Lisa Gilligan
Leicester Office Managing Partner | Leicester
"Lisa Gilligan has been a beacon for us in guiding us through the tribulations of licensing laws with her clear explanation and advice. Lisa is a very accessible, down-to-earth and well-respected senior lawyer."
The Legal 500, 2025
Call: 0345 272 5723 Mobile: 0781 081 2019
About Lisa
Lisa is a highly experienced regulatory solicitor and advocate. She specialises in licensing and in broader complimentary regulatory areas including Health & Safety, Trading Standards and Food Safety/Labelling.
Lisa is an accomplished advocate, regularly appearing before a wide range of tribunals including Magistrates Courts and licensing committees nationwide.
She also acts for local authorities in relation to regulatory prosecutions, appearing at Magistrates Courts on their behalf. Acting for local authorities in this way to provide advocacy support allows Lisa unique and valuable experience of both sides of the enforcement fence.
Lisa is listed as a Recommended Lawyer and recognised as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500 (2025 edition) in Licensing.
Memberships:
- Association of Multiple Licensed Retailers
Contact Lisa
Call: 0345 272 5723
Mobile: 0781 081 2019
Notable work & expertise
Lisa advises in relation to health and safety matters both defending and prosecuting alleged breaches of legislation.
Recent Work
- Lisa acted on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council in relation to the prosecution of a national retailer, following a fatality arising from a workplace transport accident. The authority had never investigated/prosecuted on such a large scale and Lisa represented the local authority throughout the whole process – including Coroner’s Inquest and Court appearances.
Lisa’s regulatory experience has lead to expertise within the food sector; advising on a variety of food labelling, health & safety and regulatory matters within the sector.
Cases
- Regularly advising foreign companies entering the UK market in relation to legislative compliance with UK legislation.
- Advising and representing a local authority in relation to a food safety prosecution arsing from over 20 breaches of food hygiene and safety legislation. Lisa’s involvement from the outset included the drafting of Information and Summons through to representation at Court to secure a conviction.
Lisa has over 17 years licensing experience and has worked for a wide range of clients including pubs, supermarkets, restaurants, nightclubs and off-licences. Lisa Gilligan leads the practice and advises on all aspects of licensing. Clients comment that she gives “clear and concise advice that is easy to understand” and is “creative in finding the best solution”.
Recent Work
- Lisa acts for a national supermarket chain in relation to all licensing matters, including premises licences, personal licences, DPS changes and age-restricted sales. The ambitious growth programme of the organisation requires a pro-active involvement from Lisa, to ensure the efficient running of the licensing administration.
- Acting as legal advisor regularly to Charnwood Borough Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council and Erewash Borough Council. By acting in this role, Lisa works as an additional advocacy support to the legal teams for licensing and trading standards prosecutions, as well committee hearings.
- Advising a Premises Licence Holder in relation to the loss of a premises licence for late night premises, following the dissolution of a company. Lisa’s swift advice and involvement to secure temporary event notices and liaison with responsible authorities ensured that a new licence was secured with only the statutory delay. The licence was also effectively re-instated without the imposition of further onerous conditions and replicated the licence which had been in place for over 20 years. Thus avoiding the opportunity for responsible authorities to seek a heavily conditioned new licence within a city centre location.
- Freeths act for Aldi in relation to all of their licensing applications.
- Lisa’s team are responsible for the administration of the licensing support including premises licences, personal licences, DPS changes, APLH training and underage restricted sales.
- Aldi have had a well documented successful expansion throughout the UK with an estate currently over 700 stores.
Testimonials
"Lisa Gilligan leads the practice and advises on all aspects of licensing. Clients comment that she gives 'clear and concise advice that is easy to...
Client testimonial
"Lisa Gilligan's varied skill set encompasses the licensing of restaurants and stores, health and safety issues. She also has experience of handlin...
Client testimonial
"Lisa is 'praised by the market as an articulate and effective communicator with a firm grasp of licensing and regulatory law' and 'is very approac...
Client testimonial
"We work primarily with Lisa Gilligan who is extremely knowledgeable, capable and competent. Lisa has successfully represented our organisation on...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Lisa Gilligan offers exceptional service and is a pleasure to deal with."
The Legal 500, 2025
"Lisa Gilligan has been a beacon for us in guiding us through the tribulations of licensing laws with her clear explanation and advice. Lisa is a v...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Lisa Gilligan has helped us navigate several processes over the last couple of years. Lisa has made various recommendations to not only streamline...
The Legal 500, 2024
"Lisa Gilligan helped us successfully on a number of occasions. Lisa has an incredible way with people, not only the people she represents but also...
The Legal 500, 2024
"Lisa Gilligan was responsive, accountable, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. I would recommend her to anyone that asked and we do plan to utilize he...
The Legal 500, 2024
"Lisa Gilligan is an extremely talented licensing solicitor. Her work for our business has been outstanding. She is calm, friendly and professional...
The Legal 500, 2023
"Lisa Gilligan is hugely knowledgeable, trustworthy and approachable. Timely, accurate and commercially minded advice is always provided in a form...
The Legal 500, 2023
"Lisa Gilligan is an extremely talented licensing solicitor. Her work for our business has been outstanding. She is calm, friendly and professional...
The Legal 500, 2023
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