Lauded as ‘persuasive before any forum, whether it is a court or a licensing panel, with a non-confrontational style that gets results’, Cornerstone Barristers has a large public sector client base within licensing, with local authorities featuring as key clients for senior counsel within the set. In this regard, James Findlay KC is adept in all forms of local authority licensing, in addition to a full range of gambling and alcohol licensing expertise, as well as challenging licensing applications with local councils, including city councils. Ranjit Bhose KC has been involved in high-profile licensing cases, precedent setting work for Uber, including representing the claimant in Uber Britannia Limited v Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council. Josef Cannon KC, who was appointed silk in 2024, was also involved this case. Taxi litigation is a strong area of expertise for Asitha Ranatunga, a key junior within the set, and elsewhere sexual entertainment venue licensing, and public entertainment licensing are also cornerstones of the work for barristers.
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Work Department
Public law; planning and environment law; licensing.
Career
Asitha regularly appears at public inquiries, hearings and before the Higher Courts. His clients include developers and individuals as well as local authorities and residents’ groups. He provides strategic and legal advice across a range of sectors including development (residential, retail, and leisure), infrastructure (renewable energy and highways), and regulatory control (environmental enforcement).
Asitha recently appeared at planning inquiries for Waverley BC, successfully defending their decisions to refuse edge of settlement residential schemes for 53 and 57 units around the village of Rudgwick. He also successfully defended Huntingdonshire DC’s decision to grant planning permission for a crematorium promoted by the Town Council (R (Dignity Funerals Ltd.) v Huntingdonshire DC [2019] EWHC 2114 (Admin), and Tonbridge & Malling BC’s decision to grant full planning permission for a gypsy site R (Miles) v Tonbridge & Malling BC et al. [2020] EWHC 1608 (Admin).
In licensing, Asitha has considerable experience of contested appeals acting for the trade as well as defending licensing authority decisions. He recently acted for Islington Council on appeal, defending the Council’s decision to impose restrictive conditions on the operation of a Grade II listed pub known as The Sekforde in the Clerkenwell area following noise and disturbance complaints.
Contributor to "Cornerstone on the Planning Court" and "Licensed Premises: Law and Practice".
Called in 2001 (Inner-Temple).
Memberships
Planning and Environment Bar Association (PEBA); Institute of Licensing; Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA); UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA).
Education
Pembroke College, Cambridge; (MA, MPhil Classics); Bristol Grammar School.
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Testimonials
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- 'Good advocacy with technical knowledge and drafting skills
- 'Helpful clerks, well run chambers.'
- 'Excellent advocates. Good choice if you want to win a complex licensing matter.'
- 'Excellent clerks. We believe that they have unsurpassed expertise in licensing matters.'
- 'Persuasive before any forum (court or licensing panel) with a non-confrontational style that gets results. Excellent with clients.'