Miller Samuel Hill Brown Solicitors fields a team of ‘experts in the field’ and possesses the ‘highest level of knowledge and experience in handling the complexities of Scottish licensing law’. The on-trade sector continues to be a core area of focus for the firm, working with clients including Brewdog, Stonegate Group, and Mitchells & Butlers, as well as multinational food chains such as Nandos, on the licensing aspects of acquisitions and operations expansions. The practice also receives a growing stream of instructions from high street food retailers, and has assisted key client the Co-operative Group Food Limited with applications and appearances before an array of licensing boards. Audrey Junner helms the team and is an ‘amazing lawyer with so much knowledge and expertise’, especially with regards to liquor and gambling licenses. Industry veteran Jack Cummins‘ reputation generates activity for the practice, and Peter Lawson often takes the lead on premise license matters relating to the hospitality and retail sectors.
Licensing in Scotland
Miller Samuel Hill Brown Solicitors
Practice head(s):
Audrey Junner
Other key lawyers:
Jack Cummins; Peter Lawson
Testimonials
‘Very dependable and knowledgeable. Experts in their field. Always a quick turnaround of advice and always good, accurate legal and practical advice. We’ve come to depend on them and happily so.’
‘Audrey Junner is an expert in her field. Offers erudite as well as practical advice. Thoroughly recommend.’
‘Highest level of knowledge and experience in handling the complexities of Scottish licensing law. Always on hand to answer questions and provide solid and helpful advice or guidance.’
Key clients
Co-operative Group Food Limited
Six By Nico Group
Brewdog Retail Limited
Nando’s Chickenland Limited
Mitchells & Butlers Retail Limited
Stonegate Pub Company Limited
Tenpin Limited
Innis & Gunn Hospitality Group Limited
Motor Fuel Group Limited
Ascona Retail Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Co-operative Group Food Limited on several provisional premises licence applications and transfer applications as part of a national expansion.
- Advised Chivas Brothers Limited on the development of a luxury licensed guest house in Moray.
- Advised Creative Events Glasgow Limited on the acquisition and renovation of a new events space in Glasgow city centre.
TLT
Providing a ‘totally unique, above and beyond service’, TLT is praised as ‘the market leader in licensing advice in Scotland’. The team of specialist lawyers is well geared to act across the entire licensing space, particularly excelling at advising public venues and attractions on public entertainment licenses, gambling and track betting licenses, and complex premises licenses. The firm acts for an enviable roster of on-sale and off-sale clients, and also assists with short-term letting mandates. Group head Stephen McGowan is a highly praised liquor licensing adviser, and Caroline Loudon is widely lauded by clients for her expertise and ‘can-do’ attitude, with ‘very impressive knowledge of the Edinburgh market, trends and likely response from the licensing boards’. Lynn Simpson is a go-to in the practice for short-term let issues. Niall Hassard left the firm in October 2023.
Practice head(s):
Stephen McGowan
Other key lawyers:
Caroline Loudon; Lynn Simpson
Testimonials
‘TLT have been our “go to” practice at all times. They have a wide knowledge of our sector, and are able to provide us with the full up to date advice where we need it.’
‘We have worked with Caroline Loudon for many years now, and consider her as a very good friend, as well as work colleague. Her must-do attitude is absolutely infectious, and she is an absolute asset to the TLT brand and company.’
‘We outsource our licensing work to TLT who we consider to be the market leaders in licensing advice in Scotland. Their knowledge of licensing law, coupled with the experience of working with all the licensing boards in Scotland, makes their input invaluable. And every person I’ve spoken to at TLT in the licensing team has been extremely knowledgeable and helpful, with an obvious real interest in the area.’
‘Caroline Loudon is our go-to person, very easy to deal with, clear and quick advice and a real expert in the licensing field. She really understands the client’s needs, and has a very impressive knowledge of (in particular) the Edinburgh market, trends and likely response from the licensing board.’
‘The team are very friendly and proactive.’
‘Totally unique above and beyond service, innovative service with attention to smallest details and always on hand.’
‘Caroline Louden makes room every day in her busy schedule to attend to every query with a most pleasant can-do attitude.’
Key clients
Aldi Stores Limited
Sainsbury’s
Celtic FC
Ian Macleod Distillers
Flight Club
Chris Stewart Group
Signature Group
Greene King
Rangers FC
National Trust for Scotland
Anderson Strathern
Anderson Strathern has recently expanded its licencing practice through the hire of Joanna Millar in October 2023, who brings a wealth of experience in short-term let issues, and Eilidh MacEwan in March 2023. The team is praised for its ‘fantastic knowledge and understanding’, and is particularly well placed to advise an array of premium restaurant and high street retailers on major premise variation applications, late hour catering licences, liquor licences and taxi licences. Katrina Lumsdaine leads the team, and Scott Flannigan, who was promoted to director in September 2023, is noted for his broad practice, as well as his ability to handle complex licencing hearings.
