The team at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner acts for a range of household name clients and high-profile operators seeking licensing advisory services, including national supermarkets, hotel groups, and restaurants. The team also offers licensing advice to large developments in the residential, leisure, and retirement accommodation spaces, such as obtaining shadow licences. The broad practice handles alcohol and gambling licensing, as well as any commercial and IP issues that may arise alongside. Solicitor advocate Jeremy Bark heads up the practice following Craig Baylis‘s departure. With over 20 years’ experience, Bark regularly works with key clients such as Tesco and Marriott Hotels on a range of matters.

With ‘great experience and skill’, the licensing specialists at Keystone Law handle a broad range of matters concerning alcohol and gambling, alfresco dining, and live music rights. Barrister Gareth Hughes has a wealth of experience securing complex licences in highly controlled areas such as Shoreditch, Westminster,  and Camden, and has a significant planning practice. The ‘outstanding’ Andrew Wong advises on large-scale development projects in central London, such as Borough Yard. Highly experienced advocate Niall McCann is notable for his tactical approach to contentious licensing issues, and Marcus Lavell deals with nightclubs and bars in Stress Areas with Cumulative Impact Policies. Robert Sutherland works with operators and landlords, regularly licensing prestigious concert venues, music festivals, and sporting events, while James Daglish is a leisure and hospitality sector expert with a specialism in the emerging CBD market. Craig Baylis joined the practice in October 2022.

The lawyers at Poppleston Allen are ‘subject matter experts and tactical problem solvers’, expertly handling licensing matters both nationwide and in London. The team handles a broad range of work in the licensing space, including new premises licence applications, varying existing licences and regulatory work. With an intimate knowledge of the licensing process in London, practice head and experienced solicitor advocate Lisa Inzani regularly advises clients on high value licensing applications and related enforcement issues. Associate David Inzani is praised for providing ‘clear, measured and pragmatic licensing advice.’ – he handles alcohol and entertainment licensing for a variety of major businesses, with recent work including advising Selfridges on their acquisition of new premises licences for casual dining restaurants.

A 'first-class operation with a core of key industry experts', Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP almost exclusively undertakes work in cumulative impact or special policy areas, amassing a broad client base of London's most iconic bars, members' clubs, retailers, and theatres. Drawing on over 30 years' experience, Alun Thomas has significant expertise in licensing as well as planning and regulatory crime, and continues to directly advise the Royal Parks Agency on licensing matters. Dually qualified barrister and solicitor Thomas O’Maoileoin regularly works with London's leading hotel groups and major cultural institutions, while alcohol and entertainment licensing expert Jack Spiegler has considerable experience with planning, environmental law, regulatory legislation, and large scale event planning.

Advising clients across a broad range of licensing matters, John Gaunt & Partners works with leading industry names including pubs, late night operators, restaurants, and hotels, as well as local authorities across the country. Retail licensing expert Jon Wallsgrove co-heads the team; having licensed over 1,000 shops, he is retained by major retailers such as Waitrose and M&S. Michelle Hazlewood handles licensing matters for major pub groups, and was instrumental in advising on policy issues surrounding the rise in drinks spiking in 2021. Tim Shield advises hotel clients and assists with numerous key developments both regionally and in London, while Luke Elford leads the firm’s London office, having recently joined from licensing specialists Woods Whur.

Kingsley Napley LLP's former practice head Craig Baylis left the firm to join Keystone Law in October 2022.

TLT's Bristol-based licensing team provide a range of services to major London establishments including estate management, preserving premises licences, assisting with Late Night Levies, and advocacy for contested applications and licence reviews. Practice head Matthew Phipps advises a catalogue of high-profile clients on regulatory and compliance issues, due diligence, and enforcement processes. Leisure and retail licensing expert Ewen Macgregor is a solicitor advocate providing strategic and policy advisory services to leading clients such as WH Smith and Accor Hotels. The practice is supported by legal director Piers Warne who regularly handles highly contentious and complex matters, appearing before licensing committees and magistrates courts across the country.

