James Rankin

With over thirty years’ experience in licensing and regulatory work, James Rankin is widely regarded as one of the leading licensing juniors in the country. He has been ranked as a star junior by Chambers and Partners since 2006. He appears up and down the country on behalf of applicants and objectors. He also represents the police and local authorities on reviews of licences and on appeals from local authority decisions. James has extensive Betting and Gaming experience. He appeared on behalf of The Hippodrome in their successful appeal to license their London casino premises. He advises on Internet gaming, together with lotteries and competitions and firearms regulation. He has been involved in many of the leading licensing cases involving judicial review of decisions by local authorities and magistrates. He was briefed by The LGA in Hemmings when it reached The Supreme Court. He appeared for North Kesteven DC and successfully resisted a judicial review by Chancepixies of its decision to grant a commercial dog breeder’s licence to a puppy farm. His clients are high profile and varied. They include the major operators such as Wetherspoons, Youngs, Whitbreds and Greene King, together with the smaller operators. He has represented Aspinall's Casino, Ladbrokes, Corals, Peter Stringfellow, The Mayor of London, The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, The Chief Constables of Northamptonshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, West Midlands Kenwood House, and Garsington House. He has also been involved in the licensing of large-scale music festivals. He has appeared both for and against operators of SEV establishments on new grants as well as renewals.

Year of Call: 1983; Buckingham University LLB (hons).