Susanna G. Schuemann is a litigation associate in the San Francisco office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment, White Collar Defense and Investigations, and Crisis Management Practice Groups.
Susanna’s practice includes employment and trade secrets litigation, regulatory and internal investigations, and compliance and advisory work. Susanna has helped multinational companies across a variety of industries conduct internal investigations, respond to regulatory inquiries, and litigate complex commercial matters, including class actions. Her cross-disciplinary practice includes experience with employment, consumer protection, securities, and anti-corruption laws.
Recent litigation matters:
- Representing financial institution and employees in a trade secrets and breach of contract action.
- Representing insurance company in class action alleging worker misclassification.
- Obtaining a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunctive relief on behalf of an AI start up in trade secrets case.
- Achieving favorable resolution for leading management consulting company in trade secrets and non-solicit dispute against top competitor.
- Securing full dismissal with prejudice of all claims against a major technology company in a nationwide putative consumer class action.
- Defending trucking company in nationwide class action alleging worker misclassification.
- Winning summary judgment for a major retailer in a lawsuit filed by a former employee alleging whistleblower retaliation and disability discrimination.
- Aiding companies in developing and refining employee handbooks and other employment-related policies and guidelines.
Recent investigations, regulatory matters, and advisory work:
- Representing financial institution in FDIC and DOJ investigation following the termination of executives for workplace misconduct.
- Representing major technology company in SEC and DOJ investigation of suspected insider trading.
- Achieving full declination for individual clients in insider trading investigation.
- Advising global asset management company in response to allegations of gender-based pay disparity.
- Conducting independent investigation at the request of national professional sports team in connection with allegations of sexual abuse involving the team’s youth development program.
- Conducting independent investigation at the direction of a special committee of the board of a public company in connection with allegations of improper workplace relationship between CEO and subordinate.
- Conducting independent investigation in response to internal whistleblower report alleging violations of trade compliance regulations.
- Representing a global financial institution in investigating and responding to regulatory inquiries regarding account activity in high risk jurisdictions.
- Advising major law firm regarding investigation and remediation of employee misconduct.
- Aiding a global financial institution in securing a full declination in an SEC investigation regarding goodwill impairment accounting practices.
- Advising fast-growing start-ups in developing employee policies.
Susanna maintains an active pro bono practice. She has represented young children in custody and immigration proceedings, helped veterans access health care and other support services, and advised non-profit organizations regarding employment and regulatory compliance issues. In 2025, she received the Pro Bono Team of the Year award from Kids in Need of Defense in recognition of her successful advocacy on behalf of a teenage client.
She graduated cum laude from New York University School of Law in 2017 where she received multiple top oral advocate awards as a member of the NYU Moot Court Board’s national team, served as a teaching assistant for contracts, and worked as a research assistant for the NYU Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Covenant College, where she received a Maclellan leadership scholarship.
Susanna is admitted to practice law in California, New York, and the District of Columbia. She is a member of the bars of the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of California.
Capabilities
- Litigation
- Crisis Management
- Labor and Employment
- Law Firm Defense
- Securities Enforcement
- Trials
- White Collar Defense and Investigations
Credentials
Education:
- New York University - 2017 Juris Doctor
- Covenant College - 2013 Bachelor of Arts
Admissions:
- California Bar
- District of Columbia Bar
- New York Bar