Flint Bishop Limited

Licensing

Solicitor

Karen Cochrane specialises in licensing and regulatory law, facilitating a broad range of clients to carry out licensable activities at a variety of premises such as pubs, clubs, hotels, shops, hostels and outdoor festivals.

Her work involves advising on and submitting applications for new premises licences, major and minor variations of existing premises licences, personal licences and temporary event notices.

Karen has built strong working relationships with responsible authorities throughout the UK, maximising the probability of licensing applications being granted without a hearing and initiating positive and cost-effective relationships between her clients and the relevant authorities.

Representing clients at both standard and expedited licence reviews, Karen attends hearings all over England and Wales. She also represents businesses facing licensing appeals and individuals facing prosecution for licensing offences at the Magistrates Court.

She advises clients on regulatory matters relating to licensed premises such as noise abatement notices and subsequent prosecutions. She has also, on occasions, prosecuted for regulatory offences.

Experience

Before working in private practice, Karen worked in child protection, trading standards, litigation and licensing for local government, gaining extensive skills in advocacy.

Having experience of advising both licensing committees and licence holders provides her with a rare and distinct advantage over other licensing solicitors.

To ensure that she best understands the requirements and responsibilities of her licensing clients, Karen is a member of the Institute of Licensing and holds a personal licence and the BII Designated Premises Supervisor qualification.

Karen completed her Bachelor of Laws at Nottingham Trent University, where she also completed her Law Society Finals.

Institute of Licensing