Helen Shakespeare is a nationally recognised serious injury solicitor with over 20 years’ experience in high value, complex and catastrophic injury litigation.  She leads Thompsons Solicitors’ serious injury team across Yorkshire and Humberside and is ranked Band 1 in Chambers UK for Personal Injury: Mainly Claimant. 

Helen specialises in life-changing injuries including traumatic brain injury, amputations, spinal cord injury, serious burns and polytrauma.  Her cases often involve securing multi-million-pound settlements for clients who have suffered devastating injuries at work or on the road.  She is known for her client-centred and strategic approach to litigation, securing early interim payments to fund rehabilitation, therapy, specialist equipment and prosthetics. 

Helen’s commitment to long-term recovery ensures that her clients receive the support they need to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. 

Chambers Quote

Helen is described as an “absolutely fantastic litigator” who “goes toe-to-toe with the other side” and is “genuinely passionate about high-quality rehabilitation for her clients”.  She has secured millions in compensation including:-

 

  • Over £4m for a below knee amputee.
  • £2.9m for a pedestrian run over by a vehicle.
  • £3.9m for a motorcyclist with a severe brain injury and non-functioning arm.
  • A multi-million-pound settlement for a pedestrian left seriously disabled after being hit by a speeding car.
  • £1.1m for a carer who suffered a life-changing brain injury.

 

Helen is a Senior Litigator accredited by APIL and a member of Headway, the brain injury charity.  She is proud to work exclusively for injured people and shares Thompsons’ ethos of fighting for justice in the most challenging cases – often those other firms won’t take on. 

 

Testimonials

Chambers Quote
Helen Shakespeare is just brilliant.  She makes a huge difference to complex claims. She is excellent with clients.  She is empathetic, but a real fighter.  Helen is the Solicitor I would want if I had a catastrophic injury.

Legal 500

I cannot say enough good things about Helen Shakespeare.  She has the perfect balance of good sense, good instincts and great experience.  She runs cases so smoothly and unflustered even when difficult issues arise

Legal 500

Helen Shakespeare is simply excellent.  She has a complete command of her cases, shows great empathy with the most difficult clients, and has the determination to fight to the last breath to get the very best results.

Legal 500

Helen Shakespeare is superb. She marries huge experience and technical ability with an easygoing manner. She’s a real team player who is unafraid to get her hands dirty and fight when the need arises.

Legal 500, 2024

Helen is very experienced and great with clients. She’s very compassionate but fearless with opponents when she needs to be.

Chambers, 2024

Many thanks Helen. Thank you for all the help and support you gave to me throughout, it’s something me and my family will never forget.

Helen's former client

Thank you for all your support over the last four and a half years. You made a very difficult time in my life a lot easier. At the start of all this, I had no idea who to turn to and I spoke to a few solicitors.  As soon as I spoke to you, my gut instinct was that you were the right person, I really appreciate everything.  I couldn’t have asked for a better solicitor or a better person to have on my side.

Helen's former client

Helen Shakespeare, senior serious injury solicitor at the Leeds office, brings a wealth of expertise to her role, with several 7-figure settlements to her name. Her down-to-earth and good-humoured relationship with clients enables her to coax even the most reluctant to engage with rehabilitation, enabling them to see the enormous possibilities of life beyond a catastrophic injury. Calm and composed under pressure, her determination to succeed unfailingly leads to outstanding results, despite the most unpromising odds. She recently secured a full admission of liability for a child who suffered a severe brain injury when he ran in front of a bus over 20 years ago.

David Knifton, Queen's Counsel

Helen Shakespeare is outstanding. She has a sound legal knowledge and excellent client-handling skills, but above all her instincts are always right. She has the innate ability to sense when to settle and when to fight on.

Legal 500, 2019

Helen Shakespeare is absolutely top notch. Very experienced and will fight relentlessly for the client.

Legal 500, 2020

Thank you so much for all your hard work. We will always remember your kindness and support for our family and you will always be highly recommended by us.

Helen's former client