clerks@ftbchambers.co.uk 020 7353 8415

Gary Grant

Call: 1994  
Practice areas:

Licensing, Local Government, Public Law

Public Access
Practice areas:

Licensing, Local Government, Public Law

Practice Profile

Gary Grant is one of the UK's leading licensing barristers. He is top-ranked in both of the major independent legal directories where he is described as "The go-to counsel for licensing matters” (Legal 500) and “Star Individual: the best licensing lawyer in the country... phenomenal intellect and superb advocate” (Chambers Guide).

In addition to his licensing expertise, Gary has a wealth of experience in the criminal courts at all levels up to and including the House of Lords/Supreme Court. Consequently, he is frequently instructed in cases at the frontier of both licensing and criminal law that require expertise in both.

He is also at the forefront of advising businesses and trade bodies in regard to the legal cannabis and CBD market in the UK and is the Head of FTB’s Cannabis Law Group.

Gary has over 25 years' experience at the Bar dealing with complex and important cases in all areas of licensing. They include many of the most hard-fought and high-profile licence applications, reviews and appeals involving the country's leading nightclubs, bars, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, taxi and private hire operators, gambling operators (online and terrestrial), sex entertainment venues, sporting and entertainment arenas, gambling operators (online and land-based), large mixed-use food and leisure developments, cinema groups, museums, theatres, markets, street carnivals and music festivals.

His clients have included the Hard Rock Cafe, Amazon, Chiltern Firehouse, McDonald's, Tate Modern, Pacha, Spearmint Rhino, Marriott, Hilton and Britannia hotel groups, the nightclubs of Rekom UK ("Atik", "Pryzm"), the restaurants of Sir Terence Conran ("Albion") and Alan Yau OBE ("Park Chinois", "Wagamama", "Busaba"), Secret Cinema, Everyman Cinemas, the Inception Group's bars ("Mr Foggs" "Bunga Bunga"), Ola Cabs, Notting Hill Carnival and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
He recently obtained a 5am premises licence for a new London nightclub, a result that Time Out magazine described as "a landmark ruling...unprecedented".

As a true "independent" he represents the trade (from sole-traders to multi-national PLCs), residents, police forces, local authorities and central Government. This broad experience enables Gary to employ his insights to the advantage of all his clients at tribunals ranging from local Council licensing sub-committees through to the Supreme Court. He has a reputation for pursuing his clients' interests with fierce independence, skill, tenacity and integrity.

He is widely experienced in judicial reviews and has appeared in several of the leading reported cases of recent years in the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court/House of Lords (including R v Rimmington the leading modern case defining "public nuisance", and the landmark cases of ''Funky Mojoe'' and ''Essence'' on procedural defects in licensing).

Gary is a Consultant Editor of Paterson's Licensing Acts ("the bible of licensing law"), the Principal Contributor to the "Clubs" volume in the Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents (Lexis Nexis), and is widely published in the Journal of Licensing and other law journals. He is the Vice-Chairman of the Institute of Licensing.  In 2021 he was made a Fellow of the Institute of Licensing in recognition of his exceptional contribution to the field of licensing.

Gary is able to accept instructions directly from members of the public in appropriate cases.

For more information, please visit: www.licensingbarrister.com.

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  • Alcohol and Entertainment (including late hours applications in stress/cumulative impact areas)
  • Clubs
  • Reviews, Summary Reviews and Closure Orders
  • Cannabis Law and Licensing
  • Gambling, casinos, lotteries and betting shops (online and land-based)Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles
  • Firearms, shotguns and explosives
  • Sex Entertainment Venues (SEV's)
  • Street Trading and Markets
  • Animals & Pets
  • Special Treatments
  • Advisory work on Statements of Licensing Policy
  • Appeals to Magistrates' Courts and Crown Court
  • Challenges to the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court by way of Judicial Review and Case Stated
  • Criminal prosecutions and defence - including licensing, gambling, planning, environmental, trading standards, health and safety, motoring, fraud and money laundering offences (in addition to wide experience of serious and often high-profile general crime)
  • Licensing training for operators, local authorities, police forces, trade bodies, commercial and non-commercial organisations 

Prosecuting and defending at all levels from the Magistrates Court and Crown Court through to the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and Supreme Court in matters relating to:

  • Inquests
  • Planning breaches (including enforcement notices, noise abatement orders)
  • Licensing breaches
  • Environmental pollution and damage
  • Listed Buildings and Conservation Area infringements
  • Trading Standards
  • Gambling
  • Health and Safety
  • Corporate Manslaughter
  • Firearms
  • Fraud and money-laundering
  • Motoring (including drink driving, disqualifications, speeding and fatal accidents)
  • In addition to wide-experience of more general crime including homicide and serious- organised crime.

