Suzanne Tarplee has joined the Rail Team at international law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP. Suzanne joins from Burges Salmon, where she has was a Legal Director in the rail group.  Prior to this, she was a senior associate at Dentons.

Suzanne is a renowned rail expert, advising on all aspects of the heavy and light rail markets both in the UK and internationally.  Her clients include rolling stock manufacturers and maintainers, train operators and the public sector.  Her experience includes providing comprehensive advice on railway franchises and concessions (including in bidding, direct award and operational phases); PPP; rolling stock procurement (including manufacturing and maintenance arrangements); infrastructure development (including station and depot construction); and on regulatory matters.

Suzanne's projects have included multiple new rolling stock procurements for both passenger service and freight, including advising First Group on the procurement of the new Class 380s, jointly procuring with another operator the class 350/4s and advising First Capital Connect on the multibillion pound Thameslink trains programme.  She has also advised on franchise and direct award bidding and mobilisation - most recently advising First Great Western on its direct award. More generally Suzanne has experience on PPP and DBFO roads projects, including on Northern Ireland's roads programme and internationally in relation to a concession in Brazil.

Graeme McLellan, global head of the Rail Team at Stephenson Harwood said:

"Stephenson Harwood's transportation expertise is highly valued by our clients.  Suzanne has a very strong reputation in the rail sector, advising on a number of high-profile projects in both the UK and overseas. The expertise she brings to the well-established team at Stephenson Harwood will further enhance our existing client offering."

Suzanne Tarplee added:

"I see significant synergies between my client base and the work the rail team at Stephenson Harwood has undertaken.  I am delighted to be re-joining former colleagues in this acknowledged market-leading team and helping to develop the work undertaken by the group in the rail sector."