Niche/Specialist - Licensing Law Firm of the Year in England
Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP Thomas O’Maoileoin Partner Tel: +44 20 7042 0414 tomaoileoin@tandtp.com www.tandtp.com
Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP, a leading licensing law firm in the
In the past 12 months, Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP has assisted
UK, was founded by Alun Thomas and Thomas O’Maoileoin in
the Jamie Oliver Foundation. The firm applied for street trading
entertainment; betting, gaming & lotteries; regulatory; and planning.
licences to operate on the 15th of every month to celebrate the charity’s
2011. The firm provides services in the following areas: alcohol &
Partners Alun Thomas and Thomas O’Maoileoin have built up their
licences outside its restaurant on Nile Street, as well as temporary 10th anniversary.
Another success of the past 12 months was the launch of the Buddha
reputation over several decades, and are regarded as market leaders
Bar in Knightsbridge, London. The firm obtained the necessary licence
that review the strengths and strategies of law firms in more than 90
of Buddha Bar, said: “Alun has worked with the Buddha Bar brand in
both by their peers and the industry. Legal 500, a series of guides
countries, describes them as ‘out in front’ and ‘very efficient’, and praises their ‘practical approach’.
Thomas and O’Maoileoin’s practice in London’s Covent Garden
continues to act for the leading licensed premises and operators
in the UK. These include: Westfield; McDonalds Restaurants Plc.; The Café Royal; The Corinthia Hotel; The Royal Household; The
and continued to advise when the bar opened. Tarja Visan, co-founder
London since 2004. He is our ‘go to’ lawyer on licensing and planning. He fixes a myriad of things and always produces.”
Additionally, Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP has advised Imperial
College London, King’s College London, University of the Arts and University College London on all of their licensing issues.
The firm also advises Robin Birley in regard to 5 Hertford Street,
Royal Parks; Peter Stringfellow; Robin Birley; Hawksmoor; Burger
the successful members’ club in Shepherd Market. Thomas & Thomas
Garrick; Dukebox; Boujis; Imperial College London; and the Royal
despite very substantial local resistance. Mr Birley noted: “I instructed
& Lobster; Polpo; Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen; The Groucho Club; The Ballet School.
Thomas O’Maoileoin, former barrister, is recognised by his col-
leagues for his skills as a lawyer and as an advocate, as well as a
“leader in the field” of licensing and regulatory law. He is a solicitor, solicitor advocate and barrister in England and Wales, along with
a solicitor in Ireland and Northern Ireland. He is also a freeman of
the City of London, and a freeman and liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators.
Alex Langlands Pearce, co-founder of Cirrus Inns, a gastro pub
boutique hotel chain, commented: “I have worked with Thomas
Partners LLP obtained a 3:00 am licence and planning permission Alun in favour of another firm of solicitors after we lost our first
licence application. He negotiated a settlement of the appeal and subsequently obtained the planning permission. 5 Hertford Street would
not currently be open without the assistance of Alun and his team and I will be forever grateful to him for that.”
Furthermore, the firm continues to advise Soho Estates, as well
as Shaftesbury PLC, who own a substantial proportion of West End
freehold property, in relation to licensing strategy and in relation to particular properties.
Simon Quayle, Shaftesbury PLC director, added: “Alun has acted
O’Maoileoin for a number of years and he is the guru of licensing.
for us on all licensing issues for the past 15 years, and he advises us on
team are the very top of their game and the best in the UK.”
that the necessary licences and consents are not lost or imperilled.
Nothing is too much trouble and nothing too difficult. He and his
Matt Hermer, CEO of Ignite Group – operators of Boujis, Eclipse,
strategy across our 300 restaurant and leisure holdings, and also ensures “His complete understanding of our own strategies and aspirations
Bumpkin and Wyld, has used the services of Thomas O’Maoileoin
for all of our villages, has helped to transform these areas into exciting
always found him to be efficient, friendly and perhaps more impor-
perfectly complementing the eclectic fashion and lifestyle retail mix.”
for various licensing work for more than a decade. He said: “I have tantly, particularly efficient. I couldn’t recommend him and Alun highly enough.”
leisure destinations in their own right, and in Carnaby and Seven Dials Paul Whalan, Soho Estates, describes the firm as “small enough to
care but large enough to cope.”
Partners Alun Thomas and Thomas O’Maoileoin have built up their reputation over several decades, and are regarded as market leaders both by their peers and the industry. 2013 Legal Awards
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