Licensing

Festivals, Arenas, Live Music Venues, Cinemas, Museums, Theme Parks & Multi-Use Venues

  • Tate Modern - obtained a new and extended premises licence for the world's most visited modern art museum following its £260 million extension. The new "Switch House" building has been described by cultural commentators as "London's first great public building of the 21st century" and "the most important cultural building in UK since the British Library opened in 1998"
  • Brixton O2 Academy – instructed to advise local authority following the fatal crush incident in December 2022
  • Borough Yards - obtained 14 new bar and restaurant licences for £300 million re-development in the heart of Southwark's Cumulative Impact Zone
  • Hackney Bridge - obtained 3 late night licences for major new work in leisure development in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from the makers of Pop Brixton and Peckham Levels
  • Notting Hill Carnival (2014 & 2015) - obtained a number of contested premises licences and temporary event notices for major sound-stages before both Westminster City Council and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
  • London Olympic Festival 2012, Greenwich Peninsula - a series of successful licence applications for 20,000 person music concerts, leisure complex, campsites and Europe's largest "urban" beach
  • The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome) - original premises licence application (for Commissioner of Metropolitan Police)
  • Secret Cinema - premises licence for their new London base (2018)
  • Everyman Cinemas - series of premises licence applications around the UK (2018)
  • Standon Calling - premises licence application for annual rock festival
  • St. Katharine Docks, London Olympic Festival - securing Premises Licence on behalf of Danish Tourist Board
  • Twickenham Rugby Stadium - series of licensing applications related to events at the Stadium
  • Lock 'n' Load Music Festival, Clapham Common - magistrates' court appeal
  • Lingfield Park  Racecourse - track betting licence application
  • Folkestone Racecourse - track betting licence application
  • Yarnton Manor on behalf of residents' group, successfully resisted a controversial application for a premises licence that would have permitted year round music festivals by the operators of The Manor. Entire application refused.
  • Test Bed and Doodle Bar, Wandsworth - obtained heavily contested licence application for riverside arts and entertainment complex
  • Marsh Farm Animal Adventure Park - obtained new premises licence in face of over 100 residential objectors
  • Friends of Finsbury Park - acted for residents' group in relation to a series of concerts and pop festivals
  • Peckham Levels - obtained premises licence for a 900,000 square foot development of a 7-storey Southwark car park into bars, restaurants, food halls, creative spaces and work studios

