Suzanne SPEARS

Suzanne is recognised globally for her expertise in international law, international arbitration and business and human rights. Prior to founding Paxus, she spent twenty years practicing in these areas with leading global law firms in London and New York. Most recently, she was a Partner in the Litigation, Arbitration & Investigations Group at Allen & Overy, where she co-headed the Global Business & Human Rights Practice and co-founded the ESG Group.

Suzanne advises and represents governments, international organisations and private clients on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious issues arising under public international law. She regularly acts as counsel before international commercial and Investor-State arbitration tribunals (including under the ICC, UNCITRAL, ICSID, PCA and other rules) and she has experience in transnational tort litigation, State-to-State arbitration and proceedings before the International Court of Justice.

Suzanne also advises clients on dispute prevention, risk management, due diligence, compliance and governance with respect to business and human rights. She is often instructed to advise on highly sensitive issues, such as relationships with host governments, security forces, communities and civil society.

In addition to being a lawyer, with a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law, Suzanne is a political and social scientist by background, with a master’s from Colombia’s School of International and Public Affairs, and a bachelor’s in International Relations from Tufts University. She was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in Spain and has held positions with the United Nations (in New York and Colombia), the Council on Foreign Relations and the Inter-American Institute of Human Rights.

Originally from California, Suzanne is admitted in New York and practiced as a foreign registered lawyer in London for many years. She is also Associate Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame Law School.