Our Solicitors
Jonathan Smith - Managing Partner
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Prior to becoming a licensing specialist, Jonathan practised almost exclusively in commercial and corporate law but he is now firmly established as a national licensing advocate, developing a recognised expertise in the field of late-night licensing and reviews of Premise Licences.
He has developed a considerable level of experience in dealing with reviews of Premise Licences and closure orders. Jonathan has dealt with around 70 licensing reviews all around the country. In one memorable case he took part in a three-day review and ultimately retained the licence despite the police application for revocation! He recently had a refusal of a variation in a cumulative area reversed on appeal in the magistrates court.
Jonathan regularly speaks at trade conferences for organisations such as the Institute Of Licensing and provides training on the Licensing Act 2003 and other related legislation to council officers, elected members and police forces. He has an excellent relationship with the local authorities.
Jonathan became Managing Partner of the business at the start of 2006 and is one of the key new business drivers for the firm having attracted County Estate Management, Matalan, Bourne Leisure, Jarvis Hotels, Little Chef and the House of Fraser as clients.
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him
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My recent activity
- 'Reading too much into outside smoking areas'
- Explanation of Reading Borough Council's designated smoking area policy
- Blackpool’s Cumulative Impact Policy Now Targets Off-Licences
- Blackpool Council is one of the first Licensing Authorities looking to introduce a Cumulative Impact Policy in respect of Off-Licences.
- Christmas Is Coming
- Christmas is coming, make sure you don’t miss the boat.
- Plans for Sex Encounter Establishment (Licensing) Bill Dropped
- The proposed Private Members’ Bill which had been introduced by Dr. Roberta Blackman-Woods under the Ten Minute Rule has now been dropped at its second stage
- An Hour to the Good
- Clocks go back 1 hour
- The meaning of public nuisance
- A recent case has established that there is no distinction between the meaning of public nuisance under the Licensing Act 2003 and its meaning in common law