Advertising and Marketing
We are a highly respected practice that offers advice on the structure and content of advertising campaigns, the use of social media, events, branded content, sponsorships and celebrity endorsements. Through our global offices, we are able to clear advertisements and promotions on a multinational basis. You can also ask for guidance on the appointment of advertising, public relations, research, experiential and media agencies.
Arbitration and Litigation
Our trial lawyers provide cost-effective and practical resolutions to business disputes. We can work closely with you to develop a winning strategy – whether by trial, appeal, alternative dispute resolution or negotiation. We routinely deal with cases involving, among others, licensing and distribution relationships, retail operations and unfair competition claims, as well as and investor, shareholder and partnership disputes.
Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights
We have vast experience in retail-related restructurings and insolvencies. Our lawyers advise secured lenders, owners and insolvency practitioners, as well as buyers, in relation to a number of well-known high street retailers, including high fashion, department, furniture, clothing, shoe, electronics and sporting goods retailers. We work with stakeholders to achieve the optimum outcome for the business in challenging economic times.
Commercial Contracts
It is vital to ensure you have beneficial terms at the outset of a supplier or distribution agreement. Seeking a way out of an unfavorable agreement or the termination of a key supply contract could have a huge impact on your business. We can help you to use commercial contracts as a means of managing risk, ensuring you understand the practical implications of the agreement – whether with a supplier, franchisee, distributor, agent or licensee.
Competition and Antitrust
We keep you abreast of the competition rules that can apply to retail activities. The enforceability of restrictive covenants in leases, the extent to which suppliers can impose restrictions on their resellers and channel partners, and the ability of retailers to impose restrictions on their suppliers can all depend on how the competition rules are applied. We advise on designing and implementing effective compliance policies, as well as on avoiding infringing the rules. We have a long record of handling regulatory investigations and litigation between retail-focused businesses hinging on competition law issues.
Consumer Law
We provide a range of contentious and non-contentious advice on issues arising out of the sale and supply of goods and services – from the advertising and sales process, right through to disputes and legal proceedings. We are known for our pragmatic approach and are frequently invited to provide training to both legally trained and front-line staff, as well as talking on key issues and new legislation at industry events.
Consumer Protection (Including Product Liability and Food Law)
We provide routine advice to the retail sector on food information/labeling, food safety and hygiene regulations and requirements, health and nutrition claims, ingredient declarations, notification obligations, product recall and product safety and all aspects of criminal investigations and prosecutions relating to food law.
Corporate Transactions, Finance and Governance
Our corporate lawyers provide services ranging from day-to-day advice and interaction with corporate personnel to participation in complex transactions such as mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, public and private offerings and placements of securities, commercial loans and other financings.
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity
We are a “one-stop shop” for retailers that need to address data protection issues. Our team has substantial experience advising retailers on data protection compliance and the evolving interpretation of data protection legislation, including the implications of the significant legislative changes that are on the horizon at EU level. Our experience includes multi-jurisdictional compliance, commercialization of data, loyalty programs, data retention, regulatory notification, data licensing, data breach crisis management, assessment of security measures and website management and security.
Environmental
As one of the world’s largest environmental law teams, we are consistently highly rated in leading legal directories. Our sector knowledge allows us to appreciate the challenges and opportunities you face. Services include risk management and corporate governance, producer responsibility, regulatory investigations prosecutions and civil disputes (including a 24/7 incident response); dealing with permits, contaminated land, water and waste; advising on climate change and energy efficiency law and policy; advising on chemical and product regulation, as well as on the environmental aspects of real estate.
Health and Safety
We are one of the most experienced health and safety groups in the world. We have been named Corporate INTL Health and Safety Law Firm of the Year twice in the last four years. Our team has a track record of representing retail clients, covering everything from 24/7 incident response and investigation service, to advice on criminal investigations and prosecutions relating to health and safety at work, representation at Coroners’ Inquests, crisis management, public relations and judicial reviews relating to enforcement notices.
Intellectual Property (IP)/Anticounterfeiting
Protecting and making use of IP is a critical element of long-term business growth and success. With renowned industry-focused legal expertise, we can help you to protect and exploit trademarks, copyright, design rights, patents and other IP. We tailor cost-effective protection programs on a global basis.
We employ various brand protection methods to represent some of the world’s most iconic brands and fashion retailers and advise on swift, robust dispute resolution when clients are faced with challenges such as counterfeiting. Regularly working with regulators, we can give you a 360-degree, coordinated IP strategy and take a practical approach to adverse litigation or investigations whenever they occur.
Labor and Employment
We are at the forefront of critical issues such as noncompete agreements, wage and hour litigation, union negotiations and recognition, strike action, employment discrimination, site closings and holiday pay litigation. Our HR consultancy gives you an additional resource where, for example, there is a need to improve employee engagement. We can call on HR professionals with skills including industrial relations, recruitment, equal opportunities and coaching. In addition, our Business Immigration team offers invaluable support for moving employees within this fluid global sector.
Licensing (Alcohol, Entertainment and Hot Food)
Vast experience in providing licensing services, including audits, training, drafting and service of required applications, appearance before Licensing Authority Committees and Magistrates Courts, assistance with actual and threatened license reviews, inspections and representation following failed test purchases or other licensing breaches. We manage a number of multisite estates of licensed premises and will proactively ensure our approach supports your strategy.
You can expect up-to-the-minute legal advice without the jargon. If you have an in-house function dealing with day-to-day applications, we can assist on an ad hoc basis when required.
Real Estate
Several of our lawyers have direct retail experience in property, planning and construction. We act for clients across the spectrum, from securing planning permission for stores, to the construction of developments and the taking of space on behalf of retail tenants. To demonstrate our innovative approach, we have developed an online property management site that can be tailored to tenants or landlords. This enables you to streamline and manage all the information relating to your property portfolio.
