Tony Schwartz

Tony Schwartz has practised in a broad range of areas of law with a particular interest and speciality in liquor licensing matters since his admission as a solicitor in 1979.

The cornerstone of Tony's expertise and recognition in the provision of legal services to the liquor, hospitality and gaming industries is his contribution to education and technical legal services as the principal author of the LexisNexis liquor licensing publication McDonald's Licensing and Gaming Laws of New South Wales.

Tony has been the author of this publication since 1990. He has in the past, and continues to provide support, training and advice on liquor and gaming related matters. He has delivered lectures on NSW licensing and gaming law to solicitors through the Young Lawyers of NSW, the NSW State Legal Conference, regional law society groups, liquor accords and to private industry. Tony is well regarded in the legal profession as a lecturer and an expert witness in proceedings involving liquor licensing practice and procedure. He regularly acts for other legal practitioners to provide their clients with specialised advice on liquor and gaming matters.

Tony has been involved in various types of major investigations, complaints and prosecutions instigated by the Police or the Department of Liquor and Gaming NSW and represented the applicant or submitter in more social impact assessments before the former Board than any other legal adviser in NSW. He has been involved in many recent cases in the Supreme Court involving the Liquor Act, the Registered Clubs Act, the Gaming and Liquor Administration Act and the Gaming Machines Act as well as appearing in matters before the Land and Environment Court involving hotels and other licensed premises. Such proceedings have included lease disputes, poker machine entitlement issues, extension of trading hours, outdoor smoking areas, the application and interpretation of NSW licensing and gaming legislation and disputes involving restrictive conditions imposed by Councils or local consent authorities.

Tony has been involved in making representations with Liquor and Gaming NSW, the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority and their predecessors in relation to the Liquor Act 2007 and Liquor Regulation 2008 (and their subsequent amendment) on behalf of various clients and in his capacity as the author of McDonald’s Licensing and Gaming Laws of New South Wales.

Tony has also recently been involved in various proceedings involving the review process before the Authority, on matters arising from the imposition of conditions on licences as a result of applications made by the public authorities and changes to the Liquor Act, challenges based on administrative law principles, disturbance complaints and defending prosecutions under the Liquor Act.

Tony has significant experience in all types of liquor licence and gaming related applications, licence related authorisations, the community and local impact assessment process and the social impacts unique to the different types of liquor licences and authorisations available.

Tony has and continues to act for key stakeholders in state significant developments, and other major CBD and suburban development sites, including office towers, shopping centres and sporting arenas to assist them to meet their liquor licensing needs.

Recently, Tony has also been involved with newly introduced administrative review proceedings from decisions of the Authority before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

He is a leader in the field at providing practical advice for contemporary licensed businesses as the industry and related technologies continue to develop and evolve.

Publications and Editorial Contacts

McDonald's Licensing and Gaming Laws New South Wales, Looseleaf Contact: LN ML Publishing