Susanne Tanner KC

Practice Areas

Dual qualified in Scotland and England & Wales, Susanne took Silk in 2016, having called to the Bar in 2000 and specialises in independent investigations, reviews, inquiries, public law and arbitration.

She has developed considerable expertise across civil and criminal practice and holds a public appointment from the Lord Advocate as Assistant Principal Crown Counsel, one of the country's senior prosecutors. She is ranked as a leading Silk in administrative and public law in Scotland.

Currently chairing the Sexual Offences Review, considering how the Crown in Scotland deals with reports of sexual offences, 2021- 24.

Chaired a high profile independent inquiry into allegations of sexual abuse by a senior employee of a local authority (the 'Sean Bell' Inquiry, 2020-21) and an independent review of a local authority's whistleblowing and organisational culture (2020-21), both of which featured extensively in the media and led to wholesale changes being implemented by local government.

Senior counsel for a core participant in the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry.

Fee paid tribunal judge and regulatory chair in housing, education and social services cases.

Regularly appointed as arbitrator in domestic and international arbitrations.

Academic appointment, LLM and LLB, 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.

Professional Memberships

FCIArb,

Female Fraud Forum

Publications

'Sean Bell' Inquiry Report 2021,

CEC Whistleblowing Review Report 2021,

Editor, Scottish Education Manual.