After studying law at Keele University Sue joined Adams and Black and qualified as a solicitor in 1977. She subsequently became a partner of that firm and continued as Partner when Adams and Black merged with Cartwrights in 1987. She became Senior Partner for Cartwright Black in 2002. Although Sue's principal areas of practice throughout her career have been in the commercial sector she has maintained an ongoing interest in the areas of law relating to the elderly and is a member of the Court of Protection panel of external receivers.

Sue specialises in commercial property with broad experience in the acquisition and disposal of business premises particularly within the licenced trade. She regularly deals with negotiation of the terms of commercial leases and renewals thereof.

Sue has extensive knowledge of development sites with involvement from the planning stage through to completion of construction including negotiation of the terms of planning agreements, building contracts and warranties. In addition Sue has considerable experience of lending, acting on behalf of a number of Banks and financial institutions in high value transactions.

Sue is married with a daughter. her recreational interests include travel, sailing, photography and the theatre. She is also a Community Councillor and a School Governor.