She defends environmental claims, counsels on environmental regulatory matters, advocates for companies before regulatory authorities and in investigations, and guides clients through incident response and clean up with a focus on minimizing the threat or impact of future litigation.

Litigation

Susan has more than 25 years of litigation, trial, and appellate experience focused on environmental toxic tort litigation. Much of her work has involved water contamination issues. Susan also advises on related insurance coverage issues and product liability claims. She has represented clients in matters pending in dozens of state and federal courts nationwide. Much of her work involves claims related to the release of or exposure to chemicals, vapors, fumes, pathogens, and other potentially toxic substances. As such, she works closely with epidemiologists, toxicologists, industrial hygienists, and environmental medicine specialists to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these claims and is deeply familiar with the relevant sciences and regulatory considerations.

Crisis Management & Incident Response

In addition to her litigation practice, Susan counsels clients on crisis management and incident response. This aspect of her work involves coordinating internal investigations and corrective actions, collaborating with corporate executive leadership, technical experts, and communications consultants to develop and execute a response strategy, and representing clients in related civil and administrative actions.

For several clients, Susan has coordinated the response to federal, state, and local governmental agency investigations of suspected environmental releases. She has interfaced with investigators and claimants’ counsel, developed internal and external messaging, provided strategic advice regarding personal injury litigation risk, negotiated with government agencies and stakeholders regarding post-incident remediation and testing protocols, and defended subsequent personal injury litigation.

Susan is the Managing Principal of Beveridge & Diamond's San Francisco office.