Leading Northern Law Firm launches new Unit to deal with licensing issues

Crutes Law Firm is launching a specialist new Licensing Unit to handle the growing demand from local authorities and licensees throughout the North for expert advice on the imminent Licensing Bill.

The new Licensing Unit will be led by Ranj Matharu, who has just been appointed as a Partner with the firm. She will lead a team of seven people based at Crutes’ offices in Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Ranj Matharu has over ten years’ experience in dealing with licensing issues in and around the North East region. She spent ten years working for Dobermans on Teesside, before joining Short, Richardson and Forth in Newcastle in 2001.

Crutes has a high level of expertise in the area of licensing, and the firm is in an unusual position in the sector, as it is working with both local authorities and licensees from throughout the region to help them get to grips with the new law and the impact it will have.

Licensees throughout the UK have to act quickly if they wish their applications for extended licensing hours to be considered, as although the cut-off date is not until August 6 th, local authorities are expected to be flooded with applications as the deadline approaches. There is a real concern that those arriving late will simply be refused because of the sheer number of competing applications.

Ranj Matharu, Partner with Crutes Law Firm, said: “This new Bill is creating a lot of work for local authorities and licensees from right across the region. Local authorities are having to balance the needs of local communities with the increasing demand from licensees and a large section of the general public for extended opening hours, whereas many licensees are unaware that the deadline for the new law is now imminent and they are in danger of missing out on this opportunity unless they act quickly.”

She added: “When this law was first proposed, many people expected a flood of applications for 24-hour licenses, but the reality is proving much more subtle and complex than that. Crutes has established this new Licensing Unit to work with local authorities and licensees to help produce workable solutions that benefit everybody.”

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