Poppleston Allen partner named as new PICAS chairman

Poppleston Allen partner James Anderson has been named as the new chairman of the PICA-Service after previous chairman Rodger Vickers stepped down from the role due to ill health.

Pub Governing Body chairman Peter Luff said that PICA-Service remains a ‘valuable’ tool for licensees and added that there is still a possibility the organisation would continue to operate once the code and the adjudicator are in place at the end of May.

He said: “James is a respected lawyer with a wealth of expertise in licensed hospitality and arbitration with over 25 years of experience behind him.  He will no doubt hit the ground running and it is important that we should continue to have a robust self-regulatory regime as we move to the new Statutory Code.”

Anderson added:  “I am honoured to be asked to take over as Chair of PICA-Service at this important time for the industry.

"PICA-Service has a vital role to play in ensuring that tenants have access to low cost dispute resolution and I am keen to ensure that it is as effective as possible not just in holding all sides to account, but also in promoting good practice”