With a large team and significant national presence, Addleshaw Goddard is well placed to advise on the full range of retail and consumer sector issues. Acting for global conglomerates, start-ups, and family-owned businesses, the team’s expertise covers supply chain management, brand employment, digitalisation, and real estate matters. The team is jointly led by Andrew Rosling and Rona Bar-Isaac; the former is a seasoned M&A expert and has a particular specialism in joint ventures, while the latter takes point on competition matters, handling merger clearances and abuse of dominance claims for large retailers and consumer goods corporates. ‘Technically strong' Shakeel Dad, who is based in Leeds, is recommended for his employment expertise, while Georgina Powling, also based in the same office, acts on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious intellectual property matters. Daniel Sweeney handles transactional real estate mandates.

CMS’s full-service retail and consumer offering spans the gamut of contentious and non-contentious work, including data privacy, consumer law, intellectual property, real estate, and transactional matters. Counting household grocers and retailers from the cosmetics, fashion, automotive, and e-commerce sectors among its impressive roster of clients, the team is well placed to advise on brand protection, manufacturing, and ESG mandates, with the last of these being an area of significant recent growth for the team. Katie Nagy de Nagybaczon and Tom Scourfield jointly head the team, recommended for their contentious IP and corporate advisory expertise, respectively. Helen Johnson handles corporate transactions and M&A for a range of high-profile retailers, working alongside Louise Wallace, who is praised for her ‘good practical knowledge of the sector’.

Dentons’ multi-disciplinary retail team advises large retailers, brands, restaurants and franchises based in the UK across the full range of retail and consumer work, including technology, real estate matters, data and cybersecurity issues, outsourcing, and employment matters. James Batham, a seasoned real estate litigator, now co-heads the practice alongside Scott Singer, whose workload covers commercial contracts, IT, and data privacy law for household retailers in the food and fashion sectors. Intellectual property mandates are handled by Anna Copeman, while Tristan Jonckheer is recommended for his work in the TMT and financial services sectors.

DLA Piper’s dedicated and sizeable consumer goods, food, and retail practice counts an impressive roster of high-profile brands, fashion retailers, and consumer goods companies among its clients. The practice, which comprises three international sub-teams spanning the food and beverage, fashion and retail, and consumer goods industries, is overseen by a team of specialists. Ruth Hoy leads on intellectual property matters and has extensive experience advising on copyright, design rights, and trade mark issues, with notable strength in contentious matters. Mark Dewar concentrates on commercial law and regulatory matters for consumer product manufacturers, while the ‘excellent’ Chloe Forster takes point on tech, outsourcing, and digital transformation projects. Noel Haywood advises on M&A, both domestic and cross-border, for major retail corporates, and Sophie Lessar focuses on retail financial services and e-commerce. Also in the core team is environment and health and safety specialist Nick Rock, who heads up the firm's global retail and consumer offering.

Based in Bristol and London, Osborne Clarke LLP has an active retail and consumer practice that frequently sees the firm acting for an impressive roster of clients from a broad range of sectors, including luxury fashion, consumer goods, and cosmetics. The firm is adept at advising on ESG and consumer protection matters, acting for a number of food tech clients and advising on greenwashing and packaging matters. The dedicated, full-service practice is overseen by Anna Elliott, dual-qualified in the UK and Australia, who advises luxury fashion and brand clients on employment and personnel-related matters. Former practice head Dolf Darnton remains active, and takes point on real estate and property matters, while Kate Vickery is recommended for her international regulatory and compliance expertise.

Fielding a ‘group with real sector expertise‘, RPC runs the gamut of contentious, advisory, and cross-border retail matters. The team is regularly instructed by clients from a broad range of industries, with an emphasis on the fashion and beauty, as well as the food and beverage sectors. Karen Hendy and Jeremy Drew jointly head up the practice; the former advises listed companies and their subsidiaries, with notable expertise in distressed purchases and acquisitions, while the latter is the key contact for multi-jurisdictional arbitrations, as well as for contentious and non-contentious intellectual property mandates. ‘Standout’ Ciara Cullen oversees the firm’s food and drink sub-group, and is an experienced intellectual property and technology specialist with a particular focus on sustainability, and consumer regulations and compliance. Simon Edwards is recommended for his commercial contract negotiation expertise. 2023 saw IP specialist Sarah Mountain and banking and finance specialist Edward Colville promoted to the partnership.

