Joanne Burton
Stone King LLPStone King LLP‘s real estate offering stands out for its expertise in the charity, education, and faith sectors, where the team acts for education providers, dioceses, and landowners on a range of portfolio management matters, acquisitions and disposals, and leases. Based in Bath, the group is led by Caroline Taylor, who has experience advising a range of companies and non-faith charities on developments and joint ventures. Hugh Pearce leads on faith-based charity mandates, while education expert Joanne Burton advises on transactions and estates management for schools and colleges. Also noted are Christopher D Jones, a specialist in ecclesiastical property matters, and Chris Emm, who is active on academy conversions and transfers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The practice provides us with advice on all property and charity matters. The practice has members with differing talents depending on the specific piece of work being carried out.’
‘My dealings are generally with Hugh Pearce and Kathryn Williams on property matters and Tim Rutherford on charity matters. They always respond rapidly and cover each other's briefs if one is unavailable. The fact that two lawyers are briefed on each project ensures we get answers rapidly and at all times.’
‘The team we work with at Stone King have been supportive, adaptive, resourceful and not condescending or patronising. They have made complex legal matters easier to understand and they have navigated challenging matters to enable progression for us. For us the benefit felt by us is in their people and their technical and people skills.’
‘I think the main unique factor is the ability of Stone King to respond in a very efficient and very responsive way.'
‘Hugh Pearce - provides clear and pragmatic advice, that takes into account the "real world" position, as opposed just to the legal details. He is very accessible to us, and one always feels he is giving his full attention and on top of matters.'
'Kathryn Williams - hard-working, meticulous and diligent, and understands our strategy as well as the legal concerns. She continues to drive matters forward without needing direct input from us, and helpfully flags the issues on which instructions are required, with correspondingly sound advice.’
‘The team have provided backup and support in our real estate transactions and work well together, and all queries arising benefit from their wide experience. I have been very impressed with their thoroughness and attention to detail and the level of research that have gone to. There is very good collaboration between sectors within the firm.’
'Stone King are experts in the charity sector, with a particular specialism for religious orders / the Catholic Church. It is therefore difficult to imagine another team that would have as much detailed knowledge and be able to bring together the different considerations that we require, such as canon law. Their approach to property matters is suitably commercial and pragmatic.'
Key clients
- Ormiston Academies Trust
- Clifton Diocese
- The Old School Building Company Limited
- Methodist Ministers’ Housing Society
Work highlights
- Acting for Ormiston Academies Trust in relation to the property work for its portfolio of 42 schools and providing estate management advice on a range of disposals, acquisitions and landlord and tenant matters.
- Acting for Clifton Diocese (a Catholic Diocese) and advising on a whole range of matters in connection with the Diocese’s property portfolio.
- Acting for the Old School Building Company in the historic long lease of a building in the centre of Shipley which had become dilapidated and was in severe need of repair and renovation.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Caroline Taylor