Keystone recruits high profile Licensing Team from Gordon Dadds

Keystone Law has welcomed barrister Gareth Hughes and solicitor Andrew Wong who join the firm’s first rate Licensing Team. They will be assisted by Darren O’Leary who will help manage and spearhead the Applications Team.

Regularly featured in both Chambers and the Legal 500 directories, the team brings a plethora of impressive clients from all over the country to ensure that Keystone will be at the forefront of licensing law.

Gareth Hughes is one of the most recognised barristers in licensing who focuses his practice, largely, around advising the hospitality and entertainment sectors, on both licensing and planning matters. He also regularly acts as an advocate, on behalf of clients, before licensing committees all over the country and on appeal to the Magistrates Court, having dealt with cases right up to Court of Appeal and the House of Lords on major points of law. His clients include Southbank Centre, Gaansavort Hotel, Grange Hotels and Pho restaurants.

Andrew Wong is an established top tier licensing lawyer. Andrew’s career has seen him work on helping larger companies manage their portfolios or helping independents to push the market.Andrew has worked with some of the finest barristers and silks across in the country, on some of the highest profile cases. His portfolio includes the likes of Tate Galleries, Chiltern Firehouse, Gaucho, Barworks, and Alan Yau. Where firms do not have a licensing department, they regularly ask Andrew to advise their clients on the best licensing strategy.

Both Andrew and Gareth will be joining ex-colleague Robert Sutherland with the aim of building one of the most versatile and slick licensing departments in London.

Completing the team is Darren O’Leary who will be joining the excellent Angela Message as a Licensing Coordinator and will help manage and spearhead a team of paralegals.Darren was a senior licensing officer at Westminster Council and has experience at two other well established London licensing firms.

James Knight, founder and Managing Director of Keystone Law commented:

“We are delighted to welcome Gareth, Andrew and Darren who will, each, make superb additions to our growing team, as well as help give our clients a competitive edge in the market.”