What our staff say...
Kate Lax
Kate is a Director in our Medical & Clinical Negligence team and also heads up our Charity Board.
“I joined Wake Smith in 2013 after qualifying as a solicitor in the clinical negligence team. I was promoted to Associate in 2019 and then to the role of Director in 2021. After working for Wake Smith for a number of years now, I can easily say it’s a great place to work and that I feel a valued member of staff.
Wake Smith actively encourages people to get involved - whether you are a junior member of staff or more senior.
It’s a friendly, personable and approachable firm which encourages team work and collaboration. The firm has strong values and a wide range of expertise and experience and demonstrates a high level of professionalism.
Wake Smith are constantly looking to improve ways of working, to promote healthy lifestyles and a better work/life balance. An example of this is our initiative to promote wellbeing in the workplace including physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
I am an proud member of the firm’s Charity Board and have been so for approximately 13 years. I have helped raised over £70,000 for a number of local well deserving charities.”
Kate Lax, Director, Medical & Clinical Negligence.
"I joined Wake Smith in 2023 as head of department, having practised as a specialist contentious probate solicitor for the previous 10 years at another local firm.
From the outside I always held Wake Smith in high regard due to its longevity and from my own positive professional dealings with the firm.
I was also attracted by the size of the firm and that it offers a wide range of services to both personal and business clients, enabling collaboration across departments and the sharing of different perspectives and expertise.
On joining the firm, I was pleased by the warm welcome and the firm’s obvious commitment to developing its people, including training the next generation of talented lawyers.
As the legal profession continues to undergo rapid change, I am proud to be part of a firm that welcome innovation while also staying true to its principles and which places its people at the heart of everything it does.
Everyone in the firm is encouraged to contribute ideas for its future success and to take part in the various ongoing charitable, social and wellbeing events that help make Wake Smith a rewarding place to work and which bring people together."
John Breeze, Director & Head of Wills, Trusts & Inheritance Disputes
Sophie Kerry joined Wake Smith as a newly qualified solicitor in 2021 and since then has expanded her knowledge of litigation, in particular commercial litigation, with the thriving team.
"I had always wanted to work in Sheffield and be part of a firm with such a great reputation and long history.
Being a newly qualified solicitor when I joined, I was extremely nervous being somewhere new at such an important milestone in my career. I needn’t have worried though. I felt welcomed and supported from the moment I stepped foot in the building, and I couldn’t have asked to be part of a better team, and firm, at the start of my career.
There is plethora of experience within the team that I work in, and there is always somebody available to discuss matters with, and help to decide on a plan of action that will help the client the most. We are also actively encouraged to liaise with other departments if needed on the subject matter of the case and this happens often in Litigation/Dispute Resolution. Again, there is so much experience across teams and I feel fully supported, but this also means that we are giving the best advice possible to our clients.
I am part of our Charity Board and we meet on a monthly basis to discuss how we can raise money for our nominated charity of the year, providing a real sense of teamwork. It is such a lovely, and rewarding thing to be part of.
I am very excited to see what the future holds with Wake Smith. In our one-to-ones and appraisals we openly discuss career pathways and plans for the future. Current staff members are encouraged to join the ongoing recruitment process at the firm, and I have recently been asked to be involved with the trainee solicitor interviews.
The culture at Wake Smith is amazing and this resonates through the staff with how friendly everyone is. There is always something going on whether that be a themed bake-off, Christmas wreath making, the yearly quiz, wine tasting… the list goes on!"
Sophie Kerry, Associate, Litigation
Aaron Patel
Solicitor in Company Commercial
"I joined the firm as a newly qualified solicitor in February 2026, having completed my training contract at a firm in Leicester, before making the move north. Joining a new firm at the start of my career was an exciting yet nervous milestone for me. Everyone has been very welcoming from day one.
I work in the Company Commercial team, where I have been given a great deal of responsibility and the opportunity to work on a variety of matters. My workload is a mixture of corporate and commercial work, and no two days are the same. I have my own matters and transactions to manage, as well as assisting the team on larger and more complex transactions. It has been a great way to develop my experience and confidence as a newly qualified solicitor, while always having the support of colleagues when I need it.
The firm also places a real emphasis on career development, with clear pathways for progression and regular 1-2-1 meetings and an annual appraisal meeting, providing an opportunity to discuss your development, goals and ambitions. I have found this particularly valuable as a newly qualified solicitor, as it gives me a clear sense of how I can continue to develop my skills and build my career here at Wake Smith.
One thing that has always stood out to me since joining the firm is the Wake Smith culture. Everyone is incredibly friendly and approachable, and there is always someone willing to stop for a chat or offer help, regardless of their role or level of seniority. The firm is also very sociable, with plenty of business development opportunities, which I have really enjoyed attending. This could be meeting clients and taking them to events, such as watching a game of cricket or meeting other professionals at a variety of networking events, ranging from casual drinks at the pub to playing games and sports to hosting a social deduction game…
Wake Smith is a great environment in which to develop both professionally and personally. I am excited to see what the future holds for me here at Wake Smith, and I am really pleased to have made the move to not only Sheffield but the firm."
"I joined Wake Smith in 2022 as a Medical Negligence Executive after four years as a paralegal at another firm. I was naturally nervous about starting somewhere new, but the warm welcome from everyone, particularly my team, meant I quickly felt settled and part of the firm.
Since joining, Wake Smith has supported my career development by funding my CILEX studies, which I’m now in the final year of. The firm has been incredibly supportive and flexible around my studies, while also encouraging junior staff to build their careers and networks. This has included setting up Wake Smith LINK, a networking group for junior professionals across Sheffield, with a range of fun events such as murder mysteries, pizza making, and escape rooms – to name a few!
I’ve also been lucky enough to join the Wellbeing Committee, helping to organise and take part in initiatives including yoga, Temple Spa sessions, healthy eating initiatives, free fruit and a book corner. Working in a high-pressure profession, I really value the emphasis Wake Smith places on wellbeing and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Charity is another big part of the firm, with everything from fitness challenges and baking to quizzes and fundraising events. There’s always something to do here!
For me, Wake Smith offers the best of both worlds: genuine opportunities to develop your career within a friendly, supportive environment that values its people. I’m going onto my 5th year working here now and would genuinely recommend it to anyone looking to build their legal career."
Millie Bolsover, Executive, Medical & Clinical Negligence