Julian Skeens
Head of Department
Julian Skeens is head of Jeffrey Green Russell’s renowned licensing law group. A specialist in liquor licensing, public entertainment, betting, gaming, and lotteries, Julian has undertaken cases throughout the UK and Northern Ireland for over two decades. His reputation is as a creative and innovative lawyer with an in-depth knowledge of the commercial realities of the industry, who fights hard on behalf of his clients.
Achievements include a number of firsts: licensing the first UK multi-activity centre, the first UK 24-hour Public Entertainment Licence and the UK’s largest licensed premises. Cases in which he is involved regularly make the headlines: Julian was lead lawyer on Spearmint Rhino’s recent successful defence to the revocation of its operating licences.
He is described by the independent legal press as being "at the cutting edge of licensing", as "successfully challenging legal views" and “a formidable opponent”. Julian is a prominent member of many of the licensing industry’s associations. He sits on the National Licensing Forum, and is a member of the Brewers’ & Licensed Retailers’ working party on law reform, a Companion Member of the British Institute of Innkeeping’s working party on the National Door Supervisors’ Certification, and was a member of the Initiative for Responsible Drinking. He is also a member of the Society for the Study of Gambling, and the International Association of Gaming Attorneys. Julian was voted into the top 50 of the most influential people in the bar industry by the readers of the Theme Magazine which is officially the leading magazine for the contemporary bar industry.
