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  • Licensing

Jo Soar

Senior Associate
Jo Soar is a Senior Associate on the Licensing Team at Rothera Bray.

Jo is a Senior Associate in Rothera Bray’s Licensing team and is based at our Nottingham office.

  • Licensing Law
  • Gambling Law
  • Nominated Tutor for the Award for Personal Licence Holders

Jo is an experienced Senior Associate with a demonstrated history of working with operators from the leisure, retail and hospitality industry. She is dedicated to delivering results with attention to detail, dealing with clients, contacts and colleagues in a professional, friendly and approachable manner.

Jo has significant experience in both public and private sector licensing. Jo advises on all aspects of alcohol and entertainment licensing law and gambling law for pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels, leisure complexes, off licences, golf and sports clubs, nightclubs, cinemas, theatres, outdoor events and festivals, wedding venues, entertainment venues, late night food venues and SEVs.

With clients ranging from small independent businesses to breweries and iconic sporting venues, Jo deals with applications for premises licences and variations, reviews, transfers, designated premises supervisor variations, temporary event notices and personal licences under the Licensing Act 2003.

Jo is also a British Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body (BIIAB) nominated tutor and delivers the Award for Personal Licence Holder’s qualification course on a monthly basis.

  • Jo started her career in licensing and gambling law in the public sector at Erewash Borough Council where she progressed to the Head of Licensing
  • In 2005, Jo joined a Nottingham-based solicitors firm to assist in setting up a new licensing department to deal with applications and advice under the new Licensing Act 2003 regime. Jo was promoted to Associate in 2017 and became Head of Licensing in 2019, and in 2020 became a Senior Associate.
  • Jo joined Rothera Bray as a Senior Associate in 2024
  • Jo is a BIIAB nominated tutor and has delivered the Award for Personal Licence Holder’s training course since 2006
  • Jo has been accredited for making contributions to Paterson’s Licensing Acts, the leading source of reference for licensing practitioners

Experience

Memberships and accreditations

  • Member of the Institute of Licensing
Institute of Licensing

Jo Soar Reviews

August 19, 2026
We worked with Jo to make changes to our premises licence, and I genuinely couldn’t recommend them more highly! Jo was always available to answer any questions we had and made what could have been a complicated process feel incredibly straightforward. They handled everything for us, kept us updated throughout, and made the whole licence change completely stress-free. We felt in very safe hands from start to finish and wouldn’t hesitate to work with Jo again.
- Meg Geraghty
February 13, 2026
Jo is confident and concise with her knowledge and experiences with Licensing.
- BIIAB course attendee
February 13, 2026
Jo was warm, welcoming and spoke very clear. It made the course much easier to understand under her guidance. Thank you for a very informative and educational day which I thoroughly enjoyed.
- Licensing course delegate
March 5, 2025
I was very lucky to have been passed onto this company specifically Jo Soar, they/she were absolutely amazing in every way. They responded and acted immediately to help resolve my case, to anyone looking for solicitors I highly recommend these from someone who regularly uses solicitors I have never received such a fantastic service. Just want to add Jo is the best solicitor I have ever come across and I thank her for her fantastic service.
- Keith Smith
October 17, 2024
It has been a genuine pleasure to work with Jo, whose expertise and dedication to the field of licensing law is second to none. At Ever So Sensible Restaurants, we have always prided ourselves on delivering exceptional drinking and dining experiences, and Jo has played an instrumental role in helping us navigate the complexities of alcohol and entertainment licensing. Her in-depth knowledge of the hospitality sector, coupled with her practical experience advising independent businesses, makes her an invaluable partner. Jo's approachable and professional manner is matched by her attention to detail, ensuring that our licensing matters are handled efficiently and with care. I would not hesitate to recommend Jo to any business in the leisure, retail, or hospitality industries. Her professionalism, knowledge, and genuine passion for her work make her a trusted advisor and a standout leader in her field. We are fortunate to have her expertise at our side
- Ever So Sensible
October 17, 2024
Jo and the team at Rothera Bray are a critical part of our project team on any licensing matter at our existing or new sites. They bring a high level of expertise, collaboration, and sound advice. They communicate brilliantly with us as a client and with responsible authorities to reach our desired outcomes. Their advice on approach, what can be pushed back on and what can be overcome is invaluable, we cannot them recommend highly enough.
- Big Penny
October 17, 2024
We have worked with the licensing team for many years, mainly with Jo, Lesley, and Caroline, who have consistently supported us with all our licensing matters. Their expertise and guidance have been invaluable, helping us navigate the complexities of licensing law while allowing us to pursue creative ways to enhance the customer experience and maximise profit.The team is not only efficient but also serves as a critical friend, ensuring our ambitions remain compliant. Their training opportunities have also been a great asset, with many of our team successfully completing their personal licence courses. We highly recommend Rothera Bray for their outstanding service and commitment.
- Motorpoint Arena / National Ice Centre