Areas of Practice

Licensing

A licence is required for many areas of business and trade, ranging from public houses and clubs, casinos, betting shops, public entertainment, late hours catering and taxis, through to second hand dealers and dog breeding. Such licences are of considerable financial value, and refusal or restriction can have profound effects on a business. Significant changes are underway in the field of liquor licensing with the coming into effect of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and related subordinate legislation. It will be readily appreciated that proper legal advice on the implications and implementation of these changes will be essential both to applicants and licensing boards, and that litigation in the form of appeals and judicial review is almost inevitable whilst contentious issues arising from the legislation are still being addressed.

Experienced licensing practitioners in Terra Firma Chambers are well placed to advise and represent clients, whether applicants, boards, or third parties. They appear regularly before licensing boards and (in civic government licensing cases) before licensing committees, as well as in appeals to the Sheriff Court and to the Court of Session, including judicial reviews. A member of Chambers (Steven L. Stuart) is a co-author of "Scottish Civic Government Licensing Law" the principal textbook on the subject.

Members of Terra Firma Chambers with Licensing experience:

• Rory W.J. Anderson QC
• Rt. Hon. Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC
• Douglas Armstrong QC
• Neil Beardmore
• Neil Beynon
• Scott Brady QC
• Rt. Hon. Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP
• Graham Dunlop
• Denis Edwards
• Peter Ferguson QC
• James Findlay QC
• Peter Grant-Hutchison
• Anthony D.D. MacIver
• Colin Mackenzie
• Fred Mackintosh
• Mark C. Mohammed
• Stephen O'Rourke
• Robert Skinner
• Steven L. Stuart QC
• Stephen Winter

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