Partners
Associate membership of the WLA is open to a wide range of suppliers and service providers to the licensed retail trade. Associate members not only help to support our campaigning activities, they also help to inform our submissions and advice to members.
The following suppliers also provide members with access to dedicated support and advice in their specific field. All members benefit from up to 1 hours free advice over the telephone from each of our partners (this is not available to existing clients of any partner).
Licensing - JGR
Julian Skeens is Honorary Solicitor to the Westminster Licensees Association and Head of the Licensing Department at Jeffrey Green Russell. He writes “In my view Westminster is the entertainment capital of the world, there is nothing anywhere else in the world to equal it. I care passionately about our industry and became worried as it came under what I perceived as a concerted attack from the statutory authorities. I took it personally when my clients, whom I knew to be first rate operators, were referred to as "cowboys".
“We needed to do something about it. We needed to join together because collectively we would be stronger; we needed to share ideas about best practice and we needed to redress the false image of our industry. So when I was approached by friends and colleagues to set up the WLA I jumped at the chance and I am very proud of the significant achievements that we have made and that our voice is now being heard. We have a long way to go but at least we've started on that path and I know that together we will be stronger”.
Perhaps it is because of this passionate approach to licensing that he has been able to put together the preeminent licensing team at Jeffrey Green Russell. Recent successes include the Movida judgment where, on appeal, the Magistrate’s Court granted a 7 a.m. licence in the so-called Stress Area despite vehement opposition from both Westminster City Council and the Police.
We are delighted to announce that Julian Skeens and his team at Jeffrey Green Russell provide a full hour’s legal advice free of charge to members. Should you wish to make use of this facility call Julian on 020 7339 7018, or click here.
Employment - Clarks Legal LLP
Clarkslegal is a leading
commercial law firm with a proven track record across the
UK and overseas, with clients ranging from small to medium-sized
enterprises to multi-nationals. Clarkslegal
is particularly recognised for the number of international
and FTSE 250 clients who have chosen to use the firm and is
fully committed to a strategy based on forging proactive relationships
with its clients. With its brand values of being user friendly,
up to date and to the point, Clarkslegal
is well placed to stay one step ahead of a rapidly evolving
market place, listening carefully to its clients, responding
quickly to their needs and providing clear and constructive
commercial advice.
Clarkslegal LLP offer WLA members the opportunity to subscribe to its online employment service, Employmentbuddy, for a discounted rate of £300 plus VAT for the first year’s subscription. You can also download three FREE taster Employmentbuddy factsheets, and access employment law articles, by clicking the logo above.
Planning - RadcliffesLeBrasseur
Trevor Standen who was called to the Bar
in 1976 and has dealt with 600 planning applications and appeals
is the Planning Adviser to WLA via RadcliffesLeBrasseur.
the well established Westminster law firm. He acts for many
well known restaurateurs and bar operators. Trevor deals with
many cases in the City of Westminster where he personally
knows many of the officers and elected members. He was recently
responsible for successfully judicially reviewing Westminster
City Council on behalf of a bar operator, quashing a planning
permission granted to Derwent Valley Central Ltd.
Work Permits and Immigration - Visalogic
Based in London, Visalogic is a specialist provider of UK work permit and immigration services for the UK’s hospitality sector. As one of the UK’s leading immigration consultancies Visalogic offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in securing work permits for a variety of permanent hospitality positions.
As a company Visalogic prides itself on its ability to provide timely and accurate UK immigration advice tailored specifically to the hospitality industry. Additional services provided by Visalogic include free immigration compliance training, free ad-hoc consultations, and free UK visa eligibility assessments.
Visalogic is registered to the highest level with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), meaning that clients can feel secure in the knowledge that they will receive the correct advice and guidance at all times. For further details and to learn more about how Visalogic can assist your organisation, visit www.visalogic.net by clicking on the above logo.
The following are Associate Members of the WLA:
All Areas Security
Charles Wells
Davenport Lyons
Licence Consultants
Scottish & Newcastle Pub Enterprise
Shelley Sandzer
TSS Securities
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“The WLA provides exactly what responsible and entrepreneurial West End operators need – a persuasive case to the Council, police and other enforcers, timely and effective advice for operators and a forum for independents to meet and share views. I know I can rely on them to put my point of view across and defend my company’s interests but they are also a mine of information about all issues affecting the trade” - Alex Salussolia, Glendola Leisure 