Restaurants, Hotels and Stores

  • Chiltern Firehouse – extended premises licence
  • W Hotel, Leicester Square – successfully represented police in summary review following incident at Marriott Group hotel
  • London Trocadero - obtained a number of new restaurant licences in this landmark redevelopment (2018-2019)
  • Hard Rock Cafe, Piccadilly, London - variation application
  • Hilton Hart Hotel, Shoreditch - obtained new premises licence for basement fine-dining/projection-screening venue "Byrd" within Shoreditch cumulative impact area.
  • Amazon Fresh - obtained new premises licences within cumulative impact areas (including Islington and Hackney) for Amazon's innovative "Just Walk Out" convenience stores
  • Casa Cruz, Notting Hill - successful defence of the "celebrity" restaurant at a review hearing following the internationally-reported Covid-breaching birthday party of Rita Ora.
  • Blakes Hotel, London - new and extended premises licence for the world's first 5-star luxury boutique hotel (2019)
  • Rabbit and The Shed - successful appeal for an award-winning Chelsea/Notting Hill restaurateur against a summary-review decision taken by the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea that prohibited him from entering his own restaurants following a widely-publicised firearms incident.
  • Albion - obtained new premises licence for Sir Terence Conran and Peter Prescott's new Clerkenwell restaurant/cafe/retail store as an exception to Islington's cumulative impact policy
  • Park Chinois - obtained new late hours premises licence for Alan Yau OBE's £16million new restaurant development in London's Mayfair
  • Aquacasia (tbc) - obtained new 24hr licence for renowned hotelier and restaurateur MPS Puri's new "Aquacasia" restaurant linked to the Grosvenor House Hotel, London (to open in 2017)
  • Aubaine - obtained 24hr restaurant and bar licence at the Hilton Hotel, Hyde Park.
  • Granger & Co - obtained heavily contested licence for TV chef Bill Granger's new Clerkenwell restaurant as an exception to Islington's cumulative impact policy
  • Grupo Sagardi - obtained the international restaurant group's first UK premises licence as an exception to Shoreditch's Special Policy for their new Basque-gastronomy restaurant.
  • Za Za Bazaar, Bristol - obtained late hours licence for what is believed to be the UK’s largest restaurant as an exception to cumulative impact policy
  • Okku, late night licence obtained for famed Dubai restaurant's proposed venture in St James', London
  • River Lounge, St Katharine's Dock - successful appeal against revocation (involving Rt Hon David Mellor KC, naked dancing girls and covert audio recordings of un-neighbourly disputes. Widely reported in the national press on 10 June 2010)
  • Gilgamesh, leading London restaurant - summary review
  • Princi - Soho "boutique" bakery/restaurant - late hours application (exception to Westminster's stress policy)
  • Cha Cha Moon, Whiteleys and Soho branches - late hours applications (exception to Westminster's stress policy)
  • Busaba Eathai - successful late hours applications (exception to Tower Hamlet's stress policy)
  • Grand Boutique Hotel, Leigh on Sea - successfully obtained heavily contested new licence for this controversial development
  • Chinatown Zone - several new applications/variations in Soho for Bourne Capital
  • McDonald's - acted for major franchisees in successfully resisting review proceedings brought by police forces and obtaining early hours licence extensions in Islington and Newham's cumulative impact areas.
  • Babaji Pide - obtained new licence for Alan Yau's contemporary Turkish restaurant as an exemption to Westminster's Stress Policy

Nightclubs, Bars, Pubs and Social Gaming

  • Atik/Pryzm - grant of new nightclub licences for Rekom UK in various locations around England
  • Flight Club, London Victoria – obtained extended hours for flagship branch of darts themed venue
    The Crane, Birmingham – acted for West Midlands Police in summary review proceedings following fatal stabbing in December 2022
  • The Cow, Notting Hill - successful defence of the famous gastro-pub at a review hearing following allegations of Covid-breaches
  • Bloc South - obtained "unprecedented" new 5am nightclub licence for venue in the Vauxhall Triangle in what Time Out described as a "landmark ruling"
  • Simmons Bars - obtained extended licences as exemptions to policy in both Camden Town and Liverpool Street
  • Mr Fogg's - obtained extended hours licence for multi-award winning Mayfair bar (and London residence of the eccentric British Adventurer Phileas J Fogg Esq) operated by the Inception Group's Charlie Gilkes and Duncan Stirling
  • Pacha, London - successfully resisted premises licence reviews and gained additional hours on appeal
  • Punchbowl  - acted for successful operator in contested variation hearing involving Mayfair's "celebrity pub" (formerly owned by Madonna and Guy Ritchie)
  • Scotch of St James - successful late hours application for this iconic nightclub known as "the home of London's Swinging Sixties"
  • Shannon Centre, Ilford - acted for licensing authority in summary review proceedings following triple shooting and samurai sword slashing at Essex nightclub
  • Essence - [2014] EWHC 4334 (Admin) & [2016] EWCA Civ 63 (Court of Appeal) - acted for the local authority in the magistrates', High Court and Court of Appeal following the revocation of the Kingston Nightclub's licence. Now the leading authority on errors on licensing appeal notices.
  • Funky Mojoe [2014] EWHC 344 (Admin) - successfully represented local authority in magistrates' and High Court following review proceedings involving this well-known Essex nightclub.  A leading authority on procedural defects in licensing
  • Disco -successful late hours application for Charles Gilkes and Duncan Sterling's (Inception Group) new nightclub venture.
  • Club 65, Vauxhall Triangle - acted for the operator in successfully resisting a police application to revoke its licence following a widely reported fatality at the club
  • Upper West Nightclub, Chelsea - successfully resisted police application to revoke licence at summary review.
  • Veranda Bar, Brixton - acted for operators in successfully resisting police application to revoke their premises licence at summary review proceedings following an alleged gangland shooting
  • Whisky Mist, London nightclub - premises licence review
  • Amika, Kensington nightclub -  appeal of review
  • Gatecrasher,Birmingham - nightclub review
  • Oceana , Kingston upon Thames - nightclub summary review
  • Oceana Watford - nightclub review and appeal
  • Powerhouse, acted for Newcastle nightclub in review and variation proceedings
  • Vendome, West End - series of reviews and summary reviews
  • Fridge Bar, Brixton - premises licence review and appeal
  • Area and Fire Nightclubs, Vauxhall Triangle, London - series of reviews
  • Opium Lounge, Romford - UK's first hearing of a summary/expedited review
  • The Phene, Chelsea - applications and successful defence of Licensing Act prosecutions involving "celebrity pub"
  • Aura, West End - nightclub review
  • Clerkenwell House, London - summary review
  • Cuckoo Club, West End - late hours application (as exception to Westminster's stress policy)
  • 79CXR, iconic West End gay bar - successfully defended premises licence review
  • Molton House, West End, private members club - premises licence review
  • Kabaret, West End, private members club - premises licence review

