Stone King strengthens commercial services with acquisition

The acquisition aligns with Stone King's strategic goals as the firm aims to bolster its expertise in the technology and creative industries. Aurelia Butler-Ball, Stuart Padgham, and Dan Hedley join the Stone King commercial team and bring invaluable knowledge in commercial, technology, media, and data protection law. With a strong focus on intellectual property (IP) and artificial intelligence (AI), their extensive experience is poised to elevate the firm's offerings in these key areas.

The Tacit team expressed enthusiasm for the move, stating they were “immensely proud of what they had achieved since launching Tacit in 2022," but acknowledged that joining Stone King offers an exciting opportunity for growth. By merging with a forward-thinking firm that shares their values and vision, Butler-Ball, Padgham, and Hedley can now scale their innovative approach to legal services.

Butler-Ball, who has noteworthy experience starting at Universal Music and working as a media and entertainment partner at Irwin Mitchell, focuses on supporting content creators and business leaders in the creative sector. On the other hand, Padgham and Hedley are known for their expertise in technology and AI, providing advice to various-sized organisations, including large multinationals, on significant issues like licensing and compliance.

In a joint statement, the new partners affirmed their respect for Stone King and its commitment to making a meaningful impact, noting, “The opportunity to become a part of that, and to explore the huge potential for growth that being part of such an organisation brings, is an exciting new chapter for us and we can’t wait to get started.”

Stone King has seen impressive expansion in recent years, spearheaded by CEO Vicky Brackett, who has facilitated a series of partner hires and established a new office in Manchester that is nearly three times larger than its previous location. The firm also recently launched an ‘innovation bonus’ scheme to encourage and reward ideas that drive innovation.

Brackett highlighted the significance of the Tacit acquisition, stating, “I am proud of what we have achieved and excited about where we are heading, especially now we have welcomed the Tacit team on board.” She emphasised that the combined skill sets will better meet increasing client demand for commercial advice on technology and AI, unveiling “an exciting platform for growth” while hinting at vast potential for innovation in the future.