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.
Lauren commenced her training contract in September 2025 and now works in the Public Law team and assists fee earners with running cases in respect of care proceedings, adoption breakdown and other children law matters. Lauren also has experience in assisting with inherent jurisdiction applications to the High Court.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and going on days out.
Adoption and Kinship Care Team
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
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
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....
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
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
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....
