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.
Emma is based at the South Elmsall office and prides herself on her excellent client care skills. Outside of work, Emma volunteers in the field of advocacy for a national charity, dealing predominantly with matters of discrimination which regularly overlap with the area of public law. Emma enjoys spending time in nature, reading and practices a number of holistic therapies.
Child Care & Public Law Team
Zoe Butt
Partner,Solicitor,
Team Leader of the Care Team
Zoe Butt joined the firm in March 2023 as a Partner. Zoe has a wealth of experience in children matters and works in our Care and Public Law teams. Zoe’s particular expertise is in complex care proceedings involving Child Sexual and Criminal Exploitation, and cases involving alleged Non-Accidental Injury. She also has a wealth of experience in dealing with cases involving Forced Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation and Honour Based Violence....
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....
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. ...
Sara Horncastle
Partner
Sara Horncastle joined Ridley & Hall in April 2025 as a Partner in the Care Team. A specialist Children’s Solicitor, Sara has practised exclusively in the field of children law since qualifying in 2010. ...
Saniya Hussain
Paralegal
Before joining Ridley & Hall in January 2026, Saniya graduated from the University of Leeds, where she studied LLB Law. Upon graduating, she worked as an Usher/Administrative Assistant at Leeds Crown Court Criminal Division, assisting in very serious criminal cases with offences ranging from sexual allegations, assault, GBH and murder, conducting jury trials and returning verdicts....
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....
Alisha Mazher
Solicitor
Alisha is a qualified family law solicitor with ample experience and knowledge in domestic abuse cases, private child arrangements and kinship....
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. ...
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....
Kim Noble
Associate,Solicitor-Advocate
Kim qualified as a Solicitor-Advocate in 2019 after obtaining her Higher Rights of Audience (Civil) as a Trainee Solicitor based in the Care Department at a Local Authority. Kim has obtained a Law Degree, Legal Practice Course and a Master of Laws prior to qualifying as a Solicitor-Advocate....
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....
