Thomson Reuters names eight Keystone Law partners in its Stand-out Lawyers Guide 2026
Andrea James, Andrew Darwin & Anna McKibbin
Niall is a licensing, gambling, and regulatory specialist with over 20 years’ experience, advising on applications pursuant to the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005, and all associated compliance and regulatory matters. He regularly appears before the courts and sub-committees throughout England and Wales as an advocate. His expertise also encompasses advising on the impact of insolvency in respect to licensed premises. His clients include pub companies, restaurants, bars, hotels, nightclubs, off-licences, and events spaces.
Niall also advises on a wide range of regulatory matters connected to licensed premises including abatement notices and health and safety prosecutions.
Expertise
Niall is a gambling and regulatory specialist who advises on applications pursuant to the Gambling Act 2005 and all associated compliance and regulatory matters.
Experience
- Provided gambling law advice for the proposed purchase of a large UK casino group.
- Assisted with the attempted acquisition of a large UK casino operator by an EU operator.
- Advised numerous prize competition operators on the legality of their offers.
- Advised prize draw operators on lawful operations.
- Defended a client facing a serious UK Gambling Commission review citing numerous failings.
Niall is a licensing, gambling and regulatory specialist who advises hotel and hospitality clients on applications pursuant to the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005, and all associated compliance and regulatory matters.
Experience
- Successfully defended a London pub in a highly contested review application by local residents.
- Obtained new premises licences for a brewery, bar, and restaurant complex in Hackney Council’s Special Policy Areas.
- Obtained a new bar premises licence for an internationally recognised brand in Westminster’s West End Stress Area outside Core Hours.
- Varied 12 premises licences for a large brewery group to extend their hours.
- Applied for new licences for world-renowned The Hurlingham Club.
- Acted for The Other House (South Kensington) and Hotel Meudon (Cornwall) on obtaining first premises licences.
- Represented local residents objecting to a Richmond hotel extending its licence.
- Defended several health and safety prosecutions in East London.
- Represented a West Country client in a high-profile fire safety prosecution.
Niall is a licensing, gambling, and regulatory specialist who advises retailers on applications pursuant to the Licensing Act 2003, Gambling Act 2005, and all associated compliance and regulatory matters.
Experience
- Acted on behalf of Carluccio’s in respect of its sale to Boparan Group.
- Licensed the UK division of a large group of Spanish jamon shops.
- Represented a new upmarket corner shop concept on their rapid roll-out.
- Obtained alcohol licences for a group of blowdry and updo bars across London.
- Successfully obtained new premises licences for an award-winning bar and restaurant group across the south coast.
- Obtained a premises licence for an axe-throwing venture despite high-profile opposition.
- Successfully pursued a professional negligence claim relating to advice given by an insolvency practitioner to a chain of pubs.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Chambers UK for Licensing 2019–2026
Recognised by The Legal 500 as a Leading Individual for Licensing 2019–2026
Recognised in The Legal 500 for Gaming and Betting 2019-2026
Recognised in The Legal 500 for Retail and Consumer 2026
Recognised by Best Lawyers UK for Licensing 2024–2025
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Licensing and Commercial Litigation 2019
“Niall is very experienced and he prepares cases very well. He has good judgement.”
Chambers UK 2026
“He is a breath of fresh air.”
Chambers UK 2025
“We instantly found Niall highly knowledgeable, but down-to-earth and ready to get to the crux of the matter.”
Chambers UK 2025
“Niall is a very well-regarded and knowledgeable licensing solicitor.”
Chambers UK 2025
“Provides excellent service and communication. He is an expert in his field.”
Chambers UK 2024
“Niall has been in the industry for many years and knows what makes a hospitality business tick. His legal advice inevitably addresses whatever the legal issue is, but it will be accompanied by a commercial assessment or commentary to put that advice into context.”
Chambers UK 2024
“Niall has an encyclopaedic knowledge of licensing law.”
Chambers UK 2024
“Niall McCann – vastly experienced in licensing matters with excellent judgment.”
The Legal 500 2024
“He was totally committed and his knowledge, experience and manner gave us real confidence in what we’re doing.”
Chambers UK 2023
“He's approachable, accessible and commercially minded. He is always ready to fight our corner when required.”
Chambers UK 2023
“Niall McCann is commercially and strategically astute and has superb interpersonal skills.”
Chambers UK 2023
“Niall McCann at Keystone Law has the great virtue of responsiveness, accessibility and a real understanding of the sector in which he works. He doesn’t try and bill for every single phone call; his approach to billing is clear, holistic and client focused.”
The Legal 500 2023
“I generally work with Niall McCann. He’s responsive, commercially minded in his advice, accessible, has his ear to the ground (and therefore alert to developments in the industry) and is well known to licensing authorities. He has a great down to earth approach, very knowledgeable on his subject, but practical in his advice. Strongly recommended.”
The Legal 500 2023
“He is always available, and his legal and commercial advice have been invaluable. He has a quick-thinking brain and is a first-rate advocate.”
Chambers UK 2022
“His advice has a strong commercial element to it; he gives full and correct legal advice but he is a lawyer with his feet firmly planted on the ground and understands the sector we operate in and the challenges we face.”
Chambers UK 2022
“My go-to licensing lawyer is Niall McCann. Niall has excellent knowledge and experience of licensing, is well known to the licensing authorities and always delivers sound and timely advice. Particularly with the challenges of Covid, Niall has been wonderfully proactive about keeping us up to date with changes in the guidelines, etc which affect our restaurants.”
The Legal 500 2022
“Niall has a wealth of knowledge on the topic and his experience and contacts are invaluable. His advice is always framed within the relevant legal framework, but where he makes a difference is his local knowledge and the strategic input. He is very approachable, accessible and helpfully proactive when dealing with applications.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Whether taking on big or small cases, he handles it with poise, professionalism and calm.”
Chambers UK 2021
“Achieves ‘excellent results’, especially when advising nightclubs, off-licences and events.”
The Legal 500 2021
“Niall McCann’s advice and work is always of the highest quality which yields excellent results.”
The Legal 500 2021
“He has exceeded expectation every time. He has a very level head and calm way of dealing with every situation.”
Chambers UK 2020
“Niall is very approachable, has a good sense of humour and is a first-rate strategist.”
Chambers UK 2019
Niall qualified as a solicitor in 2003. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, he worked at the following firms:
- Joelson
- Reed Smith