Marcus is a specialist licensing and regulation barrister of over ten years’ call. He has particular expertise in dealing with premises licensing, with a distinct focus on the hospitality and leisure sector, and the regulations associated with it. In addition, Marcus has a wealth of experience in advising clients at the early stages of the development of new premises.
Marcus also provides regulatory compliance services such as audit, system development and fail-safe reporting structures. He excels at solving issues found on review applications to the satisfaction of both the authorities and the licence holder, so that the licensing objectives and business viability can be promoted.
Marcus has helped save our licence and we are so grateful for his pragmatic approach and the way he professionally negotiated with the officers on our behalf
Licensee in Westminster, name withheld
Marcus has been excellent and his commitment to ensuring we get the best possible advice really shows by the result we achieved. It really felt like a team approach.
Mr David Tunmer, Central London Licensee
Marcus is a very experienced licensing barrister who trained with the best specialist lawyers around and continues to shine in this field. He has worked on some of the top tier licensing cases of recent years and is a real asset to any team.
Mr Gary Grant, Counsel
(Recognised in Chambers Guide and Legal 500)Marcus has a great knowledge of licensing and regulatory law in general. His work on contentious cases, protecting clients who are under fire from licensing authorities, council officers and interested parties, is first rate.
Ms Saima Hanif, Counsel
(Recognised in Chambers Guide and Legal 500)
Expertise
- Premises licensing under the Licensing Act 2003 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982.
- Regulatory advice in relation to commercial disputes and non-contentious commercial negotiations.
- Consideration of evidence for and against operators in licensing applications and reviews, often instructing expert witnesses and drafting witness statements.
- Leading meetings with Local Authority and police officers with a view to maintaining successful relationships, avoiding proceedings and protecting clients’ assets through pre-emptive action.
- Defence of regulatory prosecutions brought against leisure and hospitality operators.
Experience
Education
- Advised on the successful appeal of an expulsion from a leading public school.
- Advising parents on school safeguarding issues.
- Advising on SEN matters and reasonable adjustment requirements.
- Advising clients on multiple allegations of assault and bullying.
- Successfully defending an award-winning multi academy CEO against safeguarding allegations, including a successful (and rare) appeal by way of judicial review against a case management decision of the regulator (adopted by the SOS Education).
Licensing and Gambling
- Advised the representative of a high-net-worth international client with regard to licensing issues prior to the multimillion-pound purchase of a landmark London property.
- Worked to resolve a dispute between a client and a high-profile ‘celebrity’ friendly premises in Mayfair and residents surrounding the venue, protecting the valuable Premises Licence.
- Worked to secure late night licences in the heart of Westminster City Council’s “stress area” (e.g. the iconic 50 St James’s and the successful post-production house, Molinaire, of ‘The King’s Speech’ fame).
- Took a leading role in the 24-hour licensing of several iconic international hotels in Central London Cumulative Impact Policy Areas.
- Advised on numerous review applications in Westminster and each time found solutions that did not then require the licence to be revoked or an appeal to be made, thereby saving clients significant costs and ensuring business continuity.
- Assisted in successfully resisting Westminster City Council’s Judicial Review of the Movida decision [2008] EWHC 1202(Admin). The subject of the Judicial Review was a landmark case under the Licensing Act 2003 establishing “exceptional circumstances” to a cumulative impact policy through the quality of the premises management proposal. The defence of this decision was on the radar of the licensing world.
- Successfully obtained a premises licence to show films and serve alcohol for independent arts cinema The Garden Cinema, located in Camden’s Cumulative Impact Policy area.
- Assisted an adult mini golf chain to obtain a premises licence in one of Islington’s Cumulative Impact zones.
- Advised Kindred Concepts on all aspects of licensing relating to the launch of a new Formula 1 competitive socialising experience in London. Also advised on the expansion of the concept across the UK.
- Supported the client with day to day advice on Licensing issues relating to the growing number of grocery delivery units in the UK.
