Prof. Roy Light
Call 1992 (Gray’s Inn)
Qualifications LLB, LLM (London), M Phil, PhD (Cantab)
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Areas of Practice
Licensing
Roy has extensive experience in all areas of licensing and related criminal matters, including alcohol and entertainment, open-air festivals, gambling, taxis and firearms. He advises and acts for local authorities, police forces, independent operators and public corporations throughout England and Wales. Clients include supermarket chains, petrol companies, breweries, nightclub operators, gaming machine manufacturers, national stadiums and local and police authorities.
Recommendations
Consistently recommended by Chambers and the Legal 500 as a leader in the area of licensing. Recent comments include:
Chambers UK 2010
- Roy “is academically minded and an excellent advocate.” Light’s respect among the marketplace is the product of many years’ advising supermarket chains, petrol companies, breweries, nightclub operators, gaming machine manufacturers, national stadiums and local and police authorities.
Chambers UK 2009
- He impresses with his ‘strategic awareness and profound knowledge’ of the new Gambling Act. He has advised clients such as Punch Taverns and the Spirit Group on the legislation, pointing out its implications and opportunities. His deep understanding of his subject was flagged up by one client, who noted that ‘he resolved one seemingly knotty issue by pointing out the misdrafting of regulations concerning gaming machines to the Department For Culture, Media and Sport; that department then remedied its mistake.’ He is nationally recognised for his experience across a wide range of licensing matters.
Legal 500 2009
- Recommended for licensing and judicial review
Recent reported cases
- London Borough of Haringey/Liverpool City Council v Marks and Spencer PLC/Somerfield Stores Ltd [2004] EWHC 1141 (Admin).
- Carmarthenshire County Council v Cooperative Group (CWS) Ltd & Tesco Stores [2007] LLR 624
- Hereford County Council v Bostwick [2007] LLR 729
- R (on the application of Bristol City Council) v Bristol Magistrates’ Court [2009] EWHC 625 (Admin)
- Hall & Woodhouse Limited v The Borough and County of the Town of Poole [2009] EWHC 1587 (Admin)
Professional development
Roy is a professor of law at Bristol Law School. He regularly chairs and speaks at national conferences and provides training for local authorities and others. An editorial board member of Licensing Review, Roy is also licensing contributor for the Solicitors Journal, a regular contributor to the Local Government Lawyer, external examiner for the Certificate of Higher Education in Licensing Law and licensing conference adviser for Central Law Training licensing conferences.
Some Recent Publications
- ‘At the sharp end: costs in licensing appeals’ Local Government Lawyer, February 2010.
- ‘Licensing Update’, Solicitors Journal (19 January 2010) 21-22
- ‘Alcohol licensing garage forecourt shops’ Local Government Lawyer, November 2009.
- ‘Licensing Update’, Solicitors Journal (4 August 2009) 26-27
- ‘Licensing Book Reviews’, Solicitors Journal (31 March 2009) 26
- ‘Licensing Update’, Solicitors Journal (January 2009)
- ‘Licensing Update’, Solicitors Journal (17 June 2008) 20-22
- ‘Licensing Book Reviews’, Solicitors Journal (29 April 2008) 34
- ‘The Gambling Act 2005: Regulatory Containment and Market Control’, Modern Law Review (2007) 70(4)) 626-53
- ‘Gambling in Pubs’, Solicitors Journal (26 October 2007) 1354-6
- ‘Revised Guidance Under Licensing Act 2003’, Solicitors Journal (15 June 2007) 774-76
- ‘Introduction of Gambling Act 2005’, Solicitors Journal (18 May 2007) 629-30
- ‘Licensing Update’, Solicitors Journal (16 June 2006) 771-73
- ‘Licensing Law Book Reviews’, Solicitors Journal (28 April 2006) 526-27
- ‘Criminal Liability for Underage Sales’, Licensing Review (January 2006) 11-15
- ‘Licensing reform: from order to chaos?’, Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law (December 2005) 406-19
- ‘Licensing Act 2003 in Force’, Solicitors Journal (18 November 2005) 44-5
- ‘Licensing Law Five Book Reviews’, Solicitors Journal (10 June 2005) 701-02
- ‘Local Authority Hearings Under The Licensing Act’, Solicitors Journal (26 April 2005) 498-99
- ‘The Licensing Act 2003: Liberal Constraint’, Modern Law Review (2005) 68(2) 268-85
- ‘The Appeals Process under the Licensing Act 2003’, Solicitors Journal (28 January 2005) 109-10
- ‘Licensing Update’, Solicitors Journal (19 November 2004) 42-44
- ‘Local authority decision-making and the Licensing Act 2003’, Local Governance (2004) 30(2) 55-66
