SILK PROFILE
Susanne Tanner KC

Susanne Tanner KC

UK Bar 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Crown Office Chambers

UK Bar

Practice Areas

Dual qualified, Scotland and England & Wales. Susanne took Silk in 2016, having called in 2000. She specialises in independent investigations, reviews, inquiries, public law and arbitration. She has developed considerable expertise across civil and criminal practice and held a public appointment as Assistant Principal Crown Counsel, one of the country's senior prosecutors (2021-24). She is ranked as a leading Silk in public inquiries, fatal accident inquiries, independent investigations, administrative & public law and crime/regulatory. Chaired Sexual Offences Review, considering how the Crown in Scotland deals with sexual offences, commissioned by Lord Advocate, (2021-2025). Chaired high profile independent ‘Sean Bell Inquiry’ into allegations of sexual abuse by a senior local authority employee (2020-21); and an independent review of a local authority's whistleblowing and organisational culture (2020-21), with her recommendations leading to wholesale changes being implemented by local government. Senior counsel for core participants in Scottish Covid Inquiry (2024) and Scottish Hospitals Inquiry (2022-2023). Fee paid tribunal judge and regulatory chair in housing, education and social services cases. Regularly appointed as arbitrator in domestic and international arbitrations. Academic, University of Edinburgh.

Career

• University of Edinburgh, LLB (First Class Honours), 1996. • Called to the Bar (Scotland), 2000. • Took Silk (Scotland), 2016. • Head of

Chambers, Ampersand Advocates, Scotland, 2019-2021. • FCIArb, 2019. • Called to the Bar (E&W), 2019. • Appointed Assistant Principal

Crown Counsel, Scotland, 2021-24

Professional Memberships

FCIArb, Female Fraud Forum

Publications

Sexual Offences Review Report, 2025, 'Sean Bell' Inquiry Report 2021, CEC Whistleblowing Review Report 2021, Editor, Scottish Education Manual

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Independent Investigations - All Circuits

Band 2
Band 2

Individual Editorial

Susanne Tanner KC is sought out by clients in both Scotland and England to handle high-profile and sensitive independent investigations. Her work concerns sexual misconduct allegations and reviews of organisational culture.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • I really enjoyed working with her. Difficult situations arose and she knew how to deal with them, making us feel at ease.

    Independent InvestigationsUK Bar
  • Susanne Tanner is one of the top practitioners. She is extremely bright and very personable.

    Independent InvestigationsUK Bar
  • Susanne Tanner brought a high level of expertise to the matter, which was supplemented ably by her keen grasp on the issues.

    Independent InvestigationsUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Crown Office Chambers (121)

All Circuits

London (Bar)

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