Ridley & Hall Solicitors have been recognised as leaders in three practice areas in the recently published Legal 500 for Yorkshire and the Humber.

The legal 500 which is an independent public directory purely based on merit recommends 8 lawyers from Family, Contentious Trusts and Probate and Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate.

Private client – Family – Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire

– Emma Pearmaine

– Nigel Priestley

– Vicky Medd

“Ridley & Hall attracts praise for its ‘excellent response times and up-to-date knowledge; questions and concerns are answered promptly by phone or email, and the team is always mindful to keep client costs minimal and ensure it provides a cost-effective service’. Practice head Vicky Medd is singled out for her ‘excellent mediation skills’, and for her knowledge of children law, particularly cases involving applications for children to be removed from the jurisdiction. Other key figures include senior partner Nigel Priestley, who attracts praise for his ‘very personal and supportive service and advice’, particularly in relation to adoption and care proceedings.”

“…Emma Pearmaine, who is noted for her expertise in ancillary relief, private law children matters and domestic violence cases”

Private client – Contentious Trusts and Probate

– Helen Dandridge

– Sarah Young

“Ridley & Hall has a ‘very knowledgeable’ team that many view as providing ‘a boutique service for contentious probate matters’. Headed by Sarah Young (who has ‘an excellent client manner and is very commercial’), and featuring Helen Dandridge (who is ‘very switched on legally’), the practice handles an array of contentious probate matters, with a particular niche in cases involving missing persons; in an illustration of its expertise in this arena, the firm recently acted in an application for declaration of presumed death by a missing person’s cohabitee, which was opposed by his family alleging that the missing person was still alive. Other recent work includes defending repossession proceedings brought by the deputy of the deceased mother’s mentally incapacitated daughter.”

Private client – Personal tax, trusts and probate

– Helen Webster

– Jill Waddington

– Victoria Maude

“Ridley & Hall fields ‘an excellent team’, with practice head Jill Waddington and solicitors Victoria Maude and Helen Webster the key names to note. The group assists clients with will and probate issues, estate administration, inheritance tax planning, trusts, care home fee planning and lasting powers of attorney matters. Waddington also stands out for her experience advising elderly clients and Webster is a dementia friend; the practice has a niche strength advising dementia patients and their carers. Court of Protection applications are another key area of focus of the department, with advice covering statutory wills and deputyships.”