Practice head(s):
Katrina Lumsdaine
Other key lawyers:
Scott Flannigan; Joanna Millar; Eilidh MacEwan
Testimonials
‘Dedicated individual contact for our business needs, fantastic knowledge and understanding in our sector.’
Work highlights
- Advising Union Street Café Limited on various licensing aspects of the new opening of Bread Street Kitchen, Gordon Ramsay, at St Andrews Square, Edinburgh, including transfer of existing premises licence, obtaining personal licenses in Scotland, DPM variations, and Table and Chair permits within Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.
- Advising Scottish Midland Co-operative Society Limited on licensing work, including submitting numerous applications and variations, mostly for alcohol premises licences.
- Advising McDonald’s Restaurants Limited on licensing work in Scotland (for both McDonalds and its franchisees), submitting numerous applications and variations, mostly for late hours catering licences.
Harper Macleod LLP
With a ‘very responsive and commercial approach to work’, Harper Macleod LLP excels at providing licensing advice to a broad host of clients in the hospitality and retail sectors, particularly specialising in premises licence applications. A core component of the firm’s work focuses on petrol stations, with practice head Andrew Hunter providing ‘first-rate technical knowledge’ to clients such as Motor Fuel Limited and BP Oil with regards to premises and site acquisitions. Other work includes handling short-term letting applications and appearances, as well as acting in disputes. Often supporting Hunter on the firm’s key mandates, Angus Brown acts on a range of contentious and non-contentious work.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Hunter
Other key lawyers:
Angus Brown
Testimonials
‘Harper Macleod has a robust format for dealing with their clients.’
‘The individuals I have worked with at Harper Macleod have stood out by displaying their vast knowledge of the particular area I was involved in. I had several queries on a few areas of licensing and Andrew Hunter was able to address them all.’
‘On the particular issues I was dealing with, I was in court with Andrew Hunter and he vigorously defended my license, studied in depth all the complaints and answered each one of them individually. This is one reason that he has stood out.’
‘A very responsive and commercial approach to work. Not stuffy but very much hands on approach.’
‘Andrew Hunter is a truly lovely person to work with. Acute sense of relevant issues in cases he handles and able to give clients legally sound advice combined with understanding of practicalities of a situation. First-rate technical knowledge of licensing law.’
Key clients
Lidl Great Britain Limited
Motor Fuel Limited
Certas Energy UK Limited
Highland Fuels Limited
Sweeney’s Cruises
Greene King Retail Limited/ Belhaven Pubs Scotland
Shevies Limited
BP Oil UK Limited
TM Townsley Properties Limited
Work highlights
- Advising Lidl Great Britain Limited on its successful application to West Dunbartonshire Licensing Board for its new premises application in Alexandria.
- Acting for Motor Fuel Limited in multiple new premises licence applications for petrol station forecourts, particularly in securing the grant of new licences in North Lanarkshire following successful appeals to the Sheriff Court against earlier refusals for the same two premises.
- Acting for a private landlord in appeals and subsequent judicial review against Renfrewshire Council’s decision that she was not a fit and proper person to be a landlord and in so doing, clarifying the future looking aspect of the “fit and proper person” test in landlord registration.
Morton Fraser MacRoberts
Noted for ‘the depth and breadth of its licensing experience, combined with a very personal and hands-on approach’, Morton Fraser MacRoberts provides a comprehensive service to clients across a number of spaces, particularly the food and drink, hospitality, education, and public sectors. The practice is predominantly active on premises licence mandates, and also carries out in-house advisory work, including handling licence audits. Team head David Hossack has experience appearing before licensing boards and handling contentious matters. Ewan McGillivray is a key supporting name.
Practice head(s):
David Hossack
Other key lawyers:
Ewan McGillivray
Testimonials
‘Range of skills and specialties available. A one-stop shop.’
‘David Hossack is our lead adviser and his patience and understanding of our business and needs is exceptional.’
‘David Hossack, Partner, is our main point of contact and is highly experienced and has great knowledge of the education sector.’
‘I have been dealing with Morton Fraser for many years regarding my licensing matters. They know my business and my needs. They are always very efficient, quick to reply.’
‘The depth and breadth of their licensing experience, combined with a very personal and hands on approach.’
‘We chose to use MFM for licensing because of David Hossack. David combines technical expertise (and extensive experience) with measured and commercial advice and we hugely value his ongoing support.’
‘Very efficient and knowledgeable team which provide me with a strong level of assurance that matters are in hand.’
‘I have worked with this team for a number of years and over that time I have come to trust and rely upon their level of professionalism and competence to deal with the day to day activities with a minimum of input from myself but also knowing that I will be contacted on anything that needs involvement or anything I need to be aware of, which allows me to efficiently focus my limited time and resources’.
