We represent many of the world's best-known consumer brands and retailers, operating across the sector, including food and beverage companies, hotels and restaurants, gaming operators, developers, investors, and producers.

Our highly talented Retail and Consumer group represents clients across the US, UK and Europe. In addition to their wealth of experience advising industry-leading companies and market innovators, our lawyers also maintain excellent relationships with key industry associations. 

Our clients in the UK include Kingfisher Group, Colgate-Palmolive, Whitbread (Costa Coffee), Specsavers and New Look. In the US, our clients include Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., Reynolds American, Inc., Lowe’s Companies, Inc., and Hanesbrands Inc.

Our advice covers the full range of national and international retail and consumer legal issues including: 

  • Intellectual property and brand protection
  • Marketing and advertising including social media
  • Product packaging and labeling
  • Corporate transactions (mergers, acquisitions, dispositions) and tax
  • Commercial agreements
  • Data privacy and cybersecurity
  • Franchising
  • Logistics, supply and distribution
  • E-commerce
  • Licensing
  • Employment and pensions
  • Product regulation and compliance 
  • Patent prosecution and litigation
  • Health and safety regulation and litigation
  • Consumer product litigation
  • Gaming and gambling regulation and compliance
  • Real estate transactions.

Browse our Retail and Consumer lawyers and professional staff

What we do

  • Apparel
  • Food & Beverage
  • Retail
  • Gaming
  • Hospitality & Leisure
  • Packaged Goods. 

Examples of work

  • We work with Kingfisher Group across a variety of service areas, advising on software licensing agreements with ATG and omni-channel technologies for B&Q stores to worldwide group-wide frameworks with Wincor for technology services. We also advise on most aspects of B&Q's data protection compliance including complex outsourcing, cross-border data transfers and compliance with European GDPR regulations. Much of our work with Kingfisher is exciting cutting-edge retail technology, often using the latest tech developments to enhance in-store experience
  • We have acted for Decathlon since 2015 on the roll-out of their stores into the UK market: they now have 32 stores. In addition to advising on the property aspects of the store roll-out, we have advised in relation to trade mark, design, copyright and infringement matters
  • Advising Accor on the licensing application for a new hotel within the shadow of Wembley Stadium, which presented its own particular challenges given the location of the premises (permission was granted without restricting the nature of the client's operations)
  • Managed $250 million acquisition from a national franchisor of 194 quick-service restaurants (QSR) across the south-eastern US in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi
  • Successfully defended R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a business tort case brought by 37 Missouri hospitals claiming $477 million in unreimbursed healthcare costs plus punitive damages
  • Lead acquisition counsel for Adidas International in its acquisitions of Textronics, Bones in Motion, VivoMetrics and Five Ten
  • Represented Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. in $1.35 billion sale to JAB Holding
  • Represented regional grocery anchor with build-to-suit leases, ground leases, acquisitions and development of properties located throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

As one of the biggest industries across the U.S., the retail and consumer sector is a highly complex and ever-changing territory to navigate. Many companies in this sector turn to our highly talented retail and consumer lawyers for support across the US, UK and Europe. With our wealth of experience advising industry-leading companies and market innovators across the globe, our team of lawyers is able to offer effective legal advice to clients while also maintaining excellent relationships with many key industry associations.

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Our retail and consumer services

With a recent shift in consumer behavior towards a more ecommerce and technology-based retail experience, many businesses are facing unprecedented upheaval and strained supply chains globally. Fortunately, our team of retail and consumer goods lawyers are dedicated to providing clients with business-oriented legal solutions to meet these changing demands, overcome financial pressures and develop strong regulatory standards.

Clients of our Retail and Consumer Law Firm

Our multidisciplinary team of professionals offer comprehensive and seamless advice to many of the world's best-known consumer brands and retailers, operating across the following sectors: 

  • Food and beverage companies
  • Hospitality and leisure
  • Gaming operators and developers
  • Retail investors and producers.

Some of our most well-known clients in the U.S. include Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc., Reynolds American, Inc., Lowe’s Companies, Inc., and Hanesbrands Inc. And in the UK include, Kingfisher Group, Colgate-Palmolive, Whitbread (Costa Coffee), Specsavers and New Look.

How our Retail and Consumer Lawyers can help you

Supporting clients through all stages of their legal needs, our retail lawyers offer effective strategies and guidance on everything from day-to-day administration tasks to company-threatening cases. Taking a proactive approach to our services, we are able to offer innovative, forward-thinking advice covering the full range of national and international retail and consumer legal issues including: 

  • Intellectual property and brand protection
  • Marketing and advertising including social media
  • Product packaging and labeling
  • Corporate transactions (mergers, acquisitions, dispositions) and tax
  • Commercial agreements
  • Data privacy and cybersecurity
  • Franchising
  • Logistics, supply and distribution
  • E-commerce
  • Licensing
  • Employment and pensions
  • Product regulation and compliance 
  • Patent prosecution and litigation
  • Health and safety regulation and litigation
  • Consumer product litigation
  • Gaming and gambling regulation and compliance
  • Real estate transactions.

Whether you’re in need of legal guidance in the reevaluation of your current position in the consumer market, or you are looking to expand your business, our consumer and retail attorneys are here to help. Get in touch with our team today to learn more about the services we offer, and the sectors we serve.

Testimonials

"They have great personal relationships, they invest lots of time in knowing and understanding your business, and provide great legal advice in a commercial context."

Chambers and Partners, 2018

"They have a genuine passion for the sector. They are innovative in finding solutions for clients."

Chambers and Partners, 2018

"A very experienced and knowledgeable team who always provide practical, commercial advice often on tight timescales."

Legal 500, 2021
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How we've helped our clients in this sector

  • We work with Kingfisher Group across a variety of service areas, advising on software licensing agreements with ATG and omni-channel technologies for B&Q stores to worldwide group-wide frameworks with Wincor for technology services. We also advise on most aspects of B&Q's data protection compliance including complex outsourcing, cross-border data transfers and compliance with European GDPR regulations. Much of our work with Kingfisher is exciting cutting-edge retail technology, often using the latest tech developments to enhance in-store experience
  • We have acted for Decathlon since 2015 on the roll-out of their stores into the UK market: they now have 32 stores. In addition to advising on the property aspects of the store roll-out, we have advised in relation to trade mark, design, copyright and infringement matters
  • Advising Accor on the licensing application for a new hotel within the shadow of Wembley Stadium, which presented its own particular challenges given the location of the premises (permission was granted without restricting the nature of the client's operations)
  • Managed $250 million acquisition from a national franchisor of 194 quick-service restaurants (QSR) across the south-eastern US in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi
  • Successfully defended R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a business tort case brought by 37 Missouri hospitals claiming $477 million in unreimbursed healthcare costs plus punitive damages
  • Lead acquisition counsel for Adidas International in its acquisitions of Textronics, Bones in Motion, VivoMetrics and Five Ten
  • Represented Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. in $1.35 billion sale to JAB Holding
  • Represented regional grocery anchor with build-to-suit leases, ground leases, acquisitions and development of properties located throughout North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.