Emma Pearmaine

Managing Director

Department: Family & Matrimonial, Management

The Legal 500 – The Clients Guide to Law Firms

Emma Pearmaine is our Managing Director, winner of the Yorkshire Law Awards Managing Partner of the Year Award 2020. Emma is very proud to have supported our people to win Yorkshire Law Awards Small Law Firm of the Year Award 2019 and to be shortlisted for the same award in 2020.

As a family and matrimonial specialist for over 25 years, she has represented clients in divorce and children cases. She has particular niche expertise in matrimonial cases involving challenging business, pension, maintenance and other finance issues.

Emma joined Ridley & Hall as a Director in 2017. She started her career in Huddersfield and later moved to Leeds to work with clients nationally in her role as Director of Family Legal Services at Simpson Millar LLP. Emma has represented clients across England and Wales.

As a former Trustee for the London based charity The Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence, Emma is considered to be a go to expert on domestic violence issues.

In 2018, Emma was shortlisted in the Forward Ladies National Awards 2018, Female Entrepreneur of the Year category in Yorkshire, North East and Scotland.

In 2014 she won the Modern Lawyer ‘Lawyer of the Year’ Award.

Emma has been a member of the Multi Party Family Courts Parliamentary Group, is a Past President and current Director of Leeds Law Society, and current Vice President of The Yorkshire Union of Law Societies.

Emma’s focus is now on her role as Managing Director, and she is a key member of the Ridley & Hall management team. The Modern Law Award recognised her strong management and leadership ability resulting in the very rapid and expansive development of national Family Legal Services at Simpson Millar. She has brought all this experience and expertise to Ridley & Hall, working with her colleagues to develop all aspects of the business.

Emma is as interested in the development of legal process and services as she is in the delivery of them.

Emma is married and is the very proud mother of 2 grown up sons. In her spare time, she loves to be with her family and friends, she cooks up a storm in the kitchen, enjoys walking the dog in the countryside and loves a good book.

Family & Matrimonial, Management Team

Sophie Aldridge

Trainee Solicitor

Sophie joined Ridley & Hall in 2022 as a Paralegal in the Private Client Team before obtaining her Training Contract for which she has assisted as a Trainee in the Private Client Team, the Child Care & Public Law Team and the Family Law Team....

Corinne Barnett

Trainee Solicitor

Since joining Ridley and Hall in 2019, Corinne worked part time alongside her undergraduate and post graduate studies. Corinne has since been awarded a training contract where she has gained experience across various legal disciplines including Residential Conveyancing, Wills and Probate and she is currently completing her final seat in the Family Team. ...

Tamara Dove-O'Hara

Associate Solicitor

Tamara is an associate solicitor handling all aspects of family law including divorce, financial settlements, child applications, and injunctions....

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Anthony Elston

Finance Director

Anthony is a Chartered Accountant and was a partner in a national firm of accountants until 2011. He then joined a national consumer law firm as Finance Director and worked as part of the management team achieving significant growth organically and through acquisition, culminating in the sale of the firm in 2014 to a public company....

Zarqa Farouq

Paralegal

Zarqa is a Paralegal in our family team, representing a range of clients in divorce, financial remedy and private children matters....

Theresa Ferres

New Prospect Support Manager

Theresa is responsible for Monitoring New Business Prospects and ensuring the highest level of client care is delivered at all times across the firm....

Tracey Firth

HR Manager

Tracey joined Ridley & Hall as a HR Manager in 2021. She is a Chartered member of the CIPD....

Adam Fletcher

Business Development & IT Director

Adam served as Managing Director from 2012-2018, overseeing 25%+ growth. With 20+ years in residential property, he excels in conveyancing. In 2023, he took on the role of Business Development and IT Director, pivotal in the firm's future. He's dedicated to expanding the client base and enhancing technological support. Ridley & Hall is an exciting place for him....

Shelley Harper

Associate,
Solicitor

Shelley joined Ridley & Hall Solicitors in 2020 and is a Solicitor in our family department having qualified in 2018. Shelley completed her Law Degree at Sheffield Hallam University and continued her studies at BPP University Law School in Leeds....

Emma Hopkins Jones

Partner

Emma joined Ridley & Hall as a Partner in September 2020. Emma is an experienced family law specialist, practising in all areas of private family law. Emma’s expertise in financial issues on separation, and in particular cases involving unmarried couples, was recognised in the Legal 500 2017....

Vicky Medd

Partner

Vicky Medd is a family solicitor with over 20 years experience. She is an accredited specialist with Resolution and has a lot of experience of financial relief, and child disputes. Vicky was also recently involved in one of the first family arbitration cases in the country and has a lot of experience in dealing with cases as expeditiously as possible, whilst achieving the best outcomes for clients....

Karen Roberts

Partner

Karen Roberts has well over 20 years practice experience as a Family Solicitor and has a warm, and approachable style. She undertakes all areas of Family Law work, representing individuals facing difficult children’s issues, domestic abuse concerns and divorces/separations involving the resolution of financial issues. She represents parents and grandparents in care proceedings brought by the Local Authority and where family and children’s placements have broken down. ...

Themer Slimane

Marketing Manager,
Partner

Themer is the Marketing Partner at Ridley & Hall, responsible for overseeing both online and offline marketing activities for the firm. He collaborates closely with the Managing Director, Emma Pearmaine....

Zuzanna Taithe

Solicitor

Since August 2019, Zuza has worked as a Paralegal in Ridley & Hall Solicitors’ Residential and Commercial Property Teams and, subsequently, as a Legal Secretary in the Care and Public Team, having previous experience in the firm as a placement student. Zuza has been awarded a Training Contract at Ridley & Hall, which commenced in July 2021. ...

Clare Wilson

Solicitor

Clare has experience in divorce and finances as well as private children matters. She is personable and passionate about providing clear, legal advice to all her clients to ensure she can obtain effective, efficient outcomes for what is usually a very difficult and stressful time in their lives....