The Retail & Consumer brand sector is innovative, disruptive and constantly in flux.
New and exciting brands emerge every day, each offering a unique take on existing high street and luxury products and experiences.
The growing adoption of technology and the evolving wants and needs of consumers has seen an increased customer demand for new, faster online offerings and enhanced shopping experiences. What is clear is that those with the foresight and flexibility to adapt to this evolving market, particularly post-COVID-19, will be in a fantastic position to succeed in the years ahead.
Our team helps brands seize commercial opportunities, develop their strategic offering, succeed in new markets and attract a new generation of consumers. We can support you through your growth journey, offering our global team of lawyers as an extension of your in-house team. We provide market leading sector expertise in a range of specialist areas, from business structures to commercial agreements, to property and brand identity.
We are proud to work alongside some of the most innovative and disruptive businesses within retail, from developing high street and luxury brands, to established household names. But one thing remains the same; we get to know each one of our clients. Taking a personal approach ensures that our team understands the unique ethos and drivers behind your business model, to offer legal and strategic advice best tailored to your own unique challenges and commercial strategies, enabling your business to flourish.
If you have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, or would like to talk to our team about any other issues facing your business, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Luxury Brands
We have a long history supporting clients within the luxury brands sector and we are as dedicated as ever to seeing the sector flourish, particularly with the potential for changing consumer behaviour in the aftermath of COVID-19. Luxury brands will need to be innovative and resilient to succeed. Our team can support you as you manage the immediate effects of the pandemic, and plan for the longer-term, sustainable future of your business.
We are a founding partner of The Luxury Library, which brings together a curated group of experts from the legal, media, brand and digital industries with a long history of commitment to the luxury sector. Members collectively act as a catalyst for the growth of luxury businesses and ensure that more than simply your legal needs are considered. Our understanding of luxury brands is not restricted to the UK – we regularly connect with the best lawyers around the world. We have co-hosted luxury brand conferences in Milan and Geneva, which explored topics specifically through the eyes of luxury brands, including managing trade marks, joint ventures, design industry protection, and ecommerce/selective distribution.
Consumer Technology
Technology has changed the face of retail, and will almost certainly continue to do so as consumers have grown more accustomed to an online offering throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Technology offers new ways for brands to interact with their customer base, through apps, social media and omnichannel, and developing, or enhancing a digital presence will be integral to the success and failure of traditional business models.
We can support you with developing your digital strategy, whether that be in marketing strategy (e.g. influencer agreements, social media marketing), or customer facing (e.g. website, apps, and omnichannel).
Marketing, Advertising and Sponsorship
The way in which businesses are able to market themselves to potential customers has changed dramatically in recent years, as big data facilitates business use of market data to personalise digital campaigns and advertisements. Social media too has opened a new avenue of marketing, particularly with the growth of the ‘influencer’.
We can advise your businesses on marketing, advertising and sponsorship agreements, particularly in the increasingly popular area of social media marketing. We have advised a number of brands with influencer arrangements, and related compliance, and interactions, with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), as well as supporting international clients with brand partnership and collaboration agreements.

Attention to Retail Toolkit
We work extensively in the retail sector, advising both small start-ups as well as some of the biggest names in the business.
Meet the team
- Call Edward +44 (0)20 7203 5213
- Email Edward
- London office
- Call Caroline +44 (0)20 7203 5150
- Email Caroline
- London office
- Call Rose +44 (0)20 7427 6524
- Email Rose
- London office
- Call Andrew +44 (0)20 7427 6768
- Email Andrew
- London office
- Call David +44 (0)20 7427 6755
- Email David
- London office
- Call Mark +971 4 246 1921
- Email Mark
- Dubai office
- Call Megan +44 (0) 207 438 2235
- Email Megan
- London office
- Call Michael +44 (0)20 7203 5216
- Email Michael
- London office
- Call Ingrid +44 (0)1483 252630
- Email Ingrid
- Guildford office
- Call Jason +44 (0)20 7203 5347
- Email Jason
- London office
- Call Nick +44 (0)20 7438 2294
- Email Nick
- London office
- Call Caroline +44 (0)20 7203 5158
- Email Caroline
- London office
- Call Abigail +44 (0)20 7203 8909
- Email Abigail
- London office
- Call Peter +44 (0)20 7427 6754
- Email Peter
- London office
Our thinking
Nick White
Charles Russell Speechlys advises Symphony Holdings Limited on the sale of its PONY trade mark portfolio for USD $28 million
Charles Russell Speechlys advises Symphony Holdings Limited on the sale of its PONY trade mark portfolio for USD $28 million.
Charlotte Duly
Charlotte Duly quoted in Retail Gazette on House of Zana trademark dispute
Charlotte Duly quoted in Retail Gazette on House of Zana trademark dispute
Caroline Greenwell
Nowhere to hide for greenwashing brands
In the UK, regulators are cracking down, with many companies now at risk of financial and other penalties.
Mark Hill
Mark Hill quoted in the Daily Mail discussing Ed Sheeran’s copyright court case win
Mark Hill quoted in the Daily Mail discussing Ed Sheeran’s copyright court case win
Jamie Cartwright
Jamie Cartwright comments on the potential impact of the plastic packaging tax
Jamie Cartwright comments on the potential impact of the plastic packaging tax
Reem Al Mahroos
Frequently Asked Questions: Hotel Franchise Agreements
What is a franchise agreement and what are the differences between it and a Hotel Management Agreement (HMA)?
Government launches a new rent arrears Code for Covid stricken businesses with legislative teeth
Who does the code apply to and what is it's purpose? Read more here.
Olivia Crane writes for The Grocer on the importance of robust data protection policies for checkout-less stores
The ‘personal data footprint’ created by this type of service and technology isn’t something that should be overlooked.
Olivia Gray
Consumers’ unwitting assumptions: A [wh]iskey business in brand competition
Olivia and Anna look at the Liverpool Gin Distillery Ltd v Sazerac Brands LLC case and the question of 'indirect confusion'
Caroline Swain
Building Back Better: Future Gazing
What’s next for the hospitality industry post-pandemic?
Caroline Swain
Building Back Better: Re-examining your proposition
Why hospitality businesses should re-examine their proposition now
Lee Medlock
Charles Russell Speechlys advises TDR Capital LLP and the Issa brothers on the real estate aspects of ASDA acquisition
TDR Capital LLP and the Issa brothers have completed their acquisition of a majority stake in ASDA from Walmart.
Charlotte Duly
IP in a Pod: Social Media
What IP issues surround the use and protection of hashtags, memes, GIFs and stickers?
Jason Freedman
Charles Russell Speechlys advises ALDO UK's administrators, RSM, on the sale of the business and assets
Our Corporate Restructuring & Insolvency team has advised ALDO UK's administrators, RSM, on the sale of the business and assets.
Caroline Greenwell
Retail Recovery: Middle East Perspective
Join us as we discuss how COVID-19 has affected the Middle East
Caroline Greenwell
Retail Recovery: Disputes and Reputation Management
The third episode will focus on Disputes and Reputation Management.
Furlough and administration – the cases of Carluccio’s and Debenhams
Two recent High Court decisions show impact of the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on companies in administration.
Caroline Greenwell
Retail Recovery: Employment & Data Protection
In this episode we focus on Employment and Data Protection issues and how to adapt to the current environment.
Caroline Greenwell
Retail Recovery: Insolvency / Restructuring / Duties
Welcome to our new podcast series focusing on the Retail and Food and Beverage sectors.
Claire Greaney quoted by Essential Retail, People Management, InfoSecurity and New Law Journal on the Supreme Court's decision in WM Morrison v Various Claimants