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Susanne A. Johnson

Associate

Overview

Susanne is a problem solver who helps her clients navigate business litigation challenges and mitigate risk. She is always looking ahead to identify potential issues and is prepared to address these issues if they materialize. Her practice focuses on complex commercial disputes, antitrust litigation and counseling. She supports clients through strategic transactions and potential competition issues and provides critical support in internal investigations and governmental inquiries. Susanne’s drive to achieve desirable outcomes enables her to create innovative and effective solutions to clients’ most difficult challenges.

Complex Commercial Disputes and Litigation

Susanne deftly navigates complex regulatory issues by proactively addressing potential risks with her clients. Susanne defends clients against allegations relating to trade secrets and noncompetes and diligently works towards dismissal or favorable settlements. Furthermore, she proficiently represents companies in contractual disputes with business partners.

In addition to complex commercial litigation, her experience includes antitrust litigation, audits and counseling on a variety of issues, including trade associations and industry groups; competitor communications, information exchanges, benchmarking and day-to-day relationships between competing businesses; and joint ventures and competitor collaborations. Susanne also provides critical support to internal investigations, addressing, among other concerns, employment issues, including employee misconduct and whistleblowing matters. She frequently counsels clients on existing contracts to mitigate risk relating to business relationships and agreements, and advises businesses on competition law matters, including practices to reduce risk under state antitrust and competition laws.

Susanne represents clients in a variety of industries, including nonprofit organizations, trade associations and industry groups, and for-profit institutions. In the regulatory space, she works on sustainability-related issues such as water rights litigation, borrower/repayment matters in higher education and COVID-19-related tuition reimbursement claims.

Prior Experience

Before joining the firm, Susanne was a litigation associate at a local Indianapolis law firm, where her practice focused on defending clients in complex litigation, employment litigation, and professional malpractice suits. She also served as a federal law clerk for the Honorable Tim A. Baker and has experience at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana.

Personal Interests

Susanne is an outdoor enthusiast and enjoys running, hiking, biking and being outside with her family. She is an aspiring chef and gardener who, alongside her husband, is renovating a 100-year-old house.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

Indiana

Court Admissions

Indiana Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana

Clerkships

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, Hon. Tim A. Baker, 2013-2015

Education

Valparaiso University School of Law
J.D. magna cum laude, Valparaiso University Law Review (articles editor) (2013)

University of Colorado
B.A. in International Affairs and Environmental Studies, magna cum laude, with distinction (2009)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives

Leadership & Community

Pro Bono

Susanne maintains an expansive pro bono practice, and has recently:

  • Represented a sex-trafficking survivor in matter of first impression under Indiana law
  • Represented nonprofit institutions in federal/state courts
  • Through the firmwide Justice for Veterans Initiative, represented veterans in appeals relating to benefits with the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA)

Professional Associations

  • Indiana State Bar Association
  • Indianapolis Bar Association — Professionalism Committee member, 2014-18

Civic Activities

  • Lupus Foundation of America, Indiana Chapter — Volunteer, 2018

Honors

  • Best Lawyers® — "Ones to Watch," Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2023-25
  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020-23
  • National Order of Scribes — Member, 2013
Awards Methodology
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.