Event Date & Time 28 April 2010 10:00 am - 05:00 pm

Venue

Radisson Blu Hotel
80 High Street
The Royal Mile
Edinburgh
EH1 1TH

Speakers

Mr Robert Skinner practised in the field of commercial, licensing and employment law as a partner of Dorman, Jeffrey & Co (now part of Dundas & Wilson). Since calling he has gained substantial expertise in the field of liquor, betting gaming and lotteries and Civic Government licensing. He regularly appears at licensing boards throughout the country and has conducted countless licensing appeals both in the Sheriff Court and the Court of Session. He has acted for most of the major companies in these fields.

Mr Scott Blair is an advocate who practises in the field of public law. He has considerable experience of both licensing litigation and the work of Licensing Boards. He is widely published in the public law and human rights field. Scott is currently heavily involved in the training of public and private sector practitioners on the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005. In 2007 Scott was invited to sit on the Law Society of Scotland Licensing Law Sub-Committee.

Mr John Loudon of Loudons Liquor Licensing and Gambling Consultancy is a Consultant to Lindsays and has a broad range of industry experience over the past 35 years in the Hospitality and Leisure sector with a focus on liquor licensing, betting and gaming. John chairs the Law Society's sub committee on Liquor Licensing and is Scottish legal adviser, to British Hospitality Association and Scottish Beer and Pubs Association.

Mr Gary Cox is Head of the Scottish Government Alcohol and Knives Licensing Team. He has responsibility for implementing licensing legislation and working with Ministers on the development of licensing policy. Gary is currently responsible for the Alcohol Bill including the Scottish Government’s minimum pricing policy. Prior to his current role Gary worked on various parts of the Scottish Executive’s Public Service Reform agenda.

Mr Tony Dawson is the Managing and Senior Partner of James & George Collie. Tony has undertaken licensing work since the late 1970's and has been involved in most of the high profile licensing work in Aberdeen in the last ten years. He acts for many local licensees and is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in Licensing Law.

Mr Derek McGowan is the Senior Licensing Standards Officer for the City of Edinburgh Council, leading a team of 7 LSO’s. He has worked in Edinburgh since 2000, gaining his Diploma in Trading Standards in 2002, and licensing paralegal qualification in 2008. Derek sits on the Scottish Government Age Restricted Sales Enforcement Group and the Edinburgh Licensing Forum, and currently Chairs the National Licensing Standards Officer liaison group.

Ms Mairi Millar is Legal Manager for Glasgow City Council’s Licensing section and also Clerk to the City of Glasgow Licensing Board. Mairi has played a pivotal role in steering the Glasgow Board through the challenges posed by the licensing transitional period and in setting out its course for the future regulation of liquor licensing in the City.

Mr Stuart Watt is Commercial Director of Belhaven Pubs. Stuart has enjoyed a career in pubs spanning from 1983 to the present day involving site & area management, operations planning and managing the licensing transition for 2500 pubs in England with the Spirit Group. As Commercial Director, he is responsible for leading all the support functions covering a myriad of disciplines including purchasing & marketing, training & recruitment, audit, food, health & safety, machines, buildings & projects and of course licensing.