Susan has maintained a private practice in Pittsburgh since 1994, focusing primarily on family law.  She has successfully used the collaborative law process to assist clients in negotiating custody, support and divorce issues.  When warranted, she represents clients in family court litigation.  Susan is a trained mediator, and has experience mediating family law disputes.

Susan has served as Chair of the Sole and Small Practitioners Section of the Allegheny County Bar Association and as member of the Family Law Section Council and the Arts and Law Committee. She has served as secretary of the Sole and Small Practitioners' Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is a member of its Family Law Section.  Susan is a fellow of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation, and was elected by the membership of the Allegheny County Bar Association to her current post on the Judiciary Committee.

Susan currently serves as President of the Collaborative Law Association of Southwestern Pennsylvania, an organization of more than 60 attorneys, financial, and mental health professional who are trained in collaborative practice.  She has published articles about collaborative law for the Sole and Small Practitioners’ Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
 
Susan is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, is qualified as a trainer and, together with her colleagues, presented a two day training course to other attorneys and professionals who wished to be qualified as collaborative practitioners.  She has attended a number of advanced training seminars in collaborative practice.

Susan, together with two of her colleagues, spoke about collaborative practice at The Pittsburgh Psychiatric Society Annual Meeting.

She has also spoken on the topic to the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts.

Susan often meets with potential clients who are just considering divorce as well as those already in the midst of the process so that she has an opportunity to discuss their legal options.  She believes that clients can maintain respectful relationships and control the processes surrounding the issues they may face.

Susan attend Burrell High School, Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania and earned her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.