Susana Cao Miranda

Title: Senior associate
Division: Dispute resolution
Location: London

After studying History at Trinity Hall Cambridge University I took the CPE at City University and LPC at the College of Law. In September 2002 I joined Herbert Smith as a trainee, attracted by its reputation in litigation.

Much of my work has an international element. As a specialist in financial services litigation and regulation, many matters which we are instructed on are international and range across jurisdictions. I was also recently seconded to the dispute resolution team in the London office (and EU/Asia HQ) of an international investment bank.  

The firm encourages all staff to be involved in corporate responsibility activities. For instance, as a result of the firm's advocacy unit's relationship with the charity IPSEA, I have (on a pro-bono basis) represented parents of children with special needs in their appeals to the Special Educational Needs Tribunal.

The firm encourages fee earners to identify and regularly evaluate their career aims and work/life balance.  An associate mentoring scheme supports this approach. This management commitment to career development alongside work/life balance is, I would say, unusual for a top tier law firm.  As a working mum I have been able to return to work as a fee earner following maternity leave: I now work flexibly three days a week, allowing me to spend time with my young family and to continue in a fee-earning role which I really enjoy.