Sheffield solicitors boosted by experienced commercial litigator
11th August 2026
Experienced commercial litigator Andrew Donaldson has joined Wake Smith Solicitors’ busy litigation and dispute resolution team.
Experienced commercial litigator Andrew Donaldson has joined Wake Smith Solicitors’ busy litigation and dispute resolution team.
Associate Andrew brings seven years experience to the Sheffield law firm in a range of commercial disputes matters including commercial contracts, commercial agents, directors duties, shareholder disputes, professional negligence, breach of warranties and high-value money claims.
Canadian-born Andrew has undertaken significant work in resolving disputes concerning contracts for goods and services, sales and purchase agreements, breach of restrictive covenants and complex partnership issues. He also has a particular interest in tech and AI.
Andrew, who has lived in Sheffield for nine years, said: “Being a commercial disputes solicitor means you get to explore all kinds of niche business sectors through fall outs which inevitably happen. Through my work I have gained insight into railway maintenance, advanced manufacturing, online sales, start-up financing, transport, green energy generation and other industries.
“Wake Smith has a well-established reputation for providing excellent client service, for being very commercially astute, and for delivering results. I am looking forward to working with some of the leading commercial litigators in the region and becoming
more entrenched in the local business community in the city I love.”
Andrew joins Wake Smith’s experienced five-strong litigation and disputes resolution team which includes co-managing director Liz Shaw, who has 30 years’ experience, and director Mike Doherty who has been successfully handling heavyweight commercial disputes with a focus on higher value contractual and chancery matters for more than 20 years.
The team, which also includes associate Sophie Kerry, an expert in the Renters Rights Act 2025, acts for all types of businesses on a large range of commercial and property disputes, ranging from multi-million-pound multi-party actions to smaller matters.
Wake Smith’s co-managing director and head of the litigation and disputes resolution team, Liz Shaw added: “Andrew adds significant expertise to our dispute resolution and litigation practice having built a strong reputation as a skilled litigator. His appointment reflects the ongoing demand for experienced litigators in specialist areas such as commercial litigation and high-profile corporate cases.”
Andrew obtained a BA in History and Russian Studies at the University of Ottawa, then completed his LLB at the University of Leicester, moving to London to complete his LLM/LPC at the University of Law Bloomsbury, and qualified as a solicitor in 2019.
For more information about Wake Smith Solicitors and its litigation services visit www.wake-smith.co.uk or call 0114 266 6660.
Pic caption: Experienced litigator Andrew Donaldson is welcomed to Sheffield’s Wake Smith Solicitors by co-managing director Liz Shaw and director Mike Doherty.
