Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Award-Winning Legal Services in Yorkshire
Ridley & Hall is an award-winning law firm based in Yorkshire with a national reputation. Established in 1927, we combine decades of legal expertise with a forward-thinking, client-centric approach. Our team of specialists provides tailored legal solutions across family law, property transactions, probate, and contentious litigation, prioritising clarity, compassion, and accessibility. Recognised by Legal 500 and Lexcel, we maintain rigorous professional standards while fostering a culture of inclusivity and innovation.Our commitment extends beyond legal excellence, demonstrated through community engagement, pro bono initiatives, and partnerships with institutions like the University of Huddersfield Legal Clinic. We operate from four accessible offices in Huddersfield, Leeds, Pontefract, and Barnsley, offering home visits and flexible communication options to accommodate vulnerable clients, including those affected by dementia.
Services
Adoption
Care Proceedings
Commercial Property
Child Disputes
Contentious Probate
Residential Property
Wills & Trusts
Inheritance Claims
Details
- Year established: 1927
Highlights and features
- Recognised as a Legal 500 Leading Firm since 2010
- Pioneers in kinship care law with national expertise
- ISO 9001-accredited quality management systems
- Dementia-friendly practice with specialist Wills & Probate team
- Investor in People-accredited employer with apprenticeship scheme
Associations and certifications
- Legal 500
- Lexcel
- Conveyancing Quality Scheme
What people say
Compassionate fighters
Excellent staff
Kept informed
Positive impact
Complex cases handled
Services
Adoption
Our specialist adoption team provides comprehensive legal support for domestic and intercountry adoptions. With Legal 500 recognition, we guide clients through complex processes including local authority challenges, kinship care arrangements, and post-adoption support. Our solicitors combine technical expertise with compassionate representation, ensuring vulnerable children's best interests remain central to all proceedings. We maintain strong partnerships with adoption agencies and social services across the UK.
Care Proceedings
Recognised as Yorkshire's leading children law specialists, we represent parents, guardians, and children in care proceedings. Our team handles emergency protection orders, care plans, and placement disputes with sensitivity and precision. With decades of experience in non-accidental injury cases and kinship care arrangements, we provide robust advocacy while prioritising family preservation and child welfare through court-appointed roles and expert witness collaboration.
Wills & Trusts
Our Wills and Probate team offers tailored estate planning solutions, including statutory Wills for incapacitated clients and inheritance tax mitigation strategies. Accredited by STEP Private Client Awards, we create bespoke trusts, lasting powers of attorney, and asset protection structures. The department specialises in contentious probate matters and Court of Protection applications, with particular expertise in dementia-friendly legal planning and elderly client care.
Commercial Property
Recognised in Legal 500 for commercial property expertise, we handle acquisitions, disposals, and development projects nationwide. Our solicitors manage complex lease structures, property finance transactions, and landlord-tenant disputes. As early adopters of the Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme, we ensure rigorous compliance standards while delivering practical commercial solutions for businesses, developers, and property investors across Yorkshire and beyond.
Inheritance Claims
Our contentious probate specialists resolve inheritance disputes through negotiation, mediation, and litigation. We handle claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975, contested wills, and trust disputes. With Legal 500 recognition, our team combines technical mastery of succession law with strategic advocacy, achieving favourable outcomes for beneficiaries, executors, and estate administrators in complex multi-jurisdictional cases.
People
Emma Pearmaine
Managing Director
Award-winning legal leader with 25+ years' experience in family law. President of Leeds Law Society 2019, Managing Partner of the Year finalist, and architect of Ridley & Hall's apprenticeship scheme. Drives innovation in client care and business growth.
Nigel Priestley
Senior Partner
Qualified solicitor since 1978, Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year 2017. Specialises in complex family law and adoption cases. Recipient of Law Society Excellence Awards and Modern Law Awards' Lawyer of the Year. Leads firm's strategic direction.
Adam Leece
Residential Property Partner
Head of Residential Property with 20+ years' conveyancing expertise. Shortlisted for Partner of the Year at Sheffield Law Society Awards 2024. Oversees transactions across Yorkshire and national markets, maintaining Conveyancing Quality Scheme standards.
Hannah Pedley
Wills & Probate Solicitor
Rising Star of the Year winner at Sheffield Law Society Awards 2024. Specialises in estate planning, lasting powers of attorney, and Court of Protection applications. Leads firm's dementia-friendly legal services initiative.
Themer Slimane
Marketing & Business Development Partner
Promoted to partner in 2024, oversees marketing strategy and business growth. Manages community partnerships including University of Huddersfield Legal Clinic collaborations and pro bono initiatives.
Questions
What areas of law does Ridley & Hall specialise in?
We specialise in family law (adoption, care proceedings), property transactions (commercial/residential), Wills & Probate, inheritance claims, and contentious litigation. Recognised by Legal 500 in all core practice areas.
Are your services accessible for clients with disabilities?
Yes. We are a Dementia Action Alliance member with dementia-friendly offices, offer home visits, and provide accessible documentation. Over 30 staff trained as Dementia Friends with specialist Wills & Probate support.
Do you offer legal services outside Yorkshire?
While based in Yorkshire, we operate nationally with particular strength in kinship care law and adoption cases. Our conveyancing team handles property transactions across the UK through secure digital platforms.
What accreditations does Ridley & Hall hold?
We maintain Legal 500 Leading Firm status since 2010, Lexcel practice management accreditation, Conveyancing Quality Scheme membership, and Investor in People certification for staff development.
Can I get help with making a Will?
Yes. Our Wills & Probate team creates tailored estate plans, including statutory Wills for incapacitated clients. We offer home visits and specialist dementia-friendly legal planning services.
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