Women In Law Virtual Roundtable Q&A with Susannah Chester-Schindler

Susannah (Suzi) Chester-Schindler is a partner at Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel with more than two decades of experience representing personal injury victims. Since joining WKPS, Suzi has successfully litigated hundreds of toxic tort cases nationwide, with a particular focus on injuries occurring along the Gulf Coast. She focuses on representation of victims of cancers caused by chemicals including benzene, asbestos, Monstanto’s glyphosate-based Roundup herbicide and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In addition, Suzi focuses on cases for the families of workers whose children have suffered from birth defects caused by chemicals found in their workplace, as well as discrete catastrophic injury cases such as negligent drownings, opioid birth defects, and sexual abuse.

Here’s what Suzi had to say during our Women’s History Month Women In Law Roundtable Q&A.

Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel: Where do you think we are in terms of gender equality in the legal profession? How do you see the field growing and changing in the future, not just for women attorneys but all lawyers?

Susannah Chester-Schindler: Gender equality has improved by leaps and bounds but also has leaps and bounds to go. For women, there has been significant improvement in areas such as quality maternity leave; paternity leave (because that helps mom too!); and acknowledgment that women can become lawyers and mothers. One of the few times the gloves went on for me over the last year was when a female defense attorney and I shared a moment of understanding over how hard it was to breastfeed during trial – and then shared a moment of thanks that our Judge was smart enough and kind enough to schedule trial breaks for her to pump.

Growth remains though for women in this arena as well. The majority of trial lawyers are white males, which is an inaccurate reflection of our society as a whole and impacts our profession’s ability to speak to our jurors who come from all walks of life. Likewise, our LGBTQIA+ and non-binary colleagues are underrepresented across the profession. Expanding the presence of all genders in the myriad elements of the bar brings a perspective that is vital for the broad and fair practice of law.

WKPS: Many issues that our firm tackles – like helping talc-exposure victims and survivors of birth defects and sex abuse – have unique implications for women. How important is the legal field to ensuring fair treatment for women and protecting their rights? Why is it important to have female attorneys involved in this litigation?

SCS: The legal field has always been and always will be the front line of the battle for equality – be it gender or otherwise. Although new ideas abound, history has a habit of repeating itself and I am dismayed to say I see this with women’s issues. It is for this reason that having female attorneys involved in litigation across the board is critical. It is particularly important in women-centric cases, however, because there are life experiences that only a woman can relate to.

Putting on asbestos contaminated makeup for instance – when we first raised these types of exposures, many of our male colleagues could not understand how makeup application could possibly be a meaningful exposure. But they didn’t understand the products, the time it takes to apply them, or the hours they are on a woman’s body, drying and becoming respirable.

This type of perspective – a woman’s perspective – is central to understanding cases that have unique implications for women.

WKPS: Is there a practice area you focus on that particularly affects women? Why is it important to you? What positive impacts have you been able to make through your work?

SCS: Yes. I represent a number of women who are the mothers of children born with birth defects due to toxic chemical exposures. These women hold a unique role in our society as well as the cases themselves because they have devoted countless hours to caring for children, some of whom will never be able to care for themselves. They have a wealth of skill, knowledge, and love that is almost unparalleled because they effectively have two jobs– their day job and that of a full-time caregiver. They are never just mothers. They don’t have days off, free weekends, or “me time” because their entire being is focused on their injured child. My hope is that their role does not go unrecognized and that those companies that caused their children’s injuries are held accountable.

WKPS: What is one piece of advice you’ve received that you would pass on to law students and lawyers? Women law students and lawyers?

SCS: Take it personally. Over the years I have had male and female colleagues tell me, in a cautionary fashion, “not to take it personally.” But the most important things in life are personal and should remain so – that’s what makes them important and worthy of your time.

Check out our Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel Virtual Roundtable Q&A: Women In Law for more interviews with our attorneys.