Stone King LLP‘s team fields expertise in governance, SEN, employment, and property matters across the full education spectrum. Richard Freeth specialises in SEN, admissions, exclusions, and disability discrimination matters. Chris Emm leads on education property matters, while Tom Morrison has national education sector and further education expertise. Jean Boyle has a focus on employment, governance, and strategic education advice. Emm, Boyle and Morrison co-head alongside Stephen Ravenscroft.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- I have really valued the work and support of Richard Freeth with complex safeguarding and SEN cases. He provides excellent advice, which is carefully and succinctly articulated. He is measured and thoughtful - highly knowledgeable without overcomplicating responses with legalese. He is incredibly personable, very efficient, coming back to you incredibly quickly and with a clarity of communication that is impactful. He is by far the most effective member of your team I have interacted with and comes highly recommended.
- The ability to speak with ease to personable experts in key fields - SEN, admissions, suspension and exclusion, complex complaints, and safeguarding - is a vital strength of the practice, including building relationships with these professionals so they are up to speed with the contexts of our organisation.
- Richard Freeth has been incredibly supportive to both me and my school during what has been a very challenging situation with a parent. He has always been approachable and quick to respond, offering clear, practical advice when it has been most needed. His depth of knowledge and experience has been reassuring throughout, and I have full confidence in his ability to guide the school and the trust safely through the situation without the risk of legal challenge. His calm, timely, professional support has made a difficult process much more manageable.
- This practice stands out because of its strong, practical understanding of the education sector and the real challenges schools and trusts face. The team combines clear legal expertise with an appreciation of how schools actually operate, especially under pressure. Clients value their responsive, straightforward advice and the way complex legal issues are explained in a calm, workable way. Compared to other firms, the team feels genuinely collaborative, helping leaders manage risk confidently while staying focused on pupils and day-to-day school life.
- I have found Stone King very responsive when I need to instruct them or when I have a question about the law, either generally or to support me with a specific case. They work in a friendly, professional, and supportive manner.
- Charlotte Meluish is our assigned contact, and she is absolutely fantastic! Her experience, expertise, and commitment to us as a client make me sleep a lot easier at night. She has advised and supported us with some very difficult and complex cases, and she is always spot on. She responds quickly, and a phone call with her is some of the best professional development I have ever done. Most importantly, our working relationship with her has developed over time, so she knows our journey and she cares.
Key clients
- Corinium Education Trust
- Oadby, Wigston and Leicestershire Schools Academy Trust
- Redhill Academy Trust
- Ormiston Academies Trust
- David Ross Education Trust
- Symphony Learning Trust
- Dudley Academies Trust
- Nottingham College
- Brooke Weston Trust
- The Sheffield College
- Bradgate Education Partnership
- Sixth Form Colleges Association
Work highlights
Advised Oadby, Wigston and Leicestershire Schools Academy Trust on the expansion of the New Lubbesthorpe School. The work covered a new extension, freehold transfer to the local authority, construction and lease to the client.
Advising Ormiston Academies Trust on a number of matters in relation to property work for their portfolio of 40-50 schools, and provided estate management advice on a range of disposals, acquisitions and landlord and tenant matters.
Advising Anglian Learning on the transfer of Staploe Education Trust: a Multi Academy Trust transfer into the client, Anglian Learning. This involved four separate school sites, acquired by the client.
Lawyers
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Practice head
Jean Boyle; Tom Morrison; Stephen Ravenscroft; Chris Emm
Other key lawyers
Richard Freeth