Retail and luxury goods

Retail and luxury goods lie at the heart of Stephenson Harwood's consumer practice. Our team has years of experience in acting for high profile brands, often as an extension of the in-house team. This allows us to get under the skin of the business to help it reach its full potential and swiftly resolve any issues that arise.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

We advise some of the largest and most successful global retailers. These businesses are dynamic and lead the way in this fast-paced sector. We are adept at providing creative commercial solutions to keep apace with their expansion and developments.

Our team is particularly well-tuned to dealing with the special needs of luxury goods clients. We understand that the reputation of the brand is paramount. We regularly assist clients in protecting the caché of their brand. We are experts at dealing with the issues encountered by those who become a victim of their own success.

Our specialist team provides an end-to-end service to support the day-to-day running of the business as well as game changing transactions or problematic disputes. We assist clients with the following:

  • protection and exploitation of brands and other IP on a global scale including employing the skills of our specialist anti-counterfeiting team
  • manufacturing, distribution and agency agreements to support business expansion
  • outsourcing of supply chain, warehousing and logistics
  • acquisitions, franchising arrangements and joint ventures, particularly to assist businesses moving into new territories
  • competition compliance and merger control clearances
  