Our legal team is capable of providing a full range of legal services to consumer goods and apparel companies. From creation to commercial expansion, we understand the needs of retailers and the often-challenging environments in which they are operating.
We advise clients engaging in:
- starting, developing and financing their businesses;
- negotiating commercial agreements, including manufacturing, fulfillment and distribution arrangements;
- advising on employment issues faced by fashion and consumer goods clients, from brands to service providers and CEOs to advisers;
- registering intellectual property and responding to claims of infringement and counterfeiting;
- issuing and securing licenses;
- advising on product collaborations between brands;
- negotiating joint ventures relating to marketing, manufacturing, product ideation and distribution;
- handling disputes, including problems relating to reclaiming goods and payment disputes arising from bankruptcy of key counterparties;
- advising on changes in federal and state regulations affecting retail, marketing, advertising and promotion of consumer goods; and
- commercial property leasing and related matters for retailers, showrooms and corporate offices.
We deploy our talent and years of experience to formulate solutions that can only be possible through an in-depth understanding of a client’s retail and wholesale operations, whether it is direct-to-consumer or traditional bricks-and-mortar distribution channels. Members of our legal team have hands-on experience dealing with the industry-specific legal issues that can and often do arise in the day-to-day operations of a retailer.
We believe in finding fast and practical solutions to allow our clients to stay competitive and meet their objectives on-time and on-budget. We are comfortable working with seasoned industry professionals, creative entrepreneurs and social influencers, whether at early stage start-ups or established dominant industry players. We have also represented senior executives including CEOs of major fashion brands in assisting them on employment and executive compensation and planning matters.
Our attorneys have worked for years alongside key decision-makers and creative to understand the many moving parts of a consumer goods/apparel company: designing goods, factoring and financing, joint venturing, manufacturing and subcontracting goods, shipping and importing goods, negotiating distribution agreements and advertising, sales and marketing agreements, wholesaling and direct-to-consumer retailing, online sales, and commercial leasing. Our lawyers can deliver the goods and services in sophisticated bet-the-company matters as well as small, everyday intellectual property portfolio issues, contracts and transactions.
Our lawyers have represented well-known global fashion brands as well as smaller showrooms or and multi-channel (bricks-and-mortar, AWS, direct-to-consumer, etc.) retailers in beauty, cosmetics, fashion, luxury athleisure, jewelry, umbrellas and other verticals. We have also represented global fulfillment companies.
We have also had our client’s back in difficult deals or active disputes:
- representing a luxury shoe retailer in the Barney’s New York bankruptcy;
- representing a prominent Asian fashion designer in retaining the services of its first CEO for a US portfolio company;
- advising a client on a strategic acquisition of a distressed asset in the direct-to-consumer jewelry market;
- negotiating with a prominent manufacturer on behalf of a celebrity influencer for a joint venture to manufacture, distribute and promote a mobile phone accessory product;
- advising a prominent European manufacturer of athletic gear relating to re-possession of key inventory held-up in connection with creditors claims over its third-party fulfillment provider (warehouse) for its entire US distribution channel;
- settling a dispute involving material inventory discrepancies at a major Big Box retailer; and
- advising a client in connection with the unanticipated departure of the CEO of a key portfolio company for a global vertically-integrated diamond and jewelry manufacturer
Together with our team of attorneys, we have the collective knowledge and experience to move the ball forward for our fashion/consumer goods clients.