Sex Entertainment Venues

  • Spearmint Rhino, London - successfully obtained late hours extension for lap-dancing venue
  • Vanity Soho – acted for venue in summary review proceedings following allegations of drink spiking and credit card fraud.
  • Scotch of St James, London - successfully renewed SEV licences in consecutive years
  • Platinum Lounge, Chester - acting for operator in heavily contested SEV renewal proceedings led by the Leader of the Council and the Bishop of Chester (among others). 
  • Piano Lounge, Twickenham - acted for controversial lap-dancing venue in a series of successful reviews, prosecutions and late-hours appeals
  • Parkers, London - acted for police in review proceedings
  • Charlies Bar, City of London - acted for police and local authority in review proceedings and criminal prosecution.
  • Heaven Gentleman’s Club, Newmarket – renewed licence despite objections from town council and Matt Hancock MP

Judicial Reviews and Other

  • The Queen o/a/o Essence Bars (London) Ltd t/a Essence -v- Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames [2016] EWCA Civ 63 - leading authority on amending notices of appeal in licensing proceedings following an error in identifying the correct appellant. 
  • Funky Mojoe [2014] EWHC 344 (Admin) - successfully represented local authority in magistrates’ and High Court following review proceedings involving this well-known Essex nightclub. A leading authority on procedural defects in licensing.
  • R v Rimmington & Goldstein [2005] UKHL 63 - leading modern House of Lord's decision on the offence of causing a public nuisance. Client acquitted.
  • The Queen (Raphael) -v- LB of Islington [2011] EWCA 462 (Court of Appeal) - leading authority on powers of delegation under, and implementation of, the Licensing Act 2003.
  • Health & Safety Executive v Alpha & Festival Fireworks - appeal against revocation of explosives licence following the fireworks explosion in Lewes in which two firemen were killed.
  • Corals - UK's first review under the Gambling Act
  • William Hill - betting shop application
  • Numerous cases and appeals involving Tesco's, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, McDonalds and JD Wetherspoon venues.

Other Civil

  • Talanga Stiftung et al v Shurland et al [2006] UKPC 58: Privy Council appeal from Bahamas Court of Appeal - civil fraud - judicial bias, natural justice & right to fair trial - secret communications to judge - quantum meruit. Client's appeal allowed.
  • Paddington Prostitutes ASBOS@ (Daily Mail, Evening Standard, 22.11.06) - acted for Westminster Council in obtaining ground-breaking civil ASBOS against prolific prostitutes.

