Friday 30 March 2012

Adam Fletcher, formerly head of strategy & business development, has been appointed managing partner at Ridley & Hall. He will be continuing with his client facing position as a residential property lawyer whilst fulfilling the managing partner role. Adam replaces Sarah Young who held the position for 6½ years and is to stay with the firm, but is now concentrating her efforts heading up the expanding contentious probate department. Sarah commented, “Ridley & Hall has grown significantly over the last few years – and the firm has won many awards as well as some landmark legal victories for our clients. I am confident that Adam has the enthusiasm and skills to map a successful future for the firm so that we can continue to deliver an outstanding service to our clients.”

Adam has previously been a partner at Hartley & Worstenholme, based in Pontefract and Castleford. He has project managed the launch of two major services whilst at Ridley & Hall; Elderflower and Grandparents Legal Centre. Elderflower (www.elderfloweradvice.co.uk), which launched in June 2011, is a collaborative service which provides specialist legal, financial and bereavement advice to those at or approaching retirement age. It brings together solicitors, financial advisors and bereavement counsellors to offer a wide-range of services. In October 2011 the firm launched the Grandparents Legal Centre (www.grandparentslegalcentre.co.uk). The Centre provides specialist legal advice to grandparents who need to be represented in Court Proceedings about their grandchildren or who want to challenge a local authority for support. He was instrumental in Ridley & Hall becoming one of the first firms in the country to gain accreditation in the Law Society’s conveyancing scheme (CQS) which meets the highest possible standards for the residential conveyancing process. He also headed up the firm’s successful bid in gaining Legal 500 status for the Family and Private Client departments in 2011.

Adam commented “I am proud to take on the role of leading this firm, which has already accomplished so much and I look forward to building upon and developing the quality of service our clients have come to expect. I’m fortunate that I have the opportunity to be working with a great team who have a passion for the work they do.  There are difficult times ahead for high street law firms, with huge legal aid cutbacks and the introduction of ‘Tesco Law’ – but I’m looking forward to the challenge and I think that Huddersfield has a vibrant business environment. I have very much enjoyed meeting new clients in the Huddersfield area whilst continuing to support my long-standing clients across Yorkshire and in London.”

(Photo – from left to right – Michael George congratulates incoming Managing Partner Adam Fletcher, along with Sarah Young and Nigel Priestley)