About
About us
All you need to know about the largest firm of licensing solicitors in the UK
Who we are
We are the largest firm of licensing solicitors in the UK (Solicitors Regulation Authority: SRA ID 78244), specialising in the alcohol, entertainment, food hygiene, health and safety, regulatory and gambling sectors.
Our clients range from one off and unique operators such as Smoking Goat in Shoreditch, OMEARA in Southwark and Detonate Festival in Nottingham through to national multi-site brands. Examples include:
- wagamama
- Stonegate Pub Company
- Mitchells & Butlers
- Hilton Hotels
- The Ivy Collections
- Arena Racing
- Five Guys
- Tenpin
- REKOM Group
- Vue Cinemas
- PizzaExpress
- Deliveroo
- Paddy Power Betfair
- Gauselmann Group
We also work closely with local authorities, police and professional bodies.
About us
How we began
Jeremy Allen and Susanna Poppleston were the founding partners of Poppleston Allen. They were recognised as two of the foremost licensing solicitors in England and Wales.
In the 2008 issue of Chambers, (the ’Who’s Who’ directory for the legal profession), Jeremy Allen and Susanna Poppleston were the only licensing solicitors in the country to have been awarded a star-rating. This means that they were awarded top ranking by their peers as “an outstanding duo” who at the time of publication, “remained firmly at the top of the tree among the national licensing fraternity for their standout presence and reputation as the most experienced and knowledgeable pair in the market.”
Jeremy and Susanna both had an impressive reputation for advocacy, having practised in criminal and family lawbefore they established successful licensing practices. In 1994, they co-founded Poppleston Allen Licensing Solicitors.
Susanna and Jeremy also co-wrote a book entitled ’Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Law’, with Professor Colin Manchester, published by Cavendish Publishing, April 2005 and this was updated in a second edition in early 2008.
About us
What we do
All our advice stems from the same sense of purpose: To use knowledge and hard work to get you the results you need to run your business how you want to.
We can help you:
- Obtain, vary and protect the numerous licences needed on licensed and gambling premises.
- Defend licensing, gambling, food hygiene and health and safety reviews.
- Manage due-diligence on mergers and acquisitions.
Many of our solicitors work with professional bodies, speak at industry events, write for the national trade press and advise central Government on licensing regulation.
So, we do not see ourselves as just legal advisors to the licensed trade, but part of it.
About us
Our values: 4Cs
Candid
We believe in straightforward, pragmatic, commercial and transparent advice – we do not overcomplicate, waffle nor use jargon. We do not overcomplicate. We tell our clients and our people what they need to know and what action needs to be taken. We keep our clients up to date on fees.
Committed
We are determined to deliver the right solution for our clients. We are contactable when the client needs us – day or night, and weekends! We look after our clients and each other.
Collaborative
We work together as one large team rather than individuals to deliver the best service and results as possible. We ensure that partnership working is at the heart of everything we do – whether that be with clients, colleagues or the authorities. We engage or recommend experts in other fields where appropriate.
Creative
We like a challenge and will use our collective experience, vision and inventiveness to deliver the right results, and often unique solutions, for our clients. We like ‘home grown’ and will support our people to achieve their career goals with us. We embrace new concepts and try to stay ahead of the curve.
About us
We get it
- We understand quickly our clients’ objectives.
- We understand how to achieve the objective legally, commercially and strategically.
- We get results. If we cannot – it is unlikely anyone can.
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