Post published on February 12, 2026.

Two well-known licensing practitoners and partners in the Walker Morris Liquor, Betting & Gaming team have been granted Higher Rights of Audience’ by the Law Society, a qualification which will allow them to act as advocates and represent clients in all criminal and civil courts.rnrnPreviously, as solicitors, Andrew Woods and Paddy Whur were only able to appear before magistrates courts and on appeal in the crown court. rnrnThey have represented clients at virtually every one over the past fifteen years whilst developing a national practice.rnrnAndrew and Paddy said: ‘Higher rights of audience will allow us to represent clients before any court in England and Wales, including the High Court itself. There will be no need for us to instruct barristers – we think that will be hugely beneficial to our clients as it simplifies the whole process and gives them continuity of representation. rnrnWith two new pieces of legislation the leisure industry is looking to challenge legal interpretation at the highest level.’rnrnAfter applications to the Law Society outlining their extensive experience, Andrew and Paddy were assessed by a Law Society panel and immediately approved for the qualification.rnrnAs solicitor-advocates Paddy and Andrew are in an elite minority. There are approximately 120,000 solicitors in the UK, but less than 4000 of these have achieved higher rights of audience in the criminal courts, the civil courts or both.rnrnPaddy and Andrew head the Liquor, Betting & Gaming team in national law firm Walker Morris. Described by Chambers Directory 2008 as a ‘ground-breaking practice’, the team has achieved an enviable reputation for its licensing work, while Paddy and Andrew themselves have been rated by Chambers Guide to The Legal Profession and the Legal 500 as joint number ones in their field.rnrnThey are described as ‘arguably the two leading betting and gaming solicitors in the country, whilst being friendly and personable’, which we at Licensing News wonder whether the two are mutually exclusive.rnrnWork undertaken by the Liquor, Betting & Gaming team includes: strategic advice; licensing advocacy; drafting technical documents for landmark developments; drafting primary legislation; training private operators and public bodies in all sectors of the licensing, betting, gaming and leisure industries; and working with tax and internet lawyers on compliance within the e-gaming sector.rnrnLicensing News congratulates them on their achievement.rn