Baker McKenzie’s consumer goods and retail team leverages the firm’s broader commercial and corporate capabilities to advise market-leading retailers on strategic M&A, restructurings, and commercial contracts. Supply chain management, employment advice, and real estate matters are also key areas of focus for the team. David Scott, Helen Brown, and Julia Hemmings jointly oversee the team. Scott takes point on corporate matters and concentrates on cross-border M&A and joint ventures for consumer sector clients; Brown has a focus on offline and online sales work in the fashion retail and digital media sectors; and Hemmings has a broad practice which includes e-commerce, marketing, and privacy matters.

Graeme Payne leads Bird & Bird LLP’s ‘proactive and solution-oriented’ retail and consumer team, which comprises three sub-groups spanning the food and beverage industry; the luxury, fashion and retail industry; and the hospitality and leisure sector. Core areas of focus for the team include sustainability and green advertising, consumer issues, and retail-specific technology matters. Robert Turner is recommended for cross-border commercial transactions and regulatory compliance mandates, while Victoria Hobbs specialises in contentious work concerning franchising, licensing, and distribution agreements. Ian Edwards is the key name for tech transactions and has significant experience assisting commercial clients with the implementation of digital transformation projects. At the associate level, James Fowler advises on supply chain, franchising, and e-commerce agreements.

Described by one client as an ‘exceptional team with unusual business acumen', Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner’s multi-disciplinary retail and consumer products group is well placed to advise on the full spectrum of retail mandates, and counts several large grocers and luxury goods retailers among its clients. Under the leadership of Carol Osborne, dual-qualified in the UK and the US, recent work for the team has included advising on complex data flows, franchise agreements, and corporate transactions for large multi-national retailers. The firm has a long track record advising private and public companies on complex corporate issues, including cross-border M&A and private equity matters; Benjamin Lee is another key name here. Commercial and outsourcing contracts are handled by Richard Shaw.

Counting household names such as Lego, Frasers, and Helly Hansen among its impressive roster of clients, the retail and wholesale practice at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP handles the full spectrum of retail mandates. Leveraging the firm’s international network, the practice has particular strength in cross-border mandates. Leeds-based real estate litigation specialist Andrew Todd now co-heads the team with assistance from Paris-based Catherine Detalle, who oversees the firm’s international consumer sector team. Former practice heads Paul Moorcroft, in Birmingham, and Amanda Partland, in Leeds, remain active and are recommended for their expertise in real estate disputes and corporate transactions in the food and beverage sectors, respectively.

Based across Birmingham and London, the retail team at Gowling WLG fields a sizeable team with expertise across the full range of retail, consumer, and trading mandates. Jocelyn Paulley is instructed by start-ups, established brands, and suppliers, and focuses on IT, digital infrastructure, and data protection matters. Intellectual property strategy and litigation mandates are handled by John Coldham. Paulley and Coldham jointly head the practice. Also in the core team are Kate Swaine, who advises on brand and design strategy, and handles trade mark enforcement, and commercial contracts specialist Sarah Riding.

With demonstrable strength in contentious work, Mishcon de Reya LLP’s retail team is instructed by large retail and luxury brands, both established companies and start-ups, to handle trade mark disputes, and advise on brand management issues, franchise developments, and commercial and strategic partnerships. The team is jointly led by Sally Britton and Lewis Cohen; the former’s expertise spans brand protection strategies, including enforcement, monitoring, and design filing, while the latter specialises in the full range of retail sector-related commercial arrangements. Following its January 2023 merger with Mishcon de Reya LLP, the team strengthened its capabilities with the arrivals of employment expert Dominic Holmes, data privacy specialist James Boyle, and Louisa Dixon, who handles international brand protection and enforcement matters.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s retail and consumer offering runs the gamut of matters, ranging from corporate transactions, to e-commerce, data protection work, and ESG issues. The team acts for clients across the sector, including start-ups and established names in the food and beverage, sports retail, consumer technology, and automotive sectors. Private equity specialist Tom Leman leads the team, which also includes Samantha Livesey and Florian Traub, who are key names for intellectual property matters, handling the full range of contentious and non-contentious trade mark, domestic and international filing, enforcement, and portfolio management mandates. Zoe Betts is recommended for her regulatory expertise.

