Jonathan Smith

Poppleston Allen

Jonathan joined Poppleston Allen at the beginning of 1997 and has been a partner in the firm since April 2002. Jonathan became Managing Partner in 2006, succeeding Jeremy Allen in the role. The 2012 Chambers & Partners Guide describes Jonathan as 'forthright, an able communicator and a skilled negotiator' with a particular key strength in licensing reviews having resulted in excellent outcomes for clients. The Legal 500 Guide notes Jonathan as being 'particularly accomplished when it comes to complex cases". Prior to becoming a licensing specialist, Jonathan practised exclusively in commercial and corporate law but he is now firmly established as a national licensing advocate, having developed a recognised expertise in the field of late-night licensing and reviews of Premise Licences. Jonathan has dealt with over 150 licensing reviews all around the country. His experience includes dealing with a three day review where he ultimately retained the licence despite the police application for revocation. Jonathan regularly speaks at trade and professional conferences such as the Institute Of Licensing and the Paterson's Licensing Law Conferences. Enjoying excellent working relationships with authorities, he provides training on the Licensing Act 2003 and other related legislation to council officers, elected members and police forces. Jonathan is one of the key business drivers for the firm having attracted many new clients to the firm such as Bourne Leisure, County Estate Management, Domino's Pizza, House of Fraser, Jupiter Hotels, Little Chef, London Town Management Services Limited, Red Oak Properties, Greene King and Matalan. He continues to hold the in-house record for the longest hearing before a Licensing Committee which lasted 5 days (he was successful)!

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Children and alcohol offences under the Licensing Act 2003

Practice notes

This Practice Note covers offences involving children and alcohol under the Licensing Act 2003 (LA 2003). It also includes time limits for bringing prosecutions. The offences include the sale or supply of alcohol to children, allowing the sale of alcohol to children, persistently selling alcohol to children and purchasing alcohol by or on behalf of children. It covers who a 'person' is for the purposes of a prosecution, the meaning of 'relevant premises', 'unlawfully sold', 'licensed premises and permitted temporary activities', 'responsible person' and adducing evidence of unlawful sale. It also covers possible statutory defences for each offence, sentencing for each offence and possible alternatives to prosecution.

Corporate Crime

Summary of offences under the Licensing Act 2003

Practice notes

This Practice Note covers the offences that can be committed under the Licensing Act 2003 (LA 2003). It includes a summary of all of the offences contained in LA 2003, defences and maximum penalties, including offences relating to premises licenses, temporary activities and events licenses, personal licences, underage sale of alcohol, underage supply of alcohol to under 18 year olds and other general offences under the LA 2003.

Corporate Crime