Suzan J. Sutherland

Friends and clients describe Suzan as logical, resourceful, efficient and goal-oriented, qualities you look for in a litigator.

As a young attorney, Suzan worked as an Illinois Assistant Attorney General, representing state officials and agencies throughout the State of Illinois. It was exciting and wonderful experience that taught her how to handle herself in court and how to conduct a successful jury trial. She had found the work she wanted to do, and it formed the basis for the work she has done since noting, “I still enjoy litigation and trial work and keep returning to it and think I always will.”

The skills she has developed as a trial attorney have taught her to analyze both professional and personal problems factually and with the aim of practical solutions. Those tools have served her well in more than 50 jury trials in state and federal courts, where she successfully defended clients in bench trials and evidentiary hearings before administrative agencies.

Suzan is adept at handling complex litigation matters involving business disputes, construction defects, premises and product liability claims and real estate transactions. She also has represented clients defending employment-related claims. Suzan skillfully negotiates matters through alternative dispute resolution forums such as binding arbitrations, court-sponsored settlement conferences, and private mediations. She has considerable experience with drafting pleadings and motions, completing written discovery, and conducting fact and expert witness depositions.

Currently, Suzan works with corporate and individual clients who are defendants in Illinois. Most of her cases are in Chicago or in its surrounding counties and involve employment matters and personal injury defense, everything from slip and falls to assaults and discrimination.