Helen Shakespeare

Helen is a highly experienced senior serious injury solicitor based in Thompsons Solicitors Leeds office, supervising the Yorkshire and Humberside serious injury team.

Helen specialises in high-value and complex cases involving brain injury, spinal injury, multiple fractures, serious burns, and amputations that are life-changing and catastrophic.

With 19 years' experience, Helen understands the importance of rehabilitation and therapy to help her clients rebuild their lives after serious injury trauma. Helen will ensure that her clients are provided with therapeutic support, appropriate adaptations, equipment and prosthetics, funded by interim payments.

Helen focuses on getting the right individually-tailored care and rehabilitation package and creating a meaningful plan for her clients' long-term needs. With access to the best medical advice and evidence, Helen's clients know they are in good hands.

Helen is sensitive and empathetic, working for both adults and children seriously injured through accidents at work or on the road. With a reputation as a determined litigator who wants justice for her clients, and who pursues cases to gain the maximum compensation in the shortest possible time, Helen has secured millions of pounds for her clients.

Helen shares Thompsons' ethos and has only ever acted for those who are injured, rather than those who have been responsible for the injuries. She is proud to work for a firm that will fight the challenging cases and issues that other solicitor firms won't.

Helen's case experience

• Secured a settlement for a 32-year-old man who lost a leg in a traffic accident. Collaboration with the defendant's representatives resulted in trialling multiple prosthetics, facilitating an early return to high-level sports. The settlement was reached within 18 months.

• Secured £3.9 million for a motorcyclist who suffered life-threatening injuries when he was involved in a collision with a car, resulting in a non-functioning right arm and significant cognitive and behavioural problems due to a severe brain injury.

• Secured a settlement of £1.1m for a carer who was run over and suffered a life-changing serious brain injury.

• Secured a multi-million pound settlement for a pedestrian run over by a speeding car while walking their dog, leaving them seriously disabled with significant leg injuries and a severe traumatic brain injury.

• Secured a six-figure sum for a client who had to have his arm amputated due to an accident at work.

• Secured a six-figure award for a refuse collector who could no longer work after having had his leg amputated following extensive injuries from an accident at work.

• Represented an education worker who sustained long-term injuries following an accident at work that meant she could no longer work, recovering substantial compensation.

Professional membership

Helen is a member of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers and the brain injury charity Headway.

Testimonials

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 that I would want if I had a catastrophic injury.

Legal 500 2026

Helen Shakespeare is one of the foremost catastrophic personal injury lawyers in the North. Very level-headed, superb on the law and a particularly strong negotiator. She is very easy to deal with but steely when required.

Legal 500 2025

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

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

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

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