Nigel Priestley, senior partner at Ridley and Hall Solicitors in Huddersfield, who has been honoured in the past for his work with kinship carers, has been shortlisted for the Law Society excellence award, Solicitor of the Year.

He has become one of the country’s leading experts in ensuring local authorities live up to their financial responsibilities to family carers, making judicial review challenges against several.

Mr Priestley said: “I was thrilled to get on the shortlist. It truly demonstrates the passion and dedication of the whole firm. We are very proud to be flying the flag for Yorkshire on a national stage.”

The nomination followed a number of important court decisions which have had a national impact.
• He brought a successful challenge to Kirklees policy of paying carers with Special Guardianship Orders less than the basic fostering allowance.
• He was the solicitor for a Kent grandmother in a landmark challenge to Kent CC policy of payments to kinship carers.
• He represented a British aunt living in Florida in an application for Adoption which the barrister for the Local Authority described as “ground breaking.”
• He was the Solicitor for a Christian Gateshead foster carer who was deregistered after a child in her care became a Christian. She is now about to have a child placed with her after the local authority’s decision was ruled illegal.

Ridley & Hall Solicitors have also been instrumental in helping to forge links with the Crossroads project in Meltham providing advice on welfare benefits, particularly for the elderly.

The winner will be announced in London on 21st October.