Miller Samuel Hill Brown Solicitors fields a team of ‘experts in the field’ and possesses the ‘highest level of knowledge and experience in handling the complexities of Scottish licensing law’. The on-trade sector continues to be a core area of focus for the firm, working with clients including Brewdog, Stonegate Group, and Mitchells & Butlers, as well as multinational food chains such as Nandos, on the licensing aspects of acquisitions and operations expansions. The practice also receives a growing stream of instructions from high street food retailers, and has assisted key client the Co-operative Group Food Limited with applications and appearances before an array of licensing boards. Audrey Junner helms the team and is an ‘amazing lawyer with so much knowledge and expertise’, especially with regards to liquor and gambling licenses. Industry veteran Jack Cummins‘ reputation generates activity for the practice, and Peter Lawson often takes the lead on premise license matters relating to the hospitality and retail sectors.

Providing a ‘totally unique, above and beyond service’, TLT is praised as ‘the market leader in licensing advice in Scotland’. The team of specialist lawyers is well geared to act across the entire licensing space, particularly excelling at advising public venues and attractions on public entertainment licenses, gambling and track betting licenses, and complex premises licenses. The firm acts for an enviable roster of on-sale and off-sale clients, and also assists with short-term letting mandates. Group head Stephen McGowan is a highly praised liquor licensing adviser, and Caroline Loudon is widely lauded by clients for her expertise and ‘can-do’ attitude, with ‘very impressive knowledge of the Edinburgh market, trends and likely response from the licensing boards’. Lynn Simpson is a go-to in the practice for short-term let issues. Niall Hassard left the firm in October 2023.

Anderson Strathern has recently expanded its licencing practice through the hire of Joanna Millar in October 2023, who brings a wealth of experience in short-term let issues, and Eilidh MacEwan in March 2023. The team is praised for its ‘fantastic knowledge and understanding’, and is particularly well placed to advise an array of premium restaurant and high street retailers on major premise variation applications, late hour catering licences, liquor licences and taxi licences. Katrina Lumsdaine leads the team, and Scott Flannigan, who was promoted to director in September 2023, is noted for his broad practice, as well as his ability to handle complex licencing hearings.

With a ‘very responsive and commercial approach to work’, Harper Macleod LLP excels at providing licensing advice to a broad host of clients in the hospitality and retail sectors, particularly specialising in premises licence applications. A core component of the firm’s work focuses on petrol stations, with practice head Andrew Hunter providing ‘first-rate technical knowledge’ to clients such as Motor Fuel Limited and BP Oil with regards to premises and site acquisitions. Other work includes handling short-term letting applications and appearances, as well as acting in disputes. Often supporting Hunter on the firm’s key mandates, Angus Brown acts on a range of contentious and non-contentious work.

Noted for ‘the depth and breadth of its licensing experience, combined with a very personal and hands-on approach’, Morton Fraser MacRoberts provides a comprehensive service to clients across a number of spaces, particularly the food and drink, hospitality, education, and public sectors. The practice is predominantly active on premises licence mandates, and also carries out in-house advisory work, including handling licence audits. Team head David Hossack has experience appearing before licensing boards and handling contentious matters. Ewan McGillivray is a key supporting name.

Pinsent Masons LLP is noted for the breadth of its hospitality, food and drink, and retail client base, which includes Azzurri Restaurants, Adil Group, Yo! Sushi, Wagamama, and Pizza Express. Clients rely on the firm for advice relating to major licence applications and variations, and the firm also has strong advocacy and litigation expertise, regularly conducting hearings on behalf of domestic and multinational clients. The ‘vastly knowledgeable and approachable’ Audrey Ferrie acts on a range of gambling, liquor and civic government licensing mandates and frequently attends licensing hearings. Christine Pirie and Abbie Hunter provide further support as associates in the wider litigation and regulatory team.

Fielding a ‘highly professional team’ that is ‘commercially aware’ and has ‘excellent technical skills’, Shepherd and Wedderburn handles complex licensing matters, with particular expertise in short-term lets, liquor and premises licenses, and taxi licenses. Leading the practice is Kevin Clancy, who ‘has a growing and deserved reputation in licensing work in all areas’, with expertise in short-term let licences. Jamie Yule has experience appearing before licencing boards and advises on short-term letting matters, while Serena Weir has notable contentious expertise, and often leads in appeal proceedings.