Licensing lawyers and London betting and gaming lawyers, meet our team – Ince licensing solicitors
Our Licensing Team is led by Philip Somarakis, Partner and Head of Regulatory Solutions based in London. Philip has over 20 years of post-qualification experience and has appeared in over 100 contested licensing hearings before Licensing Committees and in the Magistrates Courts for clients ranging from multi-site restaurants, convenience stores, stately homes hosting music festivals, and breweries. Philip has also successfully defended licence holders in criminal proceedings for various licensing and consumer-related offences.
Philip is supported by Joanna Onisiforou who is a qualified Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and a specialised lawyer in Property Litigation and Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing.
For detailed profiles of the team, click on the links below:
- Philip Somarakis – Partner, Head of Regulatory Solutions
- Joanna Onisiforou – Chartered Legal Executive
- Alex Matheson – Solicitor
Our London Gaming Team is led by Andrew Cotton, Director of Betting and Gaming. Andrew’s key specialisms are in betting & gaming, liquor licensing and regulatory law. He has over 30 years’ experience in the field, including five years as in-house counsel at the Rank Group. Andrew advises on all aspects of the UK’s gambling licensing regime and assists clients with their applications to the UK Gambling Commission for both remote and non-remote operating licences and premises licences. He also advises on exempt forms of gambling, including land-based entitlements, lotteries, prize competitions and free draws.
Also in the Team is Tony Coles. Tony is renowned in the leisure industry for his specialist knowledge of gaming and betting law.
Tony regularly lectures to an international audience on gaming issues and is a frequent contributor to gaming law periodicals and journals.
In addition to being the Past President of International Masters of Gaming Law, Tony is the author of the UK chapter of the Internet Gaming Report, and a member of the Editorial Board of Gaming Law Review and Economics.
Alex Ktorides also assists on regulatory issues in amongst others, the gaming sector. He deals with anti-money laundering, sanctions, bribery and corruption, defence to investigations and responding to unauthorised visits and any criminal and/or civil aspects arising. Alex also takes the lead for ethics and risk management functions across Gordon Dadds Group plc, for which he is the MLRO, Head of Legal Practice, and reportable to the board.
New to the Team is Alex Matheson. Alex specialises in advising clients operating in a range of sectors on cyber security and technology related commercial contracts and regulatory matters. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he spent over ten years working in the commercial software industry. His background enables him to understand the complex issues that his clients face and, through an approach of rigour and precision, reach the best possible outcome. He has trained as a barrister and as a solicitor with higher rights (he practises as a solicitor with higher rights).
In addition, we have an expert Gaming Team based in Gibraltar, also with a UK focus.
For detailed profiles of the London Gaming team, click on the links below:
- Andrew Cotton – Director of Betting and Gaming
- Tony Coles – Consultant
- Alex Ktorides – Partner
- Alex Matheson – Solicitor
- Andrew Tait – Partner (Gibraltar)
- Peter Howitt – Partner (Gibraltar)
For more information
For more information about using our professional services for a new licence or an application to vary an existing licence, please get in touch either by telephone, email or our website enquiry form. One of our team would be delighted to speak to you and provide you with a fixed fee bespoke to your needs.
