What we say about the firm's legal practice in Yorkshire and the Humber
Corporate and commercial
Within Corporate and commercial: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, tier 4
The team at Wake Smith & Tofields is ‘always efficient’ and ‘very competitively priced considering its depth of understanding’. It was recently involved in the acquisition by IT solutions provider B2Net of the Essant Group. Practice head John Baddeley is held in high regard, and is noted for his ‘professional negotiation skills’. David Ware and Michelle Hayward are also recommended.
Dispute resolution
Within Commercial litigation: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Wake Smith LLP is a second tier firm,
Mark Serby heads the ‘above-average’ team at Wake Smith & Tofields. It recently acted for one of the defendants in a £90m dispute involving claims by a waste management multinational for deceit, breach of warranty and breach of fiduciary duty arising out of its sale to a national metal recycling business.
Finance
Within Banking and finance, tier 5
Wake Smith & Tofields’ clients include Yorkshire Bank and HSBC. John Baddeley is the key contact.
Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, tier 4
Wake Smith & Tofields recently advised Yorkshire Bank on an EFG loan to assist in financing the MBO of Lightman Leisure. John Baddeley heads the practice.
Human resources
Within Employment: South Yorkshire, Wake Smith LLP is a second tier firm,
The ‘exceptional’ Mark Serby heads the team at Wake Smith & Tofields, which acts for GB Building Solutions and the Sheffield YWCA, among others.
Insurance
Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Wake Smith LLP is a third tier firm,
The ‘very good’ team at Wake Smith & Tofields attracts a significant number of referrals related to cosmetic surgery damage. Practice head Terry Regan is ‘excellent and friendly’.
Within Personal injury: claimant , tier 4
Wake Smith & Tofields advises on child accidents and sports or recreational accidents as well as mainstream personal injury claims.
Private client
Within Agriculture and estates, Wake Smith LLP is a third tier firm,
Highlights for Wake Smith & Tofields included advising several high-value estates in the process of administration.
Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Wake Smith LLP is a third tier firm,
Wake Smith & Tofields in 2010 advised on several high-value estates in the course of administration. Niche strengths include inheritance tax mitigation.
Real estate
Within Commercial property: Sheffield, South Yorkshire Commercial property: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Within Property litigation Property litigation
TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Within Intellectual property , Wake Smith LLP is a third tier firm,
Wake Smith & Tofields advises clients in the games development and digital media sector.
Within IT and telecoms, Wake Smith LLP is a third tier firm,
Peter Rawlinson leads the team at Wake Smith & Tofields, which advises on regulatory issues and commercial contracts.