Kuit Steinart Levy LLP’s Manchester-based licensing department acts for a wide range of clients, most notably across the hospitality and leisure sectors, including competitive socialising brands, sports clubs, and festival operators, and it is described by clients as a ‘first-class licensing team – the best outside London.’ Led by licensing specialist Felicity Tulloch, the team is often called upon by law firms without specialist licensing departments to assist in the drafting and vetting of licensing clauses in property agreements. The group, which is home to Rebecca Lowe, has developed a reputation for successfully obtaining new premise licences in areas of cumulative impact. Drawing on her experience as a healthcare regulatory solicitor, Claire Morris acts for hospitality clients in defending review applications. Anthony Lyons left the firm in March 2022.
Licensing in North West
Kuit Steinart Levy LLP
Les références
‘The whole process, from beginning to end, was absolutely flawless. Both professionally and legally astute, the practice goes above and beyond to ensure the correct result.’
‘Rebecca Lowe and Felicity Tulloch are a pleasure to deal with and display a constant dedication to ensure our needs are met at every step of the legal processes.’
‘Real quality and experience throughout the licensing team. Exceptional industry knowledge and relationships with local authorities, particularly in the North West.’
Principaux clients
The Alchemist Bar & Restaurant Limited
New World Trading Company (UK) Limited
Turtle Bay
BrewDog
Eurogarages
Stockport County FC
Bruntwood
Pho Café
TOCA Social
Factory International
Principaux dossiers
- Advised the Alchemist on obtaining a new licence on Charlotte Street in Fitzrovia in the face of residential objections.
- Advised Forbidden Forest Festival on obtaining a premises licence to operate on an annual basis at Belvoir Castle.
- Advised Turtle Bay on obtaining new licences in Hammersmith, Chester, Salford, Blackpool, Birmingham, and Romford, and on ongoing work to achieve a new licence in the cumulative impact zone in Camden.
Brabners LLP
The ‘go-to‘ licensing team at Brabners LLP is led by head of the regulatory group Lachlan Nisbet, who acts for shooting clubs, firearms-related businesses, and individual certificate holders. While the group continues to specialise and develop in firearms and field sports licensing, it also provides support to privately funded clients in the alcohol, entertainment, gambling, and vehicle industries on a broad array of contentious and non-contentious issues, including on compliance matters, Section 5 offences, applications regarding prohibited persons, kinetic testing failures, antique firearms, and mandates related to alcohol and psychiatry. Associate Charlotte McRae is ‘a rising star’.
Responsables de la pratique:
Lachlan Nisbet
Autres avocats clés:
Charlotte McRae
Les références
‘Charlotte McRae is a rising star within the firm. She brings in the clients and selects the right counsel.’
‘In terms of firearms licensing, no-one else comes close to Brabners in England and Wales; they are the go-to firm and have been for years.’
‘Easy to engage with.’
Principaux dossiers
DAC Beachcroft LLP
The Manchester-based licensing team at DAC Beachcroft LLP is regularly called upon to advise on all licensable activities pursuant to the Licensing Act, the Gambling Act, Marriage Licences, and other specialist licensing areas. The highly-experienced licensing expert Jan Levinson heads up the team, which represents a range of clients within the retail and hospitality sectors, as well as developers and investors. Associate Andrew Martin has significant expertise within the sports and entertainment industries and has, together with Levinson, represented some of the largest promoters and sports venues in the country.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jan Levinson
Autres avocats clés:
Andrew Martin
Les références
‘It is the highly-specialised nature of the work that makes the team impressive, with the emphasis on the healthcare sector and associated licensing work.’
‘Always personable and make time to ensure counsel is instructed at the earliest opportunity.’
Principaux clients
City and Country Hotels
Brio Retirement
MITIE Facilities Management
La Salle Investments
Robert Hitchins Ltd
Hydes’ Brewery
Bellway plc
Lendlease
Intu Properties plc
Principaux dossiers
- Advised Brio Retirement Homes on its premises licensing and notice management plan.
- Advised Lendlease on agreements for lease at its retail centres that involve licensed premises.
- Advised Intu Merry Hill shopping centre on licensing provisions of an agreement for lease.
Harrison Drury & Co
With the arrival of practice head Malcolm Ireland in 2021 and associate Samantha Faud who joined in May 2022 from Napthens LLP, Harrison Drury & Co made a significant push into the North’s licensing sector. Already having an established reputation in the region, clients praise the team as a ‘very friendly and helpful team who go the extra mile to provide a very unique and quality service.’ While the group handles, most notably, all aspects of alcohol and entertainment licensing, it is also adept in servicing a diverse client roster, including from the corporate and commercial property sectors.
Responsables de la pratique:
Malcolm Ireland
Autres avocats clés:
Samantha Faud
Les références
‘Malcom Ireland, of whom I have the highest regard, leads one of the best hospitality licensing teams. It is a go-to firm.’
‘Malcolm Ireland is always meticulous in his instructions and his preparation for cases. He is easy to talk with and great for discussing tactics. He takes a practical and sensible approach to hospitality and licensing cases. I also work with Samantha Faud, of whom I also have the highest regard.’
‘Knowledge of licensing and hospitality is second-to-none in the area. All of the team appear excellent in this field but, in particular, Malcolm Ireland is the go-to person for specific advice or information. Openness to resolve issues by differing methods and approaches is recognised and appreciated.’
Principaux clients
Admiral Taverns Limited
Daniel Thwaites Plc
Inglenook Inns & Taverns Limited
Timothy Taylor & Co Limited
Blind Tiger Inns Limited
Bowland Inns & Hotels Limited
Dandara Living Management Limited
E A Wallace Limited
Henco (International) Limited
Tiki Tiger Limited
Seven Bro7hers Brewery
85 Group Limited
Principaux dossiers
- Acting for Daniel Thwaites Plc in analysing and fulfilling the licensing requirements of their ongoing refurbishment programme.
- Acting against a local authority in a contested and complex appeal relating to a review decision, which resulted in onerous conditions that had been placed on the licence being successfully removed.
- Acting for a client in obtaining a licence for a three-day festival for up to 10,000 people in the grounds of a stately home.
Napthens LLP
With a wide geographical reach, Napthens LLP’s Blackburn-based team handles licensing requirements for clients across the leisure industries, ranging from single-site operators through to some of the largest brewers and pub-companies in the North. While Samantha Faud departed for Harrison Drury & Co in June 2022, Gill Sherratt joined from Licensing Matters Limited in the same month and took over the leadership of the team, which includes the highly-experienced legal executive Suzanne Marchese.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gill Sherratt; Suzanne Marchese
Les références
‘The communication is amazing; they will always update you even if it’s just to say there’s no news. On occasions when my contact has been away, there has always been a colleague who has been briefed to deal with the situation.’
‘Team at all levels is personable, knowledgable, and pragmatic in finding a cost effective solution. They have taken the time to understand the sector in detail, both its strengths and pitfalls, and so can engage in a well informed discussion in an efficient manner.’
Principaux clients
Frederic Robinson Ltd
Blind Tiger Inns
Hargreaves Enterprises Limited
Hydes Brewery
SIBA
Principaux dossiers
- Acted for Frederic Robinson in the minor variation of the premises licence for the Shoulder of Mutton to update the premises licence to incorporate proposed works taking place at the premises.
- Acted for Blind Tiger Inns in an application for a Temporary Event Notice at the Talbot to allow regulated entertainment and sale of alcohol in areas not covered by the premises licence.
- Acted for Hydes Brewery in a new premises licence application for a new acquisition.