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Ciara has amassed a wealth of experience advising a range of education institutions on corporate, commercial and governance matters. Ciara started her career at Eversheds before moving to Stone King to focus more on developing her education practice. 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).

Recent examples of Ciara’s work includes advising a leading further education college on its bid (as lead partner) to establish one of the country’s first Institutes of Technology, based on the German polytechnic model. Ciara’s advice entailed leading on, and negotiating, the underpinning legal structure for the Institute, advising on various funding streams and loan arrangements, investment structures, validation arrangements, pastoral and governance matters.

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.