The ‘very commercial’ team at Shoosmiths LLP handles the full spectrum of retail and consumer sector-related work, including consumer rights, property litigation, e-commerce, and data privacy matters. Regularly instructed by clients from the automotive, cosmetics, and food and beverage industries, the team has particular strength in construction and M&A matters, as well as emerging technologies, including NFTs. Practice head Gary Assim acts in a range of intellectual property disputes, including those relating to copyrights, design rights, and trade marks, with an emphasis on cross-border litigation. Consumer protection issues are handled by Felicity Forward, while Stuart Lawrenson takes point on employment matters. Property litigation expert Wayne Nash left the team in 2023 and is now at Deloitte LLP.

Taylor Wessing LLP’s cross-practice consumer and retail group acts for food and beverage, fashion and luxury, and e-commerce sector clients, handling the full spectrum of corporate, employment, and IP matters. The team also advises on industry-specific issues, including licensing and franchising matters, as well as supply chain management. Ian Moore benefits from previous industry experience as the managing director of a sportswear brand, and advises on brand establishment, supply and sales channels, and growth strategies for e-commerce brands. Edward Story has a broad focus which spans corporate real estate, investment, and M&A work, while Jason Rawkins is the key name for trade mark, and design rights advice for luxury and fashion brands; senior counsel Xuyang Zhu is also recommended for her IP expertise. Moore, Story and Rawkins jointly lead the practice.

Browne Jacobson LLP’s growing retail group stands out for its multi-disciplinary and cross-office capabilities, working across the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious data protection, commercial, real estate, employment, and IP issues for a range of household names and luxury brands. Emma Roake now co-heads the practice alongside real estate specialist Roland Gray, having joined the firm from Fox Williams LLP in September 2022. Roake has a strong track record advising fashion brands, retailers, and distributors on commercial agreement negotiations, as well as handling disputes, and her arrival strengthens both the team’s contentious and non-contentious commercial capabilities.

With strength in advertising, marketing, and brand protection work, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP‘s retail, consumer, and consumer tech group acts for food and beverage sector clients, sports retailers, and luxury brands. Jason Saiban takes point on commercial contracting matters, including digital transformation projects, sponsorships, and logistics mandates. Contentious and regulatory matters are handled by Edward Craig, while Michael Powner is recommended for his employment expertise. Saiban, Craig and Powner jointly lead the team. Intellectual property specialist Mary Bagnall is also noted.

Clifford Chance LLP’s retail team benefits from the firm’s broader commercial and competition capabilities, advising clients on M&A, antitrust investigations, and risk management matters. Practice head David Pudge specialises in domestic and cross-border M&A, public takeovers, and corporate governance matters, acting for well-known retailers and investors into the sector. Robert Crothers advises UK-listed and international clients on equity issues and joint ventures, while Greg Olsen helms non-contentious competition work.

K&L Gates LLP acts for fashion and sport retailers, luxury brands, and consumer electronics, with notable strength in intellectual property and competition matters. The team is jointly led by Arthur Artinian, Catherine Adam and Jennifer Marsh. Artinian is a seasoned intellectual property expert, handling disputes, transactions, and strategy advice. Adam is recommended for commercial and logistics mandates, while Marsh specialises in advising consumer brands on competition issues, go-to-market strategies, and commercial agreements. Gabriela Da Costa was elevated to the partnership in March 2022, and also works on competition matters.

