Overview

Leisure and tourism covers a broad range of industries and businesses that face different opportunities and challenges. Our expert leisure lawyers provide a complete service to those clients. They understand that our clients’ customers want to have fun, and they understand the importance of the relationship between the leisure operator and their customers. Whether responding to an emergency, or delivering strategic or regulatory advice, our lawyers provide advice which is tailored to the needs of our clients in the leisure industry.

Our team has many years of experience in the different aspects of leisure and leisure law. We draw on the expertise of our colleagues in our corporate, real estate, tax, licensing, gambling, employment, health and safety, environmental teams to provide a complete service to any client in the industry.

Our leisure lawyers are regarded nationally as one of the leading firms in the industry, acting for major names in the trading and operation of camping, caravanning and holiday parks.

Areas of focus

Our expertise in leisure law includes the following:

  • Licensing.
  • Corporate transactions.
  • Property.
  • Health and Safety and Regulation.
  • Gambling.
Experience

Acting for Darwin Property Management on the acquisition programme of its Darwin Leisure Property Fund – a £300 million+ fund investing in holiday and caravan parks in the UK.

Advising a wide range of visitor attractions including The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Royal Armouries, Windsor Castle, The Royal Parks, The Grand Pier, Weston-super-Mare.

Acting for a number of industry-leading clients including The National Trust.

Acting for a number of leading hotel groups on the acquisition, disposal and operation of hotels.

Acting on the sale of The Garden and Leisure Group to Terra Firma as well as investment sales and purchases for Garden Centre Property Development and Trading Plc.

Advising a number of major sports stadia and internationally renowned racecourses on a range of property, corporate, regulatory, licensing and gambling matters.

Meet the team
Richard Read

Richard Read Partner

  • Head of Real Estate
  • International Real Estate
  • Hotels, Leisure and Tourism
Rupert Weston

Rupert Weston Partner

  • Corporate
  • Hotels
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
Matthew Sims

Matthew Sims Partner

  • Real Estate Services
  • Retail
  • Real Estate
Mark Shepherd

Mark Shepherd Partner

  • Head of Private Equity
  • Corporate
  • Healthcare
Headshot of Chris Seaton

Chris Seaton Senior Partner

  • Senior Partner
  • Employment
  • Partnerships
Helen Scott-Lawler

Helen Scott-Lawler Partner

  • Head of Food and Drink
  • Commercial
  • Intellectual Property and Media
Gary Soloman

Gary Soloman Partner

  • Head of Planning and Compulsory Purchase
  • Regeneration and Highways
  • Compulsory Purchase and Compensation
Ian Salter

Ian Salter Partner

  • Head of Nuclear
  • Head of Projects
  • Environment

What others say...

Its strength lies in the high degree of professionalism, expert legal knowledge and pragmatic approach combined with exceptional client care, back-up and resources.

Legal 500 2024

Key contact

Richard Read

Richard Read Partner

  • Head of Real Estate
  • International Real Estate
  • Hotels, Leisure and Tourism

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