The specialist practice at Woods Whur handles the full spectrum of licensing applications including new and varied premises licences, Temporary Event Notices, and the full remit of authorisations under the Licensing Act 2003. The team acts for a range of clients from fast food franchises to iconic London nightclubs, and regularly makes complex and highly contested applications in Cumulative Impact Areas. Practice co-head Paddy Whur has considerable experience defending licences before police, trading standards, environmental health and residential opposition, while solicitor advocate Andrew Woods, who co-leads the team, has 'amassed a wealth of experience' in alcohol licensing applications to numerous central London authorities. Christopher Rees-Gay re-joined the practice as partner from Pinsent Masons LLP, with particular expertise in securing licenses for music festivals and large events.

The Hull-based practice at Gosschalks handles alcohol, entertainment, and gambling licensing for household name clients across the UK, including national supermarkets Asda and Morrisons. Richard Taylor head up the practice with extensive experience advising well-known cinema groups, hotels, public houses, and supermarkets before magistrates courts in England and Wales and the Licensing Boards in Scotland. Taylor is supported by Alex Green, who manages the firm’s health club clients.

The Cardiff-based licensing team at Hugh James handles the full range of alcohol, entertainment, and gambling licensing matters. Additionally, the team has particular expertise in large-scale licensing of festivals and stadia and licensing appeals. Practice head Martin Jones regularly advises on complex music festival and club licenses, as well as undertaking advocacy before licensing sub-committees and appeal courts. Aled Walters supports Jones on gambling licensing matters, and has experience with reviewing licensing documentation for prospective M&A transactions.

The licensing team at Ince & Co has a wealth of experience with licensing matters in the alcohol and entertainment industries, including advising clients on innovative approaches to operating their premises in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis. Practice head Philip Somarakis has particular expertise defending contested applications for complex licences, such as those for multi-site restaurants and music festivals. Gambling and alcohol licensing expert Andrew Cotton handles licensing matters for numerous casinos, cinemas, and bars. Associate Joanna Onisiforou is also recommended for her work with major property management agencies and landlords.

Pinsent Masons LLP provides clients with alcohol licensing, gambling, and civic government licensing advice, as well as regularly supporting with the firm’s wider commercial and real estate practices. Glasgow-based licensing expert Audrey Ferrie works with household name clients in the leisure and hospitality spaces, including casinos and adult entertainment centres seeking gambling licenses. Associate Hannah Burton joined the practice last year from Poppleston Allen, further strengthening the team with a specialism in the licensing of large developments and wider strategic licensing advisory work.

With a ‘broad range of legal expertise’, Winckworth Sherwood LLP specialises in supermarket and petrol forecourt licensing, while also clients in the restaurant, hotel, leisure, and entertainment sectors. Additionally, the team continues to act for residents and businesses in opposing licences. Robert Botkai  heads up the practice, drawing on over 30 years’ experience to act for leading on-trade and off-trade clients.

DLA Piper‘s Sheffield-based licensing team offers licensing services covering alcohol, gambling, and entertainment to a range of clients including educational institutions, county councils, hotel groups, and casinos nationwide. The practice has extensive experience with contentious license applications, due diligence, and assisting clients which are seeking to alter their operation by dissolving a company that holds a premises licence. Teresa Hitchcock heads up the practice, and is supported by Alastair Clough and associate Charlotte Gibson.

Drawing on the firm's strengths in the hospitality and retail sectors, the Birmingham-based team at Squire Patton Boggs handles licensing work for hotels and transport hubs across the UK. Practice head Stephanie Perraton has significant expertise handling a range of licences for alcohol, entertainment, and late night food sales. Regulatory compliance specialist Nicola Smith supports the firm's wider corporate, property, and insolvency teams, as well as advising on the licensing of music protected by copyright.

Licensing specialist Amanda Pillinger leads the practice at boutique firm Pillinger & Associates. Based in Warwickshire, Pillinger advises music festivals, independent businesses, and major supermarkets across the UK - Lidl is a key client.