Wake Smith’s expertise and client care highlighted in leading industry guide

Wake Smith Solicitors 02 October 2025

Wake Smith Solicitors has maintained its leading position in the UK’s eminent legal directory The Legal 500 through its expertise and client care.

The established firm held its standings in the prestigious industry guide in the Yorkshire region with its business and personal law departments and many of its experienced individuals highlighted and praised in their field.

Departments including corporate and commercial, family, commercial property, private client, contentious probate, commercial litigation, property litigation, banking and finance and clinical negligence were highlighted for their exceptional knowledge and customer service.

Individuals highlighted for their work included Rebecca Robinson, Michael Doherty, Liz Shaw, Mike Doherty, Sophie Kerry, John Breeze, Colleen Dooney, Stephanie Chung, Neil Salter, Eleanor Storey and Laura Saul.

John Breeze retained his position as a leading partner in the contentious trusts and probate rankings highlighting him as one of the strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients.

Law firms only appear in The Legal 500 ranking tables and commentary on merit, through independent research and feedback from 250,000 in-house peers and access to law firms' deals, confidential matters and client reviews.

Feedback for Wake Smith included:

Company Commercial

A “solid and reliable corporate team” that benefits from its “excellent heritage”

Rebecca Robinson is a “hardworking, knowledgeable and reliable corporate partner”

“An experienced commercial team that understands our business and respond quickly to any issues we have.”

“They are a long established Sheffield firm with excellent heritage and therefore have a loyal client base in the city and surrounding city region. The team are knowledgeable and friendly.”

Commercial Litigation

“A highly efficient team with extensive experience” 

Michael Doherty, with experience acting in goods and product liability disputes, and M&A-related litigation, is “sensitive to commercialities”.

'Mike Doherty is a great solicitor. Has very good judgement and works well at explaining the risks to the client.'

Property Litigation

Liz Shaw brings decades of experience in property litigation.

“Liz Shaw is great at communicating, very clear in her emails. Having met her in person, she is helpful and friendly.''

“A great team with top-quality knowledge and client care. Property-focused director Elizabeth Shaw, has great interpersonal skills, excellent legal knowledge and always communicates in a clear way.”

Contentious Trusts and Probate

“John Breeze has specialised in this field for many years. He is extremely knowledgeable, clearly enjoys what he does, and works tirelessly for the benefit of his clients. He is also extremely friendly and great to work with.”

“The practice has a reputation for the quality of its lawyers, who provide genuine expertise. In my short experience, the practice also provides a high standard of client care.”

Family

Employs a “cohesive and joined up approach.”

Wills, Trusts and Probate

“I have found the Private Client team particularly helpful and empathetic on a number of occasions.”

“Stephanie Chung is excellent. She is easy to work with and knows her cases well. She is always willing to pick up the phone to discuss strategy or clarify points.”         

Commercial Property

The “attentive” Neil Salter leads the Sheffield-based team.

“A thoroughly professional team who always respond swiftly and present you with all the information to help you make the correct decisions, legally. Extremely efficient company all round who can be relied upon in any situation. Hardworking, polite, top grade solicitors.”

''Eleanor Storey and Laura Saul are absolutely top class solicitors. They are both so trustworthy, efficient and knowledgeable in their field that it makes a very stressful transaction much less so. They can be completely relied upon to do their job and keep me informed at all times.”

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