BLP scoops Hippodrome casino bid after Geoffrey Green loses first round
Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has won an appeal to turn the London Hippodrome into a casino in what could set a nationwide precedent.
Partner Craig Baylis advised Hippodrome Casino owner United Leisure Gaming, with Gerald Gouriet QC and James Rankin of Francis Taylor Buildings.
BLP took on the case after Jeffrey Green Russell lost the first round, with the firm focusing on whether there was a demand for the facility.
In the Court of Appeal BLP made a broader argument that the casino should be developed because it would be unique in London.
Baylis said: “The objectors were saying there’s a lot of spare capacity in London casinos, but our view was that was missing the point – they weren’t providing what the public wanted.”
Opposing the move were Gala Casinos, Grosvenor Casinos and London Clubs International.
Gala’s in-house team used Philip Kolvin of 2-3 Gray’s Inn Square; Joelson Wilson partner Suzanne Davies and Sir Richard Beckett QC of 3 Raymond Buildings acted for Grosvenor; MJ Kusel & Co partner Michael Kusler and Martin Heslop QC of 2 Hare Court represented London Clubs.
