A Practical Guide to Licensing Law for Commercial Property Lawyers

This book is intended to be assist commercial property practitioners who handle transactions involving licensed properties. It provides a concise overview, but hopefully, one which highlights issues of importance and when to seek further specialist advice. Areas covered include:

• Licensable activities under the Licensing Act 2003 (England and Wales only)
• The Licensing objectives
• Types of premises requiring a licence
• Personal Licences and the Designated Premises Supervisor
• Application procedures
• Planning considerations
• Contracts conditional on licensing (and planning)
• Licensing due diligence for property transactions
• Problems to look out for e.g. onerous conditions, the annual fee, site history etc.
• Impact of Insolvency of the Premises Licence Holder.
• Steps on completion - transfer the Premises Licence and varying the Designated Premises Supervisor
• Variation of licences
• Reviews
• Enforcement

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ranked in both Legal 500 and UK Chambers, Niall McCann undertakes all aspects of licensing and gaming and associated regulatory/planning law. He regularly appears as an advocate before courts and local authority sub-committees throughout England and Wales. He has lectured extensively on licensing matters and, in particular, specialises in advising on the impact of insolvency in respect of licensed premises.

Richard Williams is an experienced gaming, licensing and regulatory Solicitor, with over 20 years experience of dealing with licensed premises nationally (including Scotland). Richard is a higher Courts advocate and regularly appears before Committees and Courts nationally, representing a full range of clients in the retail and leisure industries. He also specialises in food safety and health and safety law, particularly where this relates to licensed premises.