Our People

Philip is recognised nationally as a leading licensing lawyer, advising and acting for a wide range of clients involved in the entertainment and hospitality industry, including pubs, bars, restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, off-licences, betting and other gambling outlets, late night takeaways and both large and small scale indoor and outdoor events such as festivals and concerts.

In short, anything to do with alcohol, music, dancing, eating or gambling and in particular, large outdoor events.

Philip typically advises clients on:

• applications for new licences;
• the acquisition of licensed premises, to include due diligence to ensure that clients are fully aware of any licensing issues;
• assisting with diposals of licensed premises
• variations to existing licences, including
  • changes of personnel;
  • alterations to layouts;
  • removing redundant conditions;
  • extending licensable hours;
  • including “off-sales” to licensed restricted to “on-sales” only;
• defending applications to review licences when alleged breaches or other issues have occurred;
• appealing adverse decisions to the Magistrates’ Court;
• objecting to applications that local residents have concerns about

Philip is known for his “lateral thinking” in finding pragmatic solutions to seemingly intractable problems.  A renowned advocate in his own right (he rarely instructs Counsel), his attitude is to avoid conflict (and contested hearings) and to settle matters based on the best outcome for the client and the least expense.

Recent example of matters which Philip has advised on include:

• Variation to a licence for a large city centre pub allowing far greater flexibility in the use of available space – the client commented: “a brilliant outcome – we now have so much more flexibility in licensing terms”;
• Extending hours and removing conditions for a late-night takeaway in another City centre as an exception to their “cumulative impact policy”;
• Successfully appealing against the revocation of a licence for premises found to have been selling smuggled alcohol;
• Obtained a licence for a new event site in the Cotswolds against large scale local and other objections.

Accolades, Accreditations and Memberships

Legal Advisor to the following;

National Outdoor Event Association (NOEA)

Nationwide Catering Association (NCASS)

South Coast Events Forum (SCEF)

Laceys Licensing team were granted NOEAs “Best Support to the Event Industry Award’ in 2022, largely due to Philip’s work in supporting the industry throughout Covid.

Outside of the office

Philip has been a Town Councillor in Ringwood since 2015, its Deputy Mayor for five years during that time and the chair of its Planning Town and Environment Committee for the last four years.

He is also actively involved in the Town Council’s Events Committee and chaired the same for six years.