Firm welcomes leading church legal expert
Stone King has appointed experienced ecclesiastical law specialist Lee Coley as a partner in its education and charity sector groups.
Lee, formerly the registrar of the Diocese of St Albans and joint registrar of the Diocese of Guildford, is a leading adviser to Church of England Dioceses and Schools, particular as regards academy conversion and operation. He joins Stone King from Lee Bolton Monier-Williams where he was a partner in its ecclesiastical, education and charities department.
Lee also has a particular expertise in relation to complex issues arising from property granted to churches for educational and/or ecclesiastical purposes as well as all types of other charitable trust matters, advising a variety of ecclesiastical and charity clients.
Roger Inman, head of education at Stone King, says: “We are delighted to welcome Lee, who will add his great ecclesiastical experience to our leading practice as advisors for over 1,000 state schools at a time when Dioceses are looking for more complete support in setting up and developing their schools as academies”.
Hugh Pearce, head of the faith team at Stone King, says: “Lee’s deep Church of England experience adds a significant extra strength to how we can serve Church of England clients and also broadens and deepens how we may serve clients in the wider faith sector”.
