
• Lord Reid Scholarship, Faculty of Advocates (2000)
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2019)
• Diploma in Advanced Trial Skills, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, 2011
• Advocate Depute (High Court Prosecutor), Crown Office, Scotland – 2011-ongoing
• First-tier Tribunal chair (legal member) – Housing and Property Chamber (2016-)
• First-tier Tribunal chair (legal member) – Health and Education Chamber (2018-)
• Lecturer, LLM in Sexual Offending and the Law, University of Edinburgh
• Lecturer, Criminal Law, Delict (Tort) and the Law of Evidence, LLB, University of Edinburgh
• Stable Director (Head of Chambers), Ampersand Advocates, Scotland, 2019-
• Board Member, Faculty Services Limited, 2019-
• Executive Editor of Green’s Scottish Education Manual, Thomson Reuters, 2014-

Memberships

• Fellow of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• Global Ambassador for the Scottish Arbitration Centre
• Member of the Faculty of Advocates’ Dispute Resolution Service (Arbitration)
• Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
• Member of Women in Law Scotland
• Member of Women in the Law UK
• Member of ‘Spaces for Voices’ (a network for gender equality in law)