Senior Sheffield solicitor retires after 43 years

One of Sheffield’s most established senior solicitors will retire at Easter, after a rewarding career serving the local community for 43 years.

Michael Tunbridge started his legal career in Sheffield in November 1976 as a newly qualified assistant solicitor at Wake Smith, spending the rest of his working life at the company.

Initially doing all manner of non-contentious work, he quickly found his feet in the Private Client department, specialising in wills, probate, trusts and tax planning where he remained for the rest of his career.

He acted for numerous owner-managed businesses with family trusts and dealt with high net worth individuals in connection with inheritance tax mitigation and the administration of their estates.

In addition to heading that department for 29 years until 2014, Michael became the firm’s Senior Partner. 

Michael said: “Over the years I have built up long-term relationships with people in Sheffield, Derbyshire and beyond.  I am now dealing with the third and fourth generations of some of those families. 

“Many of my clients have become personal friends and I have particularly enjoyed this overlap.

“I will certainly miss the company of my clients, colleagues and fellow professionals including accountants, tax consultants, investment managers, surveyors and others.  I would like to thank all past and present clients of the firm.”

Following a successful transition to part-time consultant in 2014, Michael will retire, safe in the knowledge his clients will be well looked after for the next 40 years.

He said: “I leave behind a very capable and experienced Private Client department, led by Suzanne Porter. There is a strong team of talented lawyers and I have no hesitation in saying that my clients will be in good hands.”

Michael, who is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a member of the Law Society’s Private Client Section, is also a non-executive director of a Chesterfield property company.

Nick Lambert, chairman at Wake Smith Solicitors, said: “Michael has enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the law. He has seen and adapted to a number of changes not only in the law itself, but also the manner in which legal services are delivered.

“His contribution to the success of the Private Client department at Wake Smith and to the firm as a whole will always be appreciated and he leaves with our grateful thanks for a lifetime’s commitment to Wake Smith and for all of his hard work over the years. The team he leaves behind has a bright future and that is largely down to Michael. We wish him a well-deserved, long and happy retirement.”

Michael’s clients will continue to be looked after by Suzanne Porter and the Private Client team at Wake Smith.