Ciara has amassed a wealth of experience advising a range of education institutions on corporate, commercial and governance matters. She has a particular interest and specialism in advising on the development of joint ventures and multi-partner collaborations comprising local authorities, education and business. She has a particular interest in advising general further education colleges and sixth form colleges on corporate and commercial matters, including mergers, restructures and federations. A core aspect of Ciara’s work involves advising on the set up of new education institutions (academies and group training organisations offering skills-based learning focused on local area and needs).Ciara also provides a range of commercial and corporate advice to academy trusts and spends her time advising the largest multi academy trusts on project work and public procurement issues and strategy.
England - South West • Public sector
Stone King LLP
Stone King LLP is turned to by a broad range of educational institutions on issues such as academy conversions and transfers, procurement and operational pupil issues. Latterly, the team is advising a growing number of schools on their commercial agreements. The Bath-based team is chaired by Helen Tucker, for whom school groups is a fixture of her practice focus. Her colleague Michael Brotherton handles a growing number of matters pertaining to the Equality Act 2010 while Ciara Campfield advises across schools, further and higher education mandates. Elizabeth Fortin is well versed in matters related to students with education health and care plans.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Ciara Campfield is super supportive and passionate about colleges.'
- 'The ongoing teamwork and support provided is second to none.'
- 'Experts in their respective fields. Great customer service and understanding of the sector.'
- 'This big-hitting education specialist firm still manages to retain the personal touch when dealing with clients. Their experience in the sector is very reassuring to our organisation, particularly when it is involved in significant change.'
- 'Professional, pragmatic and responsive.'
- 'There is a calmness to their approach that is reassuring, particularly when legislation around our sector can change dramatically and with little warning. Other firms can appear overly corporate and therefore somehow distanced from the topic.'
- 'Excellent advice. Great communication. Timely responses. Approachable lawyers who provide information in an accessible way.'
Key clients
- Autism Partnership Leeds
- Abbey Multi Academy Trust
- Active Learning Trust
- Ashlyns School
- Beaconsfield High School
- Beth Jacob Grammar School
- Bristol Steiner School
- Challoner's High School
- Chester Diocesan Academy Trust
- City of Rochester School
- Cotswold Beacon Academy Trust
- Diocese of Bristol Academies Trust
- Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust
- Downside School
- Dunottar School
- Felsted
- Futura Learning Partnership
- Future Academies
- Greenshaw Learning Trust
- Guildford High School
- Immanuel College
- King Edwards's School Bath
- Kingswood School
- Leigh Academies Trust
- Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership
- Monkton Combe School
- Oasis Community Learning
- Oastlers
- PACE Academy Trust
- Palladian Academy Trust
- Peterborough Diocese Education Trust
- Prep Schools Trust
- Princethorpe Foundation
- Prior Park College
- Sheiling School
- Shiplake School
- Sixth Form Colleges' Association
- St John’s Beaumont School
- St Columba's College
- The College of Richard Collyer
- The Girls’ Day School Trust
- The Partnership Trust
- Thorpe Hall School
- United Church Schools Trust
- West Suffolk College, part of Eastern Colleges Group
- Wright Robinson College
- Wycombe Abbey School
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Helen Tucker