I am delighted to announce that Luke Elford has today joined Woods Whur.
Luke is ranked as the Associate to Watch for Licensing by Chambers & Partners and as a Next Generation Lawyer by The Legal 500. He has previously been part of the highly regarded practice at Jeffrey Green Russell prior to joining TLT and has developed an excellent client base in London.
Luke specialises in all forms of alcohol and entertainment licensing and has a wide range of experience having previously worked for a London local authority. Luke is uniquely placed to advise clients from ‘both sides of the fence’ and Luke provides strategic and commercial advice helping clients to navigate the myriad of rules and regulations facing licensed premises. He qualified as a solicitor in 2012 and now represents a significant number of high-profile premises in London and around the UK. Luke is described as a “street-wise and up-and-coming licensing lawyer” whilst other commentators praise his “fantastic client service and dedication to the task.”
Luke will work out of our new London offices in Princelet Street which we have just moved into. These offices are operated by Fora Space who have been a client of ours for some time and I am delighted that we have moved into these fantastic offices.
Recent Highlights:
- Blakes Hotel – Luke acted for Blakes Hotel helping the hotel obtain a new 24 hour premises licence despite fierce objection from officers and local residents.
- Electric Shuffle London Bridge – Luke assisted the team behind Flight Club Darts in obtaining a premises licence at London Bridge station. With a site located in the cumulative impact zone and objections from 50 local residents Luke persuaded Southwark’s licensing sub-committee to grant a premises licence against its own policy.
- Jigsaw – Luke helped well-known retailer Jigsaw secure a premises licence in Westminster’s cumulative impact zone for its marquee premises at Carriage Hall in Covent Garden. Luke was able to convince Westminster to grant a licence with a bar element contrary to policy.
- 34 Surrey Street – called into action when a nightclub in Croydon was the subject of an application for summary review by the Metropolitan Police, Luke was able to convince the borough’s licensing sub-committee that their initial decision [to shut the premises] was wrong and to allow the premises to reopen during the crucial festive period. The sub-committee then agreed [at the full review hearing] that the premises could remain open operating under new management and conditions.
- Nobu Hotel Shoreditch – Luke represented Nobu in relation to their application for a premises licence in Hackney’s Shoreditch Special Policy Area. Luke was able to convince the sub-committee to grant a premises licence in spite of objections from the police, environmental health and local residents.