Nigel meets former Senior High Court judge Sir Mark Hedley who co-hosted the event

Nigel Priestley at Ridley & Hall, was shortlisted for the Family Law Partner of the Year 2015 at the prestigious Family Law Awards.

The chosen lawyers had to show that they were an “individual who the judges believe has made a major contribution to the field of family law through their practice, and shown that they have executed a strategic vision through outstanding leadership”.

Commenting, Nigel said, “It was a fantastic privilege to be shortlisted from the thousands of family lawyers in England and Wales.

“In the year running up to the awards we had had two important court decisions reported dealing with support for adoptive parents and short comings of social workers who assess grandparents as carers. We continued our fight to get proper payments for family and friends carers and in one case secured a back payment of £65,000 and an increase in the weekly payment from £42 to £360.

Nigel meets Mrs Justice Eleanor King who also co-hosted the event

“We are recognised as the leading firm working with kinship carers and in the last 12 months have built on our reputation as the lawyers to go to for adopters who need specialist advice.”

Sarah Young, one of the directors at Ridley & Hall, said, “This work by the team at Grandparents Legal Centre and Adoption Legal Centre was recognised by the judging committee who shortlisted Nigel. He may not have won but it is a remarkable accolade for a relatively small firm from Huddersfield. Nigel was up against stiff opposition from some of the largest firms in the country. The work continues to make sure carers get the support they need whether they are adopters, kinship carers or those family members who find themselves needing specialist advice.”

For legal advice relating to kinship care or adoption please contact Ridley & Hall on 01484 538421.