A HUDDERSFIELD lawyer has been recognised for his “exceptional achievements” in the legal profession.
Solicitor Nigel Priestley, of Ridley and Hall, was highly commended in the category of Solicitor of the Year in the Law Society’s annual Excellence Awards.
He received a certificate from society president Paul Marsh at a ceremony hosted by BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark in London.
Mr Priestley said: “It is a great honour to win this accolade, particularly when it is judged by the national Law Society.
“There are 105,000 lawyers in the UK and the calibre of all the nominees was outstanding.”
Ridley and Hall, which has town centre offices at Market Street, was also nominated for the social responsibility award.
The award is made to law practices finding new ways to get involved in their local communities.
Mr Priestley, the senior partner, was praised for his “groundbreaking’’ work fighting claims on behalf of “kinship carers” who end up looking after the children of families and friends to stop them being put into foster care.
Mr Priestley, who is also a trustee of the Family Rights Group charity, has also called for non-means tested allowances for people who care for children who are not their own.
He was also recognised for his involvement in advice centre work, charity fundraising and efforts to establish a twinning scheme with Uganda Law Society.
This year, Ridley and Hall were recognised in the category for specialist law firm at the Yorkshire Lawyer Awards while Mr Priestley was shortlisted for the title of Yorkshire Lawyer of the Year.
