Leeds and Newcastle-based Parklane Plowden Chambers has welcomed a new tenant to its 40-plus strong family team.

Naomi Hartridge, who was called to the Bar in 2017, specialises in both public and private work in relation to family matters. She joins the set from Leeds-based Spire Barristers where she practiced for five years. Naomi initially qualified as a solicitor in 1999, specialising in white-collar crime in Harley Street, London.

In its 2023 rankings, barristers’ directory, Chambers & Partners, placed Parklane Plowden as Band 1, the highest ranking a chambers can achieve, across “Family and children”, and Band 2 for “Family: matrimonial finance”.

Naomi’s public law practice has seen her instructed in complex multi-sibling and placement matters on behalf of parents, children and local authorities. She has also represented vulnerable clients in the High Court in cases involving secure accommodation applications.

Within her private law practice, Naomi advises in matters involving parental alienation, international relocation, non-accidental injury, sexual offences and other contact and parenting issues.

Commenting on her new tenancy, Naomi said: “Parklane Plowden’s family practice has an outstanding reputation and a clear growth plan. It’s a progressive chambers, focused on making a positive difference in all that it does, and I look forward to working closely with the team to further enhance the set’s family service”.

A benchmark law firm

Formed in 2007 following the merger of Parklane Chambers in Leeds and Plowden Chambers in Newcastle, Parklane Plowden is home to 124members. Parklane Plowden’s family practice director, Mark Williams, commented: “Naomi’s experience dealing with sensitive, complex cases that involve a caring, empathetic approach makes her ideally suited to support some of our most vulnerable clients. She is an excellent addition to the family set which demonstrates our growth ambitions for our practice.”

Chambers & Partners also placed Parklane Plowden as Band 1 across its chancery; clinical negligence; employment; and personal injury practice areas. Additionally, the set was ranked Band 2 for inquests and inquiries.

The 2023 edition of legal directory The Legal 500 ranks Parklane Plowden Chambers as a tier one set on the North Eastern Circuit and recommends 59 of the set’s barristers across nine practice areas.

In addition, in October last year, Parklane Plowden retained the Chambers of the Year Award at the Yorkshire Legal Awards.