Huddersfield-based Ridley & Hall has appointed its first non-lawyer partner and associate, as the firm continues its strategic growth.
Operations manager Tracey Armitage has been promoted to partner, while former senior secretary, Nicki Butterworth, has been promoted to non-legal associate in recognition of her contribution to the development of the firm’s care team.
David Amies, head of commercial property, and Victoria Ridge, a private client solicitor, have also been promoted to partner. Care solicitor Laura Milburn and property solicitor Ashley Sowerby have been promoted to associate.
Ridley & Hall has also appointed Shadreck Mpande, Rosie Turner and Lucy Pickles as trainee solicitors.
“We are developing our legal teams, and also want to recognise the huge contribution made by non-lawyers,” said managing director Emma Pearmaine of the new appointments.
“Modern law firms need a broad range of expertise, and our strategic plan to grow the business calls for equal measures of legal expertise and service skills. It is essential that we recognise everything that our team bring to the business, and with alternative business structure status, we are in a position to do that.”
Pearmaine added: “We are achieving all of our financial, business and operational targets, and I am convinced that this is owed to the philosophy of rewarding excellence from all levels of the business. Our focus is on developing talent in-house; recognising outstanding legal as well as non-legal skills.”
Laura Proctor has also qualified as a licensed conveyancer. Having secured her business degree, she worked in the coffee shop next door to Ridley & Hall’s office in Huddersfield. She impressed visiting directors and was offered a position as an administrator in 2013.
Ridley & Hall turned over £2.5 million in the last financial year.
Pictured: Victoria Ridge (partner, wills and probate), Tracey Armitage (partner, operations manager), Rosie Turner (trainee solicitor, adoption), David Amies (partner, commercial property), Laura Proctor (licensed conveyancer), Ashley Sowerby (associate, residential property solicitor), Nicki Butterworth (associate personal assistant) and Shadreck Mpande (trainee solicitor, residential property)
