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UK

James Daglish

Partner

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

james.daglish@keystonelaw.co.uk

“James has proven invaluable to us, with his knowledge of the nuances of the licensing regime, through to his extended contacts in and around the sector.”

- Graeme Hawkins, Owner of The London Shuffle Club

James is a leisure and hospitality sector expert with over 20 years’ experience advising businesses within the sector on how to grow or consolidate their operations, with a particular specialism in real estate portfolio management including the acquisition and financing of sites. He also works with clients to ensure that their venues have all the relevant entertainment and alcohol licences in place, and that those licences are maintained and retained.

James’ recent work spans portfolio acquisitions and financing, restructurings, complex premises-licence strategies (including cumulative impact zones), and time-sensitive variations for launches and refurbishments.

 

Expertise

James advises on high-value site disposals and acquisitions, financings, lease grants, assignments, and surrenders. He also advises on property aspects of company acquisitions and disposals and property portfolio management.

Experience

  • Advised on the property aspects of a £232 million facility for a prime retail estate in Knightsbridge.
  • Acted on the roll-out of high-end retail units in one of London’s leading retail parades.
  • Advised on the acquisition of a prime mixed-use development site in Marylebone for £75 million, and the property aspects of the subsequent financing for over £100 million.
  • Advised and coordinated the real estate team on the corporate acquisition of a multi-site flexi office provider.
  • Over 15 years advising a family trust fund on its real estate investments.
  • Acted for the tenant of an anchor experiential site at London Bridge Station.

James advises clients on complex licensing applications, licence reviews and due diligence, including expedited proceedings and Cumulative Impact Zones.

Experience

  • Advised on serial successful licence applications in key London Cumulative Impact Zones, including Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, and Greenwich.
  • Advised on the grant of Soho Theatre’s premises licence for its new venue in Walthamstow.
  • Secured the premises licence for a signature new luxury hotel in the heart of Kensington.

James advises on residential transactions across throughout the UK. He has acted on landmark sales and purchases of prime London developments.

Experience

  • Led the team on a £34 million acquisition of one of the show townhouses at Chelsea Barracks.
  • Advised on the sale of all the plots at a high-value development in Marylebone.
  • Acted on a number of prime residential sales and purchases in Chelsea, Fulham, Clapham, Wandsworth, Epsom, and Reigate.

James is a leisure and hospitality sector expert with over 20 years’ experience advising on real estate and licensing matters. His clients include an extensive and wide range of restaurants, pubs, café chains, nightclubs, and investors.

Experience

  • Acted on all licensing matters for a chain of luxury country house hotels.
  • Advised on the roll-out of the Simmons Bars venues, the sale to private equity for £10 million, and the recent restructuring.
  • Acted on the successful expedited licence review for Ballie Ballerson.
  • Advised on the successful expedited licence review for Proud Cabaret Group.
  • Advised on two successful licence reviews for Simmons Bars Group.
  • Advised on licensing matters for Simmons Bars Group, The Steelyard, The Natural Kitchen, Proud Cabaret Group, and the London Shuffle Club.
  • Advised on the grant of Soho Theatre’s premises licence for its new venue in Walthamstow.
  • Secured the premises licence for a signature new luxury hotel in the heart of Kensington.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recognised by Best Lawyers UK for Licensing 2025

Recognised by The Legal 500 in Commercial Property: Corporate Occupiers 2022–2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Licensing 2020, 2021, 2023

Member of the Institute of Licensing

“James Daglish has proved to be very knowledgeable and has helped me a great deal with licensing on new sites and indeed was instrumental in the recent renegotiations with landlords due to Covid-19. He understands you are as a client are not a lawyer and so summarises the negotiations and what it means in a way that is easily understood. James has always been available when required even if it is just for clarity on a legal point or other matter. I have found him to be good value for the work done and have never felt overcharged.”

The Legal 500 2023

James qualified as a solicitor in 2004. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2020, he was a Partner in the Real Estate team and Head of Licensing at Goodman Derrick.