Jointly led by Anna Sella and Julia Poulter, Lewis Silkin’s retail, hospitality, and leisure team counts luxury brands, high-street fashion retailers, investors, and shareholders among its clients. The full-service and multi-disciplinary team has notable strength in logistics and supply chain issues, as well as advertising and brand protection matters. At the managing associate level, ‘intelligent, strategic, sensible‘ Oliver Fairhurst is recommended for his contentious intellectual property expertise.

Drawing upon the firm’s strength in corporate and commercial work, the retail and consumer sector team at Linklaters LLP is adept at handling issues through the entire consumer value chain, with noted strength in cross-border M&A, corporate restructurings, and private equity investment advice. The team is jointly led by Paul McNicholl and Michael Honan; the former advises on corporate governance, joint ventures, and ESG-related issues, while the latter’s practice concentrates on strategic acquisitions and high-profile transactions for clients across the retail and consumer sectors, including e-commerce businesses, luxury goods retailers, and food and beverage suppliers.

The multi-disciplinary retail and consumer goods team at TLT excels in advising clients across the grocery, luxury fashion, homeware, automotive, and consumer goods sectors in both the contentious and non-contentious spaces. The group is led by Perran Jervis, whose expertise spans the full range of sector-specific commercial mandates, with an emphasis on outsourcing, distribution, and supply agreements.

Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP advises retailers, landlords, and consumer brands on the full range of retail and trading issues, including transactions and real estate matters. Commercial real estate specialist Claire Wilkinson, in Leeds, heads up the team. The ‘pragmatic and responsive‘ Christina Tolvas-Vincent, based in Southampton, is the key contact for retail-related employment matters, having extensive experience advising employers in the sector on the full range of relevant issues. Bristol’s Sasha Hinton takes point on property litigation mandates.

Clyde & Co’s retail team has notable strength in real estate matters, advising on construction, leasehold liability transactions, and portfolio management.  Anabelle Redman advises on retail investment and lettings, while Laura Oliver has extensive experience handling transactional real estate matters for retail-sector clients; the two jointly lead the team. Paul Cole acts for landlords and corporate occupiers, another area of strength for the team. The partners are supported by a strong team of associates, including Francesca McGrath, who assists with commercial real estate matters, and Joni Traynor, recommended for her expertise in retail property work.

Fieldfisher‘s multidisciplinary retail and consumer practice draws on the firm’s international network and its cross-departmental capabilities to provide an offering which runs the gamut of relevant matters. David Bond and Gordon Drakes jointly lead the practice; the former takes point on commercial, franchising, and advertising issues, while the latter is they key name for IP instructions and joint ventures. Carly Schiff is recommended for the full range of insolvency work.

Fox Williams LLP’s practice stands out for its dedicated fashion law expertise; the team handles trade mark litigation, supply and distribution agreements, and franchising matters. Stephen Sidkin leads the team’s fashion law sub-group and specialises in advising on supply chain agreements, while Rhys Griffiths steers the travel sub-group, another key area of focus.

Freeths LLP’s cross-office retail and consumer team is well versed in work relating to sustainability, strategic partnerships and M&A, as well as covering IP disputes, acting for trade bodies, start-ups, and established brands. Philippa Dempster heads the practice and advises on commercial agreements, including outsourcing, franchising, supply chain agreements, and logistics issues. Managing associate Jessica Matthews is recommended for her expertise advising clients in the luxury goods and technology industries.

Harbottle & Lewis LLP’s retail and fashion practice has a multi-disciplinary offering stretching across both contentious and non-contentious matters. Melanie Benson and Sandi Simons jointly lead the team; the former advises luxury brands and designers on the full range of bricks and mortar property requirements, while the latter helms the contentious side, acting on a broad range of commercial disputes for clients in the sector, with particular expertise in disputes concerning commercial agent regulations.

With particular strength in corporate and commercial advice, the cross-departmental retail team at Travers Smith LLP is instructed by a roster of domestic and international retail clients across multiple industries, including food and beverage, automotive, and fashion. The ‘wonderful‘ Adrian West oversees the group and advises on domestic and cross-border M&A, demergers, and joint ventures, as well as offering strategic corporate advice.