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Ellie Butterfield Headshot

Ellie Butterfield


Trainee Solicitor
Department: Adoption and Kinship Care

Ellie joined Ridley & Hall as a Trainee Solicitor in April 2025 and is currently completing her Training Contract.  She is studying the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and is due to qualify as a Solicitor in 2027.

After graduating with a First-Class Honours degree from The University of Law in 2022, Ellie began her legal career as a paralegal, gaining experience in both professional regulation and public children law. Prior to joining Ridley & Hall, Ellie spent almost three years supporting solicitors in complex and sensitive care proceedings, including matters involving child protection, neglect, and non-accidental injuries. Through this work, Ellie developed a strong understanding of the legal, practical, and emotional challenges faced by parents and children involved in proceedings brought by Local Authorities, and gained a well-rounded perspective on supporting families through significant life events and legal processes.

As part of her Training Contract, Ellie has gained experience across a range of practice areas, including Care and Residential Property. She is currently working in the public family team, developing specialist expertise in Kinship Care and Adoption, with a particular focus on helping children to achieve secure, stable, and lasting family arrangements.

Ellie approaches every matter with professionalism, sensitivity, and attention to detail, striving to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and families.


Adoption and Kinship Care Team

Sarah Brown

Sarah Brown

Partner,
Solicitor,
Team Leader
Sarah is the Team Leader of the Public Law team. She primarily assists clients with a variety of issues related to adoption and has developed a particular specialism in advising clients on the adoption process and adoption disruptions....
James Cook

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. ...
Helen Moody

Helen Moody

Partner,
Solicitor
Helen joined Ridley & Hall in 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 2016. Helen has had major successes in claiming allowances and back dated payments for kinship carers from Local Authorities across the country. Helen was made an Associate Solicitor in January 2023....
Lauren Parker headshot

Lauren  Parker

Apprentice Solicitor
Lauren joined Ridley and Hall in 2023 as a secretary in the childcare department based in the Huddersfield Office. She obtained a Law Degree at the University of Huddersfield and joined another firm as a Conveyancing assistant before joining Ridley and Hall. ...
Nigel Priestley

Nigel Priestley

MBE,
Senior Partner,
Solicitor
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....
Emma Shinn headshot

Emma Shinn

Legal Executive
Before joining the public law team at Ridley and Hall, Emma was a Senior Child Care Lawyer for a Local Authority dealing with a number of complex proceedings, including A & Ors (Care Proceedings: 1996 Hague Convention: Habitual Residence) [2024] EWFC 110....
Michelle Silcox headshot

Michelle  Silcox

Solicitor
Michelle is an experienced Family Law solicitor in the Public Team at Ridley and Hall Solicitors specialising in Adoption, Adoption Disruption and Kinship Care. Michelle also has previous experience in Care Proceedings, Private Law Family and Domestic Abuse....