Child Care & Public Law

Ridley & Hall’s Child Care team has a local and national reputation for its work in the complex field of child care law.

Questions relating to parental rights, children’s rights and local authority obligations arise in the majority of the cases that we handle. We are aware that many parents do not receive the basic assistance to which they are entitled, yet these same parents’ abilities are often called into question.

We fight vigorously for the right of parents, children, grandparents, family members and adoptive parents.

Increasingly, grandparents and other relatives and friends are playing a vital role in the life of children. Many are prepared to put themselves forward as carers for a child who has been removed by the local authority from the parents’ care. It is vital that these kinship carers’ voices are heard.

We are specialists in representing kinship carers in care proceedings. We understand the importance of fighting for the right order to be made if the child is to be placed with family or friends.

We have represented families across the country in care proceedings. Distance is not an issue. Getting the right results for carers is the most important consideration so that both the child and the carers are supported.

Our Areas of Expertise

Kinship Care

Adoption

Care Proceedings

Our People

James Cook

Director,
Head of Child Care & Public Law Team

James Cook trained and qualified at a South Yorkshire firm where he specialised in family and immigration law. ...

Nigel Priestley

Senior Partner, MBE

Nigel Priestley is a Senior Partner of Ridley & Hall Solicitors and a community care and adoption specialist solicitor. He is a member of the Children’s Panel and regularly represents children and parents in care proceedings. ...

Clare Linden

Partner

Clare joined Ridley & Hall Solicitors as a Partner in 2018. Clare graduated from Durham University and completed her legal training at the College of Law in York in 2006. Clare qualified as a solicitor in 2008 when she re-located to Leeds to join the niche family law firm McAras and was made a partner in 2013 following the firm’s merger with Simpson Millar solicitors in Leeds....

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Laura Milburn

Partner

Laura has many years of legal experience and was called to the Bar in 2010. After qualifying as a Barrister, Laura cross-qualified to become a Solicitor in 2012. Laura is a passionate advocate and has used her advocacy and negotiation skills on behalf of many clients over the years. ...

Deborah Hardy

Partner

Deborah has over 25 years’ experience in family law and has particular expertise in representing children, court appointed guardians, parents and extended family members in care proceedings in Leeds and surrounding areas. She joined Ridley & Hall as a Partner in 2018....

Nicki Butterworth

Associate Personal Assistant

Nicki is an experienced Personal Assistant who works within the Care & Public Law Team (for Child Care Director, James Cook). Nicki’s career began in the retail sector, and it was there where she began to hone her renowned communication and customer service skills....

Helen Moody

Solicitor

Helen completed her degree in law in 2009 before continuing her studies part time on the Legal Practice Course whilst working in a solicitors firm in Wakefield to gain experience. Helen joined Ridley & Hall in January 2012 after completion of the Legal Practice Course, initially as a Legal Assistant working alongside Nigel Priestley to build up experience in the Public Law department. Helen completed her training contract at Ridley & Hall and qualified as a solicitor in October 2016....

Sarah Brown

Associate Solicitor

Sarah joined Ridley & Hall in 2010 following the completion of her Law Degree. Whilst working at Ridley & Hall she studied the Legal Practice Course part time over two years, completing it in 2012....

Michelle Silcox

Solicitor

Michelle joined Ridley & Hall in October 2019 and was admitted to the Role of Solicitor in early November 2019. Following redundancy from her longstanding role as Customer Service Manager at a national workwear company in 2007, Michelle took the decision to go to University and study law, something she had also hoped to do....

Natalie Stephenson-Quayle

Paralegal

Natalie started at Ridley & Hall in November 2019 as a care paralegal. In September 2020, Natalie integrated into the Public Law team as well, so now she works in both the Care and the Public Law teams which offers her the ability to help clients in need. This is something she has been interested in from a young age. ...

Kavya Balram

Paralegal

Kavya moved to the UK in 2015. She is a qualified lawyer in India. Kavya has always wanted to progress her career in law and pursue further studies to dual qualify as a Solicitor in England and Wales. She has passed the first stage of the exams and is studying towards the second part....

Victoria Jones

Trainee Solicitor

Victoria achieved a First Class M Law (Exempting) degree at Northumbria University. Whilst at university, Victoria was a student adviser at Northumbria University’s Student Law Office, providing detailed legal advice to members of the public under solicitor supervision. Prior to commencing her final year at University, Victoria completed a short internship working with a law firm in Singapore....

Yasmin Walker

Trainee Solicitor

Yasmin initially joined our Residential Property team in the South Elmsall office as a Conveyancing Assistant in September 2019 to gain first hand legal experience whilst undertaking her Masters Qualification....

Rosie Turner

Solicitor

Rosie primarily assists clients on a variety of issues in relation to kinship care, particularly claiming allowances and back dated payments for kinship carers from Local Authority’s. Rosie also assists clients with Special Guardianship Order applications and advice in relation to the support that is available under Special Guardianship Orders....

Thank you so much for all your time and effort you have helped me with throughout your time. I honestly can’t thank you enough you have been amazing in explaining every little detail to me and listening to all my worries.

Public Law client – 27 June 2022

Thank you. You have been absolutely wonderful dealing with our case. So efficient, informative, and sensitive and we would like to thank you for this.

Public Law client – 25 June 2022

Thank you so much for all your kindness, empathy, leadership and hard work. Everything since disruption has been horrendous. However to know, with you, Nigel and the whole team advising and supporting we are grateful and that reduces so much of our stress. You’ve been so patient with all our challenges, worries and asks. We feel so blessed to have you work on our case.

Public Law client – 22 June 2022

You have been an essential part of ensuring N and T have access to every opportunity in their future. I’m very grateful to Jane for reading my very long, initial email asking for help, to Nigel for his superb expertise and to you Viki, for keeping us informed at every stage and answering my queries.

Public Law client – 15 June 2022

We wanted to thank you all for all your support over the last year or so. You’ve all been brilliant. You’ve kept us fully informed with what is going on, even when I was asking questions all the time. We’re really pleased you represented us and couldn’t have asked for anymore support that what you gave us.

Kinship Care Client – 13 June 2022

Thanks so much for what you achieved with such gentilesse and elegance today, Nigel. We will not forget it, ever. So glad we found you.

Public Law Client – 28 May 2022

Just a note to thank Kavya & Nigel for all of the input & support during these care proceedings. Since becoming involved with you, I have recommended your services to many people who are going through similar situations to ourselves. I will continue to send people your way whenever appropriate.

Adoption Client – 29 May 2022

Thank you again for all your support, advise and effort and more so your responsive communication which was so needed during what has been a very difficult time emotionally for us all it is much appreciated thank you.

Child Care Client – 20 May 2022

Kavya, we would just like to thank you & Nigel for securing this outcome for us. We can’t express our gratitude enough. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted from our shoulders.

Public Law Client – May 2022

I really liked working with James, Laura and Nicki. I think they were always professional, kind, understanding and very reassuring. Very easy to get hold of them and always there to talk to when needed.

Child Care Client – February 2022

Contact Us Today

New Enquiries Freephone
0800 860 62 65

Existing Clients

info@ridleyandhall.co.uk