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United Kingdom > East Midlands > Crime, fraud and licensing > Licensing

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Poppleston Allen is ‘head and shoulders above other firms for licensing work’. Clients include Mitchells & Butler, Pizza Express, and industry associations such as the British Beer & Pub Association, which the firm advises on licence applications, transfers and judicial reviews. Graham Cushion is ‘an expert in his field’ of prosecutions and regulatory crime; ‘excellent’ managing partner Jonathan Smith has ‘enormous expertise in handling licensing and hearings’; and Lisa Sharkey and James Anderson are noted for licensing and gaming. Nick Arron is ‘always helpful and proactive on gaming matters’. Jeremy Allen sadly passed away in 2011.

Fraser Brown’s team, headed by the ‘very successful and influential’ David Lucas, is instructed on applications and defence matters, by clients including Greene King and Admiral Taverns. The group also acts for local authorities. In 2010, Lucas toured with the Home Office as part of a review of the implications of the Licensing Act.

Regular instructions from the Security Industry Authority keep Fiona Carter at Browne Jacobson LLP active in tribunal and appeal work. Assistant Nina Best focuses on regulatory and licensing training, and matters for clients in the food and drink, entertainment and retail sectors, providing standalone and transactional advice.

Andrew Cochrane’s team at Flint Bishop LLP is ‘very proactive’ on behalf of clients such as Marston’s, Heineken and the YHA, and expanded its hotel portfolio with the addition of Macdonald Hotels in 2010, achieving success in various appeals. The firm handles volume applications for new licences, transfers and variations.

Freeth Cartwright LLP assists national and local retailers and restaurant chains in premises licence applications, and with investigations and enforcement actions. Malcolm Radcliffe and the team also provide BIIAB training.

Harvey Ingram LLP handles all types of applications before council committees and Magistrates Courts for clients in the food and drink, retail, and restaurant trades, among them Everards Brewery and Midlands Co-op.

Shoosmiths assists major national retail and food and drink clients with applications for new and renewed premises licences and on appeals. Solicitor Caroline Steel is ‘knowledgeable, helpful and prompt to respond’.

Tony Wilkinson and Roger Calvert at Young & Pearce have a national practice assisting leisure industry clients.

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