The Legal 500

United Kingdom > London Bar > Licensing

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Index of tables

  1. Licensing – Leading Sets
  2. Licensing – Leading Silks
  3. Licensing – New Silks
  4. Licensing – Leading Juniors

Licensing – New Silks

FTB is noted for its sheer number of heavyweights in the licensing arena; it has ‘tremendous strength in depth’. At silk level, Gerald Gouriet QC has a ‘polished and eloquent courtroom manner’ and is ‘streets ahead’ for gambling and liquor matters, and Kevin de Haan QC is highly regarded for his gambling expertise. David Matthias QC is ‘a committed fighter and articulate advocate’, and Simon Mehigan QC has a strong betting and gaming advisory practice. ‘Standout’ junior James Rankin is ‘without parallel’, and Gary Grant is ‘one of the licensing stars of the future’. Former solicitor Jeremy Phillips is ‘formidable in this area of law’, and Juan Lopez is a ‘fighter’.

Three Raymond Buildings is noted for its ‘wealth of strong juniors’, and also fields ‘heavyweight’ silks including the ‘superbly client-friendly and commercially savvy ’ Stephen Walsh QC; and Michael Bromley-Martin QC, who ‘never fails to deliver’ and ‘always acts in the very best interests of his clients’. On the junior side, Sarah Le Fevre is ‘a genuine expert and leader in her field whose attention to detail and powers of persuasion are among the very best’; and Saba Naqshbandi provides ‘detailed knowledge of the area coupled with practical advice’. The ‘fearless’ Richard Wormald, Matthew Butt (‘extremely bright and able to grasp matters extremely quickly’) and Guy Ladenburg (who ‘delivers clear and concise advice’) are also recommended.

At Cornerstone Barristers, the ‘impressively eloquent’ Philip Kolvin QC provides ‘excellent support, advice and advocacy’ in areas including alcohol, taxis and gambling. James Findlay QC recently acted in R (007 Taxis) v Stratford upon Avon DC, while new silk Ranjit Bhose QC, who undertakes a large volume of work for local authorities, acted in R (Thompson) v Oxford CC. At junior level, Josef Cannon recently acted in gambling appeals and variations to extend opening hours. Asitha Ranatunga is a ‘true professional, very accessible and reliable’, and Peter Miller was recently instructed in the Court of Appeal case R (on the application of Khan) v Coventry Magistrates Court and another.

One Essex Court’s Susanna Fitzgerald QC’s ‘knowledge and experience of the gambling and alcohol sectors are second to none’.

At 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square, Saima Hanif recently acted in the high-profile Court of Appeal case Albert Hall v Westminster CC and another, and Stephen Whale* was instructed in Erdogan v Gravesham BC and R (Duarte) v Westminster CC. *Stephen Whale is now at Landmark Chambers.

2 Hare Court’s Martin Heslop QC is ‘dedicated, highly intelligent and quick-witted, with oodles of charm’.

XXIV Old Buildings’ Francis Tregear QC and Alexander Pelling are noted for their work within spread betting.

At Tanfield Chambers Stephen Monkcom has ‘unparalleled knowledge of the most technical and intricate regulatory issues’.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2013 www.legal500.com