Laura Milburn is the latest partner to be appointed at Ridley & Hall in Leeds, having been promoted from associate solicitor after four years with the Huddersfield-based law firm. Colleagues Loreena Walker, Yasmin Walker, Zuzanna Taithe and Demi Wain were also recognised in the latest round of promotions and appointments.

Laura has worked in family law for the last 13 years and has specialised as a child care lawyer since 2014. Laura trained as a barrister and undertakes her own trials and advocacy. She is a member of the Law Society Children’s Panel and represents children in care proceedings. Laura also specialises in representing parents and extended family members where social services are involved with families as well as advising grandparents seeking contact with their grandchild or who are considering taking on the care of their grandchild.

Loreena Walker rises to the position of associate, having joined Ridley & Hall as a chartered legal executive within the family department in 2018. Loreena‘s expertise includes dealing with complex matrimonial issues and child contact disputes as well as applications relating to domestic violence.

In addition, Yasmin Walker and Zuzanna Taithe have been awarded two-year training contracts with the firm; and Demi Wain has joined as a legal apprentice. Yasmin joined Ridley & Hall in September 2019 as a residential conveyancing assistant at its Pontefract office where she had undertaken work experience.

Zuzanna started working with the firm in 2019 as a placement student, through the Legal Advice Clinic, working mostly in the child care and public law department. Later that year, she was appointed as a paralegal working across the residential and commercial property teams, and in 2020 she moved to the child care and public law team in the role of legal secretary.

Demi has been with the firm since 2017, remaining in its public Law department after completing an administrator apprenticeship. Last year she moved to the Central Services Team (CST) and is currently training on the CST Helpline where she will remain during her apprenticeship. After two years Demi will qualify as a paralegal, and after a further four years she could qualify as a solicitor.

“As a firm, we are committed to continuing to nurture talent as we recognise that our people are our strength,” explains Emma Pearmaine, managing partner at Ridley & Hall. “Despite the disruption of last year, it is vital that we invest in supporting our lawyers in developing their careers with us, and also in strengthening the expertise we offer to clients.

“Laura and Loreena’s promotions are well deserved recognition of their contribution to the success of the firm, and we are excited to bring three more young people into the team as they embark on their legal careers.”

Laura commented: “I feel lucky to be part of such an experienced team and such a forward-thinking firm. With our senior partner, Nigel Priestley, recently having been awarded an MBE for services to families and children, and a team full of experienced child care lawyers, there is no better place to be offered partnership. The caring ‘family feel’ of the firm is what attracted me to join Ridley & Hall and I will to continue to promote that ethos in my new role as a partner.”

With offices in Huddersfield, Leeds and Pontefract, Ridley & Hall has a 80 strong team and specialises in family, private client, litigation and property law.