SOUTH Coast law firm Lester Aldridge has acquired a specialist licensing and regulatory law team ahead of new legislation.

Julia Palmer, Heath Thomas and Karen Clarke have joined the established licensing practice at LA, to date led by Colin Patrick.

They have joined from SFI Group (formerly Surrey Free Inns) whose portfolio includes includes the brands Slug and Lettuce, Litten Tree and Bar Med.

SFI decided to outsource its legal work after a review.

The team will now deal with regulatory work at LA, and continue to offer a national service to SFI and other clients.

Julia Palmer was formerly a partner in Bournemouth law firm Fynn & Partners.

Before that she was a senior court clerk in Bournemouth.

"Whilst at SFI, her team was one of only a handful of in-house licensing departments dealing with all aspects of the process in the country," said an LA spokesman.

"This will give them a unique commercial advantage and a strong platform on which to build LA's licensing and regulatory business."

Licensing procedures are currently being overhauled and the new Licensing Act - to be administered by councils rather than the courts - will mean many more businesses having to comply with this new legislation.

It will affect not only those with liquor licences (including off-licences) , but also those with public entertainment licences, club registration certificates and night caf licences.

"They will now require exactly the same licences (premises and personal) as, for example, the pubs."

LA's managing partner Roger Woolley told the Daily Echo: "We have wanted to develop our licensing and regulatory practice for some time, and this is the ideal opportunity.

"With the new law scheduled to receive royal assent in June this really is perfect timing," he added.