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What services do you offer? What offices do you have? Tell me more about Weightmans

Susan joined Weightmans in 2015 from a Chartered University where she was Director of Legal and Secretariat (2008 – 2015). As the manager of an in-house legal, student complaints, academic appeals and breaches and information governance teams, Susan was directly responsible for managing and advising on strategic legal, regulatory and compliance risk.

Susan currently works with Higher Education institutions to provide legal advice and pragmatic support to University clients on student and staff related legal matters.

Susan’s credentials in HE legal practice include:

  • A track record in building collegiate relationships with University central services and in working directly with academic colleagues on legal issues;
  • Wide experience of delivering collaborative projects on a range of University issues.
  • Practical and proportionate adviser on solutions and approaches to legal issues that impact on HE services, organisational performance, external contractual relationships, research projects and University partnerships that have led to or may lead to legal dispute.
  • Developing innovative proposals to support University colleagues to address legal challenges: e.g. legal processes for in-house teams; legal risk assessment; template documents, legal process review, developing and delivering bespoke training.
  • Susan specialises in supporting HE managers on the implementation of solutions in response to legal issues and acting as an addition to the HEI’s team.
  • Susan is the third member of the Weightmans HE team to be recruited from an in-house position.

Sectors:

Services:

  • Josh Conroy and Susan Matthews are the colleagues with whom I predominantly work. Both are extremely personable, approachable, and have provided work of consistently high quality. Both are widely respected across the University and represent a 'safe pair of hands' with whom there is a high level of trust and confidence in the advice we receive from them. They are a pleasure to work with.

    Legal 500, 2027

  • The team at Weightmans, with whom I interact predominantly, Josh Conroy and Susan Matthew, have provided consistently excellent advice regarding a number of matters including university student complaints, training matters, and reviewing contracts. Their work is always precise, thorough, and timely, and they make complex, difficult matters far easier to deal with. Their estimates are broadly accurate, and there is an inherent level of confidence associated with their work. They are a great team to work with.

    Legal 500, 2027

  • The individuals we work with stand out for their professionalism, responsiveness, and ability to provide calm, practical advice even in challenging situations. They are highly knowledgeable but also approachable and easy to work with, which helps build strong and trusted relationships. In particular, Susan Matthews and Josh Conroy have both been exceptional.

    Legal 500, 2027

  • Excellent service from Susan Matthews, who provides pragmatic and knowledgeable advice based on previous university experience, often at short notice.

    Legal 500, 2027

  • Susan is very responsive and supportive on staff and student matters. She is very approachable and very client friendly to work with.

    Chambers and Partners 2023

  • Susan Matthews and Josh Conroy, in particular, are very approachable, responsive and helpful.

    Legal 500 2024