Roy is an excellent advocate with a strong, persuasive, and personable style.  He gets his messaging across to licensing committees in a calm and convincing manner. He is also very approachable and good with clients.”

The Legal 500 2024, Licensing

Roy accepts instructions in all areas of licensing. He is highly commended for his advocacy, legal knowledge, negotiating skills and approachable client-friendly manner.

He acts for individuals and small businesses as well as public authorities and international corporations throughout England and Wales. Clients include supermarket chains, convenience store operators, petrol companies, breweries, restaurant businesses, taxi companies and drivers, nightclub operators, national stadiums, race courses, festival organisers, police authorities, private individuals, local residents and licensing and planning authorities.

Roy writes and lectures extensively, regularly speaks at national conferences and provides training for local authorities and others.

Direct access

Prof Light is qualified to accept instructions direct from clients under the Bar Council’s Public Access Scheme under which members of the public may seek specialist advice and representation direct from him. For further information please contact my clerks.

Directory Quotes

Roy is exceptionally knowledgeable in licensing matters and is an exceptional advocate.”

Chambers UK 2024, Licensing

Roy acts for operators and licensing authorities across the country, regularly handling pub licence matters. ‘Roy is an excellent advocate. He always provides a timely response and is both accessible and approachable.’ ‘His many years’ experience in the sector shines through in the advice that he gives.’ ‘Roy offered very transparent advice which was easy to digest.’ “

Chambers UK 2023, Licensing

Roy is extremely familiar with licensing law and its application. He is practical, sensible, easy to contact, and his advice is authoritative and commercial. He has a great rapport with clients.”

Legal 500 2023, Licensing

Roy is excellent. He has a hands-on and no-nonsense approach, drills down to the crux of a matter and gets to grips with the details of a case extremely quickly. Clients warm to his very approachable and open manner.”

Legal 500 2022, Licensing

He has a very practical approach and goes the extra mile on matters to understand the issues and provide top-quality service to client. He is very personable, down to earth with clients and able to put clients at ease and explain in straightforward language the strengths and weaknesses of the matter in hand.”

CHAMBERS UK 2022, LICENSING

Roy is very approachable, and has key industry knowledge. He is one of the pre-eminent barristers in the field. ‘He quickly identifies the salient points and provides relevant and to-the-point advice.”

CHAMBERS UK 2021, LICENSING

Seminars & Events

  • Appointments:

    • Professor Emeritus, Bristol Law School, UWE
  • Qualifications & awards:

    • LLB, LLM (London), M Phil, PhD (Cantab)
  • Professional memberships:

    • Fellow of the Institute of Licensing
    • Member, Planning Law Bar Association
  • Additional information:

    Recent seminars/training include:

    • Institute of Licensing annual training conference, ‘Bias in licensing hearings: defining, addressing and avoiding’, Stratford upon Avon, (18 November 2021)
    • ‘Licensing Councillor Training Courses’, Institute of Licensing, held remotely (May, June & October 2021)
    • Institute of Licensing annual training conference, ‘the Gambling Act 2005’, held remotely (16-18 November 2020)
    • Webinar, ‘Licensing lockdown & release’, 20 September 2020
    • Webinar, ‘Licensing lockdown & release’, 20 September 2020
    • Institute of Licensing annual training conference, ‘the Crime & Disorder Licensing Objective’ and ‘the Fit & Proper Person Criterion in Taxi Licensing’, Stratford upon Avon (10 November 2019)
    • Local Government Law Conference, recovering costs in licensing appeals, Bristol (6 December 2018)
    • Institute of Licensing, avoiding and dealing with licensing appeals and the Portman Group Complaints Panel, Stratford upon Avon, (15-16 November 2018)
    • North Devon Council, avoiding and dealing with taxi licensing appeals, (27 September 2018)
    • Institute of Licensing, taxi licensing appeals, Leeds, (10 July 2018)
    • Institute of Licensing, taxi licensing appeals, Swindon, (26 April 2018)
    • Institute of Licensing annual training conference, licensing petrol stations and motorway service areas and licensing sexual entertainment venues, Stratford upon Avon, (16-18 November 2017)
    • Institute of Licensing, super strength beers, lagers & ciders,  Stratford upon Avon  (17 November 2017)
    • Institute of Licensing, Taxis: ‘fit & proper persons’, Stratford upon Avon, (16 November 2017)
    • Tri-Authority training day, taxis and Licensing Act 2003, Poole, (15 November 2017)
    • Tri-Authority training day, gambling and sex establishment licensing, Poole, (13 September 2017)
    • North Dorset District Council, licensing update, Dorchester (25 July 2017)
    • Borough of Poole, councillor training, Poole, (13 July 2017)
    • Isles of Scilly Council licensing training, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, (17 May 2017)
    • Institute of Licensing, The Police and Crime Act 2017 & Immigration Act 2016, Bristol (24 April 2017)
    • Institute of Licensing, The House of Lords Select Committee on LA 2003, Bath (9 December 2016)
    • Tri-Authority training day, taxis and Licensing Act 2003, Poole (15 November 2016)
    • House of Lords Select Committee on the Licensing Act 2003 invited oral evidence (1 November 2016)
  • Roy Light is regulated by the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and holds a current practising certificate. If you are not satisfied with the service provided, please read here.