Criminal, Regulatory & Inquests

  • Kingston Pool Bar (2016) - prosecuted operators of an illegal poker casino for offences under the Gambling Act 2005 and money laundering provisions.
  • Camber Sands Drowning Inquests - acting for the local authority following the well-publicised downing of 7 individuals in the Summer of 2016
  • London Borough of Richmond v Johnson - acted for council in landmark prosecution involving demolition of a house within a conservation area - Kingston Crown Court (Daily Mail 1.8.11)
  • Baby Amitai Moshe Inquest - on the death of a child following a ritual circumcision
  • R v Fletcher, Bradford Crown Court [2009] - alleged gangland conspiracy to murder - client acquitted on all charges
  • R v Lincoln Crawford, Blackfriars Crown Court, Telegraph, 22.7.08: defence of barrister and Recorder of the Crown Court for breaching a restraining order.
  • R v Gil Magira [2008] EWCA Crim 1939, The Times, The Mirror 1.3.08: defence of husband accused of clandestinely administering abortion drugs to his pregnant wife.
  • R v Foster & ors [2007] EWCA Crim 2869, The Times, 10.12.07: Court of Appeal - murder - alternative verdicts
  • R v Mendel Rand - [2007] EWCA Crim 840, Daily Mail 30.3.07: Court of Appeal - obtained release of 76 year old Holocaust survivor from prison sentence for money laundering as an "exceptional act of mercy"
  • R v Rimmington & Goldstein [2006] 1 AC 459, [2005] UKHL 63: Post-9/11 Anthrax Hoaxer acquitted on appeal to the House of Lords - public nuisance - common law offences - Human Rights Act - retroactive offences - freedom of expression & privacy of correspondence - mens rea. Client acquitted on appeal.
  • United States of America v H [2005-6, advisory]: major US banking fraud involving director of leading investment bank/ extradition to USA
  • R v Ramzan, Israel & Ors [2007] Crim.L.R. 79,[2006] EWCA Crim 1974: Court of Appeal - conspiracy to money launder - mens rea - reopening old convictions following change of law.
  • Duffy v R [2005]: Privy Council appeal from Isle of Man Court of Appeal - death by dangerous driving - careless driving (advisory)
  • East Herts DC v Bishop's Stortford Football Club et al [2005, St Albans Crown Court] - breach of planning enforcement notices - park & ride operation to Stansted Airport - anti-competitive planning policies - European Union Law
  • R v Lehman, The Times, 7 Jan 2005: Israeli with loaded gun in Heathrow Airport. Client acquitted.
  • Birmingham City Council v Chiltern London Ltd [2005]: "FCUK" & "Louis Vuitton" major trade marks prosecution
  • R v Roberts, The Guardian, Mar 2005: defence of teacher at Jews Free School acquitted of sexually assaulting student
  • London Borough of Newham v Estates & Lets Ltd [2004]: corporate criminal liability under Protection from Eviction Act 1977 - abuse of process - local authorities' prosecuting guidelines. Client acquitted.
  • R v Mansoor, Central Criminal Court, The Times, 18 Aug 2004: Stamford Hill Orthodox Jewish Murder
  • R v Horner and others [2004]: corporate manslaughter - death by dangerous driving - mechanical defect. Client acquitted.
  • London Borough of Camden v JT Publishing Ltd [2004]: criminal liability of West End theatre promoter under Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Client acquitted.
  • R v Israel [2003] 2 Cr. App. R. (S.) 79: Court of Appeal - money laundering - sentencing
  • R v Mazar, The Times, 4 Dec 2002 - "King-Pin Fraudster" - multi-million dollar international credit card fraud
  • R v Graham [2002]: "Peterborough Sex Beast" - serial rape - attempted murder
  • R v Johnson [2002] 1 Archbold News 1, Archbold 2006 para 4-348: Court of Appeal - criminal evidence - defence statements - reopening of prosecution case
  • R v Jeanette Morris, Daily Telegraph, 21 Dec 2001: "RAF Cadets Death Coach" - death by dangerous driving
  • R v Sylvana Nottingham, [1999] News of the World: "Nurse's Lifer Lover" - pregnant prison nurse aided and abetted escape of her lover who was serving life for manslaughter. Obtained suspended sentence.
  • R v Zafar [2000]: "Internet Domain Name Blackmail" - prosecuted first UK case of corporate blackmail via computer hacking. 
  • HSE v Behrouzi - Health and Safety - supermarket owner - razor blades in food

Licensing
Books

  • "Paterson's Licensing Acts" - Consultant Editor, (Butterworths / Lexis Nexis)
  • "Clubs" - Principal Contributor, The Encyclopaedia of Forms and Precedents (vol. 7, 2017 re-issue, Lexis Nexis)