Key clients
Diageo Scotland Ltd
Accor (UK) Hotels
Travelodge Hotels
Historic Environment Scotland
Work highlights
- Assisted Diageo in relation to prestigious visitor experience projects throughout Scotland.
- Obtained a licence for new Diageo office premises in Glasgow.
Pinsent Masons LLP
Pinsent Masons LLP is noted for the breadth of its hospitality, food and drink, and retail client base, which includes Azzurri Restaurants, Adil Group, Yo! Sushi, Wagamama, and Pizza Express. Clients rely on the firm for advice relating to major licence applications and variations, and the firm also has strong advocacy and litigation expertise, regularly conducting hearings on behalf of domestic and multinational clients. The ‘vastly knowledgeable and approachable’ Audrey Ferrie acts on a range of gambling, liquor and civic government licensing mandates and frequently attends licensing hearings. Christine Pirie and Abbie Hunter provide further support as associates in the wider litigation and regulatory team.
Other key lawyers:
Audrey Ferrie; Christine Pirie; Abbie Hunter
Testimonials
‘We use Pinsent Masons in licencing matters and it is the available depth of knowledge, understanding of our needs, and prompt service that makes them an easy choice for us.’
‘Audrey Ferrie is vastly knowledgeable and approachable in all matters relating to licensing but is also so approachable about the most minor of queries. This is such a valuable quality in my opinion and we find it very helpful.’
‘The team at Pinsent Masons are responsive and work hard to build good relationships with my team.’
Key clients
Tesco PLC
Royal Yacht Britannia Limited
Yo! Sushi Limited
ADIL Group
Adagio Hotels UK Limited
Pizza Express Limited
Wagamama Limited
Edinburgh International Conference Centre Limited
Cruachan Holiday Park Ltd
Azzurri Restaurants Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Tesco on the licensing for its new Tesco Express stores in Edinburgh, Larbert and Lochmaben.
- Advised Royal Yacht Britannia Limited in relation to its Temporary Licence for the temporary shop in Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh.
- Advised Wagamama on the licensing for its new restaurant in the centre of Glasgow
Shepherd and Wedderburn
Fielding a ‘highly professional team’ that is ‘commercially aware’ and has ‘excellent technical skills’, Shepherd and Wedderburn handles complex licensing matters, with particular expertise in short-term lets, liquor and premises licenses, and taxi licenses. Leading the practice is Kevin Clancy, who ‘has a growing and deserved reputation in licensing work in all areas’, with expertise in short-term let licences. Jamie Yule has experience appearing before licencing boards and advises on short-term letting matters, while Serena Weir has notable contentious expertise, and often leads in appeal proceedings.
Practice head(s):
Kevin Clancy
Other key lawyers:
Serena Weir; Jamie Yule; Ewan MacLeod
Testimonials
‘It was easy to work with Jamie Yule. He is responsive and has wonderful written and verbal communication skills. When speaking to us he could explain issues in layman’s terms but once in front of the council he easily converted to legal terminology. He is very prepared and concise.’
‘S&W’s licensing team are extremely reliable and pleasant to work with. They are quick to support when urgent matters arise, and proactively keep us abreast on developments that could have an impact on our legal or policy position, or on our business more generally. Beyond their professional excellence, they are fantastic to work with.’
‘Ewan MacLeod and Kevin Clancy are two of my favourite lawyers to work with in the UK. Their expertise is unimpeachable and yet they both find a way to advise on highly technical parts of the law in a way that both myself (a non-expert) and my policy team can easily digest. I trust their legal intuition and am grateful for their insights into the broader context to governmental decision-making. It’s also always a delight to speak with them!’
‘Highly professional team supported by excellent resources. Very commercially aware with excellent technical skills.’
‘Kevin Clancy has a growing and deserved reputation in licensing work in all areas – liquor, civic government and a strong leader in the field of short term let advice and litigation. Very personable and excellent with clients. An excellent negotiator.’
‘In all my dealings with Shepherd & Wedderburn, they have all been professional and with strong knowledge of the law pertaining to licensed premises.’
‘Kevin Clancy is extremely knowledgeable and is a great solicitor to have by my side in front of licensing officials when applying for new and/or adjustments to licences.’
Key clients
Crerar Hotel Group Limited
Dobbies Garden Centre
Balmoral Hotel
Dakota Hotels
Matthew Hovell
TG Convenience Stores Limited
University of Edinburgh Accommodation Limited
Uber Scot Limited
Ducally House Leisure Limited
Altido Scotland Limited
Work highlights
- Advising TG Convenience Limited on licensing matters in relation to petrol filling stations.
- Advising Uber Scot Limited on licensing matters in Scotland.
- Advising the University of Edinburgh in relation to licensing requirements for the new Edinburgh Futures Institute.