Senior Associate / Partner – Licensing & Gambling – Exeter

Senior Associate / Partner – Licensing & Gambling –  Exeter

Location:  Exeter
Salary: Competitive + bonus

Synergy Personnel Services is instructed by a Top 50 UK law firm to recruit a Senior Associate or Partner into its specialist Licensing & Gambling team in  Exeter.

This is a standout opportunity for a lawyer operating in a highly regulated environment, looking to join a national practice with deep sector expertise and a growing client base across the UK’s leisure, hospitality and gambling industries.

The Opportunity

Our client advises a wide spectrum of businesses operating in licensed and regulated sectors, including:

• Hospitality groups and leisure operators
• Online and land-based gambling businesses
• Developers, investors and retail operators
• Technology providers within the gaming sector

The team is recognised for delivering end-to-end regulatory support, from licensing applications through to complex compliance and enforcement matters.

With  Exeter forming a key hub in the firm’s northern strategy, this role offers the chance to become part of a well-established national practice with strong regional momentum.

The Role

You will advise clients across both licensing and gambling regulation, working on a mix of advisory, transactional and contentious matters.

Your work is likely to include:

• Personal and premises licence applications under the Licensing Act
• Supporting operators with Gambling Commission licences and compliance frameworks
• Advising on regulatory obligations, including AML, social responsibility and governance
• Representation at licensing hearings and review proceedings
• Supporting acquisitions and disposals of licensed businesses
• Advising on promotions, competitions and marketing compliance
• Assisting clients facing enforcement action or regulatory investigation

The work is shaped by a complex legislative framework, including the Gambling Act 2005 and evolving regulatory guidance, meaning clients require ongoing, strategic advice rather than one-off input.

Why This Role is Different

This is not a traditional black-letter regulatory role.

Instead, it offers:

• Direct exposure to fast-moving, commercially driven sectors
• The opportunity to work with innovative operators, including online platforms and tech-driven businesses
• A blend of advisory, transactional and contentious work
• A chance to build a recognised specialism in a niche but growing area of law

At Partner level, you will have the platform to develop your own client base and lead on sector growth, supported by an established national team.

About You

We are keen to speak with:

• Solicitors at Senior Associate or Partner level
• Experience in licensing, regulatory, or gambling law (or closely related areas such as commercial/regulatory work)
• A strong understanding of working within regulated environments
• A commercially minded approach with the ability to advise clients pragmatically
• An interest in sectors such as hospitality, leisure, betting, gaming or tech

A following is beneficial but not essential, given the firm’s existing client base and cross-referral network.

The Firm

This is a Top 50 UK professional services business with over 10,000 clients and a national footprint, offering a full-service legal platform.

The firm is known for its:

• Entrepreneurial, non-traditional structure
• Reduced hierarchy and greater autonomy for senior lawyers
• Strong emphasis on commercial, client-led advice
• Clear and transparent pathway to equity

Why Consider This Move?

• Opportunity to specialise in a complex and highly regulated sector
• Strong pipeline of work across licensing, gambling and leisure industries
• National collaboration with Corporate, Real Estate, Regulatory and Disputes teams
• A genuine platform to build a profile in  Exeter and the wider North
• Flexible, modern working culture

Apply

For a confidential discussion about this opportunity, please contact:

Synergy Personnel Services
Specialist Legal Recruitment