Wragge & Co LLP has been appointed to advise the Gambling Commission following a review of its legal panel. A team led by John Cooper won this important role.

John Cooper said: "This appointment highlights our strong reputation and expertise in acting for clients on public law and regulatory matters. We look forward to working with the Gambling Commission to help it successfully meet its key objectives in regulating the gambling industry in Great Britain."

The core team comprises public law and regulation partner John Cooper, director Andrew Litchfield, associates Gus Wood and Anne Clayton, and regulatory legal advisor Ravi Randhawa. They will be supported by a cross-firm team of lawyers covering the entire range of the firm's full-service capability.

Wragge & Co is appointed to advise on a range of matters, including public law and regulation, advertising and marketing law, litigation and prosecutions in England and Wales. The team will work alongside in-house counsel Neil McArthur and Kelly Trimble at the Gambling Commission.

Brodies and Gregory Rowcliffe Milners have also been appointed to the legal panel. Brodies will provide advice on public law, criminal investigations and proceedings in Scotland.

The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in the public interest. The Commission took on its full powers under the Gambling Act 2005 from 1 September 2007 and has responsibility for the regulation of all forms of commercial gambling apart from spread betting and the National Lottery.  Its key objectives are to keep crime out of gambling, ensure that gambling is conducted openly and fairly and to protect children and vulnerable people from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

Wragge & Co is a major UK commercial law firm advising FTSE 350 companies, international blue-chip businesses, government departments and other public sector bodies. In 2007, the firm won a number of lead role appointments with United Biscuits, Birds Eye and the John Lewis Partnership, as well as a place on OGCbuying.solutions' Catalist Legal Services Framework Agreement.

The firm has a dedicated public law and regulatory team. Its lawyers advise regulators, consumer councils, trade associations, listed companies, small and medium enterprises, and other public and private bodies on a range of public law issues. Clients include Cadbury plc, EDF Energy, the Department of Health, the Consumer Council for Postal Services and the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 213 2397, Alexa Highfield on +44 (0)121 213 2396 or Amie Ryalls on +44 (0)121 213 2360

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.