That's where Osborne Clarke can help. We are at the very heart of this reform, advising a range of major operators on the changes. We have also been retained as specialist advisors on licensing law to the British Beer and Pub Association and The Arts Council of England, and are involved in strategic issues affecting the licensed trade and entertainment markets. The firm was also represented in the Advisory Group to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which was responsible for the reform of licensing law.

As a result of this insider knowledge, our Licensing team dealt with the renewal of 8,000 Justices Licences attaching to properties owned by the UK's leading pub companies. The team has created a fixed fee package for the necessary applications for conversion and variation of licences under the new Licensing Act 2003. As a result, we believe that we are at the forefront of the market.

We work closely with other lawyers across the firm's retail, leisure and investment groups, assisting on corporate and property-based transactions. The team also acts for leading pub estates, developers, leisure venues, conference centres, exhibition halls, restaurants chains and clubs throughout England and Wales.

We are actively involved in advising on the reform of gaming laws in the UK and act for a number of US and UK leisure and casino operators interested in the burgeoning gaming market in the UK. According to Chambers & Partners 2005, we have “the profile and resources to edge out competitors” and team members are singled out as a "capable advocate" who "knows the right path to take with the magistrates."

Richard Bretton
t +44 (0) 117 917 4046
richard.bretton@osborneclarke.com