Apple - Is there a way to make Windows-style SMB share paths launch correctly?

I'm in a similar position at work, with a mixed environment. We use WinShortcutter, which is freeware. The allows you to right-click on a UNC path (such as \\FileServer01\topfolder\subfolder\shared.doc) and Open as Windows Link: WinShortcutter - Open as Windows Link

It's quite configurable as well, and allows drive mappings (so when you are sent a link that starts S:/folder, it will allow you to Open as Windows Link). WinShortcutter - Configuration

This works quite reliably for us.