A COVENTRY licensing lawyer has gained a greater insight into the industry after qualifying to become a licensee himself.

Neil Ireland, partner and licensing expert at Button Legal LLP, in Warwick Road, Coventry, has earned the British Institute of Innkeeping (BIIAB) Level 2 Award for Personal Licence Holders, and now holds a Personal Licence which enables him to sell, or authorise the sale of alcohol, in premises which hold a Premises Licence.

Mr. Ireland said the qualification added another dimension to his knowledge of licensing issues and would enable him to appreciate matters even better from his clients’ side of their business.

“Rather than purely advising clients on black letter law relating to licensing issues, this qualification has given me a fresh perspective in seeing things from my clients’ point of view,” he said.

“It’s one of the most interesting courses I have taken and the additional industry insight it has given me will be invaluable, putting myself in the position of my clients. It also entitles me to be named as a Designated Premises Supervisor on a Premises Licence, as well as enabling me to apply for Temporary Event Notices on a client’s behalf.”

Button Legal was set up in 1988 and offers a range of services including conveyancing, commercial property, landlord and tenant issues and debt recovery, family & matrimonial and Probate and Administration of estates law. It now has eight lawyers and seventeen support staff.