Articles/Presentations

Regulatory Crime

  • Prosecutions of Illegal Poker Dens - Institute of Licensing (2016)
  • "Knockdown - prosecuting cases of demolition in a conservation area"- Local Government Lawyer, (4 August 2011)
  • "Experts in the Criminal Courts, Fraud and Confiscation Proceedings" -  keynote address to Network of Independent Forensic Accountants' Annual Conference, (2009)
  • "Fraud Act 2006" -  CPD Channel, (2006)
  • "Insurance Fraud: the industry strikes back" - CPD Channel, (2006)
  • "Conspiracy and money laundering: the end of the affair" - New Law Journal, 14 July 2006
  • "Public Nuisance, the Orthodox Jew and the Racist" (with Jonathan Goldberg KC) - New Law Journal, 2 December 2005
  • "Disclosure and Public Interest Immunity": lectures to Kent Police, Customs & Excise and other forces (2005-2010)
  • "Future of Fraud" - Gibraltar Law Conference (2004)
  • "Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Confiscation & Money Laundering" - Legal Practitioner, DVD (2003)
  • Legal Practitioner, Contributing Editor (Criminal Law) (2002 - 2005)
  • CPD Channel, Contributing Editor (Criminal Law) (2006 - 2010)
  • "Knockdown - prosecuting cases of demolition in a conservation area" - Local Government Lawyer, (4 August 2011)
  • "Experts in the Criminal Courts, Fraud and Confiscation Proceedings" - keynote address to Network of Independent Forensic Accountants' Annual Conference, (2009)
  • "Fraud Act 2006" - CPD Channel, (2006)
  • "Insurance Fraud: the industry strikes back" - CPD Channel, (2006)
  • "Conspiracy and money laundering: the end of the affair" - New Law Journal, 14 July 2006
  • "Public Nuisance, the Orthodox Jew and the Racist" (with Jonathan Goldberg KC) - New Law Journal, 2 December 2005
  • "Disclosure and Public Interest Immunity": lectures to Kent Police, Customs & Excise and other forces (2005-2010)
  • "Future of Fraud" - Gibraltar Law Conference (2004)
  • "Proceeds of Crime Act 2002: Confiscation & Money Laundering" - Legal Practitioner, DVD (2003)
  • Legal Practitioner, Contributing Editor (Criminal Law) (2002 - 2005)
  • CPD Channel, Contributing Editor (Criminal Law) (2006 - 2010)

Media

Gary has been a frequent contributor to television news channels (including Sky News, ITV News and Al-Jazeera) on matters of international and domestic legal interest.

  • BA Hons (Law and Philosophy)
  • Inns of Court School of Law, 1994
  • Sir Raymond Phillips Award, Gray's Inn, 1994
  • Institute of Licensing (Vice-Chairman)
  • Criminal Bar Association
  • Extradition Lawyers Association
  • International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
  • Planning and Environmental Bar Association

Direct Access
Gary Grant is qualified to accept instructions directly from professionals and members of the public in appropriate cases.

Privacy Policy

Latest from Gary
06
Mar' 24
Licence Granted For New 23,500 Capacity Co-op Live Arena in Manchester

At a hearing on 21 and 22 February 2024, Manchester’s Licensing Sub-Committee considered a contested application for a premises licence for the new £365m 23,500 capacity Co-op Live Arena located in the Etihad Campus.

Read more
23
Feb' 24
Three Members of Chambers Appear at Licensing Hearing for New 23,500 Capacity Co-op Live Arena in Manchester

At a hearing on 21 and 22 February 2024, Manchester’s Licensing Sub-Committee considered a contested application for a premises licence for the new £365m 23,500 capacity Co-op Live Arena located in the Etihad Campus.

Read more
15
Sep' 23
O2 Brixton Academy Licensing Proceedings: 3 Members of FTB Instructed

On 15 December 2022, at the O2 Academy Brixton, a crushing incident occurred which led to the death of two individuals. 

Read more
11
Apr' 23
Nightclub Premises Licence Revoked Following Murder Inside Venue

Valesha’s Nightclub in Walsall has had its premises licence revoked following the murder of Akeem Francis-Kerr inside the venue shortly after 5am on 11 March 2023. 

Read more

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"Gary is one of the finest barristers in the licensing field. A powerhouse and one of the pre-eminent licensing barristers at FTB. He has a brilliant legal mind coupled with breathtaking advocacy skills."

Chambers and Partners, 2024

"The leading expert in this area and the obvious choice to help clients. "

Chambers and Partners, 2024

"Gary is a superb advocate and brilliant lawyer. Determined to win. Fights incredibly hard for clients and has the ability to turn a case through the force of his intellect and advocacy. The go-to barrister for tough licensing cases."

Legal 500, 2024

"Gary is the best licensing lawyer in the country. He is very thorough, with very high attention to detail as well as being very professional, but also personable"

Chambers and Partners, 2023

“The go to Counsel for licensing matters.”

Legal 500, 2022

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