CC, DWS, Nabarros, Norton Rose win bid roles for super-casino
Nabarros, Norton Rose win bid roles for super-casino" />Clifford Chance, Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS), Nabarro Nathanson and Norton Rose have scooped early roles in the race for work from the UK's first super-casino, with more waiting in the wings as the shortlist narrows.
Eight councils across the UK have been shortlisted as sites for the all-day Las Vegas-style gambling palace, which will be allowed to include 1,250 slot machines and a jackpot of £1m under the new Gambling Act.
The super-casino shortlist of councils, published recently by the Casino Advisory Panel (CAP), includes Blackpool, Brent, Cardiff, Glasgow, Greenwich, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. The Greenwich bid relates to the Millennium Dome, while the Brent bid relates to Wembley.
Blackpool, Brent and Greenwich are regarded as the frontrunners.
Brent's development partner is a joint venture between Quintain and Ceasars, advised by Nabarros and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom respectively. It is understood that Nabarros will advise the joint venture vehicle.
Greenwich has selected a joint venture between Kerzner International, a longstanding client of Norton Rose, and AEG Worldwide, with DWS providing planning advice.
Blackpool has not officially appointed a development partner, although the industry is rife with speculation that it will include bookmaker Ladbrokes, which would be good news for corporate adviser Slaughter and May.
Blackpool Council manager of legal services Christine Baines has instructed Clifford Chance head of environment Brian Hall as external counsel to advise on its bid to the CAP.
Brent is handling the submission to the CAP in-house, led by Terry Osborne.
Cardiff, Glasgow, Greenwich, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield councils have kept the legal work on their bids in-house up to the point of short-listing and are considering options for external counsel.
