2 Hare Court are highly experienced in advising and representing clients in a wide variety of licensing matters, but particularly in the fields of alcohol, entertainment, gaming, taxi and private hire, gangmaster, firearms and the security industry.
We are instructed to advise individual and corporate applicants and licence holders, as well as those authorities issuing licences, those resisting applications and other interested parties.
We receive instructions from leading solicitors firms in this area, as well as in-house counsel, members of the trade and members of the public.
Alcohol & Entertainment
We have extensive experience of handling applications for premises, entertainment and liquor licences, street trading, and more. We are instructed on behalf of individuals and corporate clients for proceedings before the licensing committees of local authorities, and in related appeals.
We also provide strategic advice on related issues such as possible regulatory offences which may impact on licence conditions (nuisance, noise and light pollution, etc), and liaison with local licensing authorities and inspectors, environmental health officers, the police and others.
Firearms & Security
We have experience of advising on firearms licensing issues, on proceedings brought by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and on Security Industry Authority proceedings, with a number of members having appeared in SIA v Sabrewatch, both for the regulator and on behalf of defendants. We also act in related confiscation proceedings.
Gaming
We advise and represent leading casino operators and other licensees for both online and offline gaming operations, as well as bookmakers. We have consistently been involved in most of the major gaming applications in recent years, with our clients having included; A & S Leisure, Bannatyne’s, Crockfords, Full Tilt Poker, London Clubs International, Stanley Casinos, The British Casino Association and The Colony. We successfully appeared in the first application made under the Gambling Act 2005.
We are also instructed to advise and appear in new gaming applications, review and suspension hearings, and related appeals.
Vehicles
We have experience in licensing appeals involving taxis / private hire vehicles. In addition, our team advises road haulage companies and others charged with tachograph offences, represents companies and individuals at public inquiries and other aspects of the DVSA regulatory regime.