Licensing

Highly recommended in Chambers and Partners, Juan advises and represents private clients and promoters, individual applicants and local authorities in relation to all licensing and gaming matters, both before licensing committees throughout England and Wales and on appeal in magistrates' courts and the higher courts.  Particular high profile clients include award winning independents as well as branded multiples.

Juan's complimentary experience in the Administrative Court and of guiding from inception, planning applications for a series of bespoke night time venues and restaurants located within designated stress areas (including many in the West End) and of resisting planning enforcement proceedings, have made him a particularly attractive choice.

Juan has also developed particular expertise in working with both boutique and mainstream nightclubs and late night bars (West End and other), especially in response to police-led reviews (normal and expedited), both before committee and on appeal. 

He has vast experience in acting on behalf of venues in complex cases involving noise (including acoustic integrity of premises and noise attenuation), promotion issues, alcohol-led disorder, gun, knife and violent crime, and drug use.

Juan frequently advises on the tactical approach to be deployed when configuring licence applications, often involving music genre, promotions, the adequacy of risk assessments, operation protocols and branding.

Juan also advises in respect of sex establishments and in the advent of local authorities engaging Schedule 3 to the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, as amended.

Juan also advises in relation to vehicle operator licensing and on proceedings before the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (having represented the UK market leader), taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, street trading and firearms.

He also lectures widely on licensing, including at Paterson's Licensing (and Gambling) Conferences. 

Significant cases include:

Diamonds & Pearls [2011]: opposing police-led review (prevention of crime and disorder objective) of sex establishment licence.

R (oao Christian Institute) v Cornwall County Council and Another [2011]: judicial review of the issue of a waiver of the requirement for a sex shop licence.

Dahlak Bar [2011]: appeal against police-led review (prevention of crime and disorder objective) of bar premises licence.

Bells of Shoreditch [2011]: obtaining planning permission for change of use from nil use to nightclub for premises located within designated Shoreditch stress area.

Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis v Lisle Street, W1 [2011]: opposing police application for closure order of premises.

London Borough of Southwark v Sanli [2011]: injunction under section 222 Local Government Act 1972 prohibiting street trading within designated areas of Bankside SE1.

The Brickyard [2011]: anticipated planning enforcement of restaurant and bar use.

Marathon Restaurant v Camden LBC [2011] EWHC 1339: case stated appeal concerning the interrelationship between reduced licensing hours and premises licence conditions.

National Breweries, including Greene King and Marston's Plc: multiple premises licence applications and licensing appeals.

Black & Blue restaurants, W1: premises licence variation applications for the extension of restaurant and bar hours and extension to licensed area.

Source Café nightclub [2010]: appeal against police-led expedited review (prevention of crime and disorder objective) of licence premises of celebrated, BBC Radio 1 affiliated nightclub.

N-tyce nightclub [2010] appeal against police-led expedited review (prevention of crime and disorder objective) of nightclub premises licence.

Dezires nightclub [2010] objection to police-led review (prevention of crime and disorder objective) of nightclub premises licence.

Hypnotic nightclub [2010]: appeal against police-led review (prevention of crime and disorder objective) of nightclub premises licence.

Jute nightclub [2010]: application for late hour variation to nightclub licence.

Merchant Taylors Independent Boys School, London [2010]: premises licence application for School-affiliated events.

Millennium Hotel, Pine Bar, Mayfair [2010]: premises licence variation application for an extension to bar hours.

R (oao Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire) v Nottingham Magistrates' Court, Tesco Stores Limited [2009] EWHC 3182 (Admin): acting on behalf of Tesco in this landmark case, establishing that an interested party on a licensing application has no right to be a respondent on an appeal under Licensing Act 2003.

Willi Betz GmbH & Co [2009]: successful application for UK vehicle operator's licence for leading international forwarding and transport company.

JD Wetherspoons, Richmal Crompton, Bromley High Street [2008]: application for non-compliance with condition restricting (planning) hours of use; cumulative impact considerations, pedestrian traffic, noise nuisance and crime and disorder considerations.