- Provided advice relating to a regeneration project in the redevelopment and restoration of a former shopping centre. The project will protect the site’s heritage and enhance the retail offer, whilst also helping to create a pedestrian-friendly Queensway
- Successfully secured a number of licences for the largest live development in Nine Elms for Thames City. This is a landmark redevelopment project that includes a newly created Park. It will also house a prestigious Hotel
- Provided licensing advice in relation to extending the premises licence at a contested hearing. This was an application in a highly contested area with significant local residential opposition
- Successfully applied for and obtained a new Sexual Entertainment Venue Licence against strong residential opposition. This is the newest SEV Licence in the Westminster Stress Area and has allowed what was once a troubled venue that had its SEV Licence revoked
- Secured an increase in hours against the Westminster Stress area policy for a 3am flagship restaurant. This is one of the rare grants against the licensing policy that started with a core hours premises licence and now the restaurant is able to trade to 3am
- Secured a new premises licence for the multimillion-pound redevelopment of one of Mayfair’s prime new development locations with an iconic 1 Berkeley Street address. Additional assistance was provided with the licensing strategy in respect of the proposed development and secured a new hotel premises licence for the hotel.
- Assisted Gaucho with their expansion plans across the country including new licenses and variations for Cardiff, Liverpool, and Covent Garden. Some of the applications were located in Special Policy Areas where the presumption was to refuse.
- Advised on the new Shiva Hotel, a development of a new 199-bedroom luxury lifestyle hotel in Marylebone, London. The premises was on the former brutalist-era Welbeck Street Car park and a new licence was required.
- Advised and represented world-leading boutique hotelier in making a successful Application to permanently extend use of highly contentious courtyard area.
- Advising and representing leading Covent Garden hotel in obtaining policy-beating later hours.
- Advising and representing leading hospitality entrepreneur group in opening new Pool House brand at 100 Liverpool Street.
- Advising and representing developer/owner of 56 Curzon Street, Mayfair in licensing of prime hospitality unit.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by Chambers UK 2025 for Licensing
“Marcus is particularly good at heavily contested reviews, appeals and applications.”–Chambers UK 2025
“He has an excellent licensing practice.”Chambers UK 2025
“He is incredibly pragmatic too, and very commercial.”Chambers UK 2025
“Marcus has an exceptional understanding of the nuances of legal arguments.“Chambers UK 2025
Acknowledged by Chambers 2025 as a barrister specialised in licensing and regulation, and represents leading bars and nightclubs in London and nationally. He has extensive experience in obtaining grants against stress area and cumulative impact zone policies.
Recognised by The Legal 500 2025 as Recommended for Licensing
“Marcus Lavell is rapidly making a major name for himself in licence applications and appeals both large and small. Works tirelessly and effectively in the most complex of matters. An excellent reputation, especially in the toughest licence reviews before Westminster and other London licensing authorities.” The Legal 500 2025
“Marcus Lavell has amazing technical knowledge and a good instinct for which points are worth fighting. He has a great understanding of the overlap with public law.” The Legal 500 2025
Recognised by Chambers UK 2024 for Licensing
“Marcus keeps in contact with us and he goes above and beyond to get the best possible outcome. He is always available and responsive.” Chambers UK 2024
“Marcus is very organised and has a detailed understanding of how licensing works.” Chambers UK 2024
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Licensing (2021-2024)
“Truly outstanding. Excellent knowledge in this area, great client skills and has a good instinct for novel legal points. He really understands the cross-over between licensing and public law.” The Legal 500 2024
“Marcus Lavell provides superb litigation support in difficult matters.” The Legal 500 2024
“Marcus Lavell is inventive and assiduous.” The Legal 500 2023
Recognised by Chambers UK 2023 for Licensing
“One of the best thinkers in the whole of licensing, he is a very clever and ingenious lawyer.” Chambers UK 2023
“Marcus Lavell has ensured we are properly prepared and confident. He has been a huge support and help in ensuring we future-proof the business.” Chambers UK 2023
“Marcus Lavell is brilliant at client care, innovative thinker, good with licensing authorities and carefully considered in all he does.” The Legal 500 2022
“Marcus Lavell offers great knowledge of the industry and a good sense for the best points in a case. Excellent on public law matters too.” The Legal 500 2022
“Marcus Lavell has real in-depth knowledge of the licensing industry and a strong understanding of the public law principles which apply to licensing matters.” The Legal 500 2021
“Marcus Lavell is an excellent young licensing practitioner. Very industrious and tenacious.” The Legal 500 2021
Marcus holds the Freedom of the City of London
Career
Marcus qualified as a barrister in 2008. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2018, he worked at the following firms:
- Gregg Latchams Solicitors
- Jeffrey Green Russell Solicitors