Susanne is an experienced commercial litigator and employment lawyer who has practiced at Speigel Nichols Fox LLP since joining the firm in 1991.

Her commercial litigation practice encompasses a broad range of matters including commercial contract disputes, shareholder disputes, negligence and breach of trust claims, mortgage fraud, and fraudulent conveyances, as well as enforcement of creditors’ rights, bankruptcy and insolvency matters, and estate litigation.

Susanne also has extensive expertise in employment law acting for both employers and employees in litigation matters. She also routinely advises her employer clients on day-to-day employment and human resource-related (including Ontario Human Rights Code) issues and workplace policies with a view to avoiding costly and time-consuming litigation. Her prior experience working at the Ontario Human Rights Commission has proved invaluable in also acting for employer respondents in human rights complaints.

Susanne has written articles and spoken on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the workplace and its impact on employers’ rights and obligations.

Susanne has appeared as lead counsel on matters before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (including the Commercial List, Bankruptcy Court and Estates Court), the Ontario Divisional Court and the Ontario Court of Appeal.

Susanne has also ventured on safari and looked deeply and lovingly into the eyes of a giraffe. She did not do the same with the lions.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

(i) Commercial Litigation

• Represented plaintiff shareholder in oppression proceedings
• Represented corporate plaintiff in fraud and breach of fiduciary claim against former employee
• Represented plaintiff mortgage lender in action for fraud and conspiracy against numerous parties including mortgage broker, appraiser, and realtor
• Represented multiple plaintiffs in professional negligence claims against lawyers
• Represented multiple plaintiffs in fraudulent conveyance, constructive trust, and resulting trust claims
• Represented condominium developer in claim by purchasers for breach of contract and specific performance
• Represented business owners in contract disputes and collection matters
• Represented plaintiff/applicant in proceedings for world-wide Mareva injunction and Norwich order, including a Norwich order granted against lawyers requiring disclosure of real estate files
• Represented defendants in power of sale proceedings involving issue of capacity to contract and non est factum
• Represented major financial institutions in collection of outstanding commercial and retail debts, including by way of mortgage enforcement proceedings
• Represented major financial institutions and trustees in numerous proceedings in Bankruptcy Court

(ii) Employment

• Represented employers and employees in wrongful and constructive dismissal claims and human rights litigation
• Represented respondent employers in Employment Standards Act, 2000 and Ontario Labour Relations Act complaints
• Represented respondent employers in Ontario Human Rights Code applications
• Provide advice to employers on issues surrounding workplace policies, enforceability of termination clauses, restrictive covenants, workplace investigations, occupational health and safety requirements, and the application of various employment statutes

(iii) Estate Litigation

• Represented estate trustee in resulting trust application and removal of estate trustee application
• Represented estate trustee in Will challenge
• Represented applicant in statutory guardianship application
• Represented beneficiary under a will in resolution of dependant’s relief claim
• Represented parties in Estate litigation and Estate disputes, including a contested application for the passing of accounts