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Day in the life - Susanna Truong

We talk to Susanna Truong, one of our solicitors, about the wide range of projects she has been exposed to, working across multiple countries and how her career has progressed since joining Systech.

Susanna is a Lawyer (qualified in England and Wales, 7 years PQE) specialising in alternative dispute resolution on international construction and engineering projects.

She is currently part of our multi-discipline team advising a major Japanese contractor on upstream FIDIC contract disputes in relation to the construction of two power stations near Johannesburg, South Africa.

What is your typical day?

A typical day would depend on where we are in the life cycle of the disputes. At present, we have two disputes running concurrently and are due to commence further disputes in the next few months.

This means that on any particular day I could be assisting on procedural issues, liaising with experts, opposing counsel and tribunal members, drafting correspondence, assisting with the forensic investigation, dealing with disclosure of documents, interviewing witnesses, drafting submissions/pleadings or preparing for a hearing.

"My advice for anyone thinking about or actually joining Systech would be to be as open-minded as possible. From a personal point of view, the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences I have had have come off the back of the unknown."

What are the interesting aspects of your work?

Working full time in Johannesburg was certainly an interesting aspect of the work. Despite its reputation as being a dangerous place, it is a vibrant city with kind and friendly locals.

The team is now largely working remotely, returning as required for in-person hearings. Most of the time however the hearings are conducted remotely and it has been interesting to observe this become the “normal” for tribunals.

In addition, working in-house for a major Japanese Contractor means that we are immersed in a multicultural and diverse environment surrounded by a variety of languages as well as disciplines.

I have had the opportunity of working in a number of cities around the world in my time with Systech (Dubai, Singapore, Doha, Johannesburg and London) and have found that adapting into a new working environment is always an exciting element of the job.

More recently I have started to take a wider role within Systech Law; client presentations, proposals and supporting recruitment with interviews.

What are the challenges?

As expected on any construction or engineering project, the work is highly technical and complex in nature so becoming familiar with, for example, the intricacies of mechanical boiler works to prepare a delay analysis can be challenging.

However, the benefit of working in-house at the client’s offices, in and amongst various disciplines, is that it broadens your understanding holistically and in a way that you simply would not get working from the “ivory tower” of solicitors’ offices.

I genuinely believe we are able to provide better, commercially sound, legal advice as a result of our understanding of the day-to-day technical and commercial issues encountered by the client. This has certainly contributed to my development into a well-rounded lawyer.

What training and support has Systech given you?

Having started with the firm as a paralegal in 2014, Systech’s support and training has been instrumental to my development, and I can confidently say it has made me the lawyer I am today.

Throughout the years, Systech has provided training weekends, sponsored me for a 3 year Masters in Construction Law and Arbitration and supported me in obtaining my Fellowship to the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, all with a view of developing my specialism in this area of law.

However, more fundamentally, I feel that the firm is truly invested in my personal development, having received mentorship from various senior lawyers who have assisted and guided my career decisions.

It is because of this that I understand the importance of giving back to paralegals and trainees who are in a position I was once in.

What words of advice would you offer someone thinking of working for Systech?

My advice would be to be as open-minded as possible. From a personal point of view, the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences I have had have come off the back of the unknown.

Moving to new cities, taking on tasks outside of my knowledge base and generally pushing myself outside of my comfort zone has been vital to broadening my skill set.

What is the culture like?

The culture at Systech is often described as horizontal. From my personal experience this means you will be asked for your opinion and will be given a platform to be heard. This is something that I found refreshing in comparison to the strict hierarchical structure of more traditional practices.

This also means that you are not necessarily confined to your role and will be given the opportunity to take on as much responsibility as you can handle. The firm very much recognises potential and provides a nurturing environment for growth.

How has working for Systech helped you achieve your career goals?

My main career goal was to be involved in something that was satisfying and rewarding. I always envisioned working in an area of law that was dynamic and fast-paced and I certainly feel I have found that working on construction disputes.

Beyond this, I also wanted to work internationally on global projects, and this is exactly what Systech has given me the opportunity to do

What makes working for Systech different from the competition?

The integrated relationship between Systech Law and the multidisciplinary services offered by Systech is unmatched by any competition.

The benefit for those who work for Systech Law means seamless access to a wide pool of knowledge and expertise on QS, commercial, scheduling, project controls, delay and quantum issues throughout the world.

What has been your greatest achievement working for Systech?

My greatest achievement, to date, has been my contribution to a team responsible for recovering the largest sum of money in Systech’s history for a single dispute. This is reflective of not only our great team work but also the strategic approach and quality of work that we are involved in day in day out.

I am proud to say that I work on a team that achieves positive results for a client that we have built a strong relationship with.

Tell us about a project where you have learnt a key lesson?

A reoccurring theme is the importance of records and the retention of information.

Projects often have a high turnover of personnel resulting in the loss of vital knowledge and information. This hinders our ability to prepare in depth cause and effect analysis with consequential impacts on cost and time recovery.