Jean Boyle > Stone King LLP > Bath, England > Lawyer Profile

Stone King LLP stands out for its strengths advising clients in the education and charity sectors on employment matters. The firm has a varied client portfolio which also spans industries such as transport, hospitality, and logistics. Practice head Craig Vincent is active in the firm’s Leeds and Manchester offices, while the South West group is based in Bath and includes education specialist Jean Boyle as well as Peter Woodhouse, who is experienced across the full range of employment work.

Stone King LLP’s education sector group advises a diverse set of charity, state funded and independent schools on mandates that include transactions and mergers, Equality Act and disability discrimination claims, and Ofsted reports and complaints. Leading the independent schools team from Bath, Helen Tucker has extensive experience advising on safeguarding issues and tribunals alongside acquisitions and collaborative arrangements. In the same office, Michael Brotherton focuses on contentious issues and regularly acts for schools in Equality Act claims and obligations, often regarding politically sensitive topics involving gender, race, and religion. Ciara Campfield specialises in procurement advice and handles joint ventures for schools and higher education providers. Also key are Jean Boyle, who is co-lead of the firm’s national education offering with a personal focus on employment-related issues, and Joanne Burton, who heads up the national education property team.

Stone King LLP provides top-tier advice on all education-related matters to its diverse clients of state schools, faith schools, multi-academy trusts, and independent schools. The department consists of education specialists who assist in pupil-related issues, strategic school mergers, development and governance, and academy set up and transfer work, which is covered by Laura Berman and Graham Burns who are well supported by Nicola Andrews. Additionally, the team is active in property and construction and employment, which is an area of expertise for Harriet Broughton. The firm’s faith school practice is developed by Lee Coley. Roger Inman, who sits as a judge in the SEN Tribunal; Jean Boyle and Tom Morrison are joint heads of the education sector group and Stephen Ravenscroft is key for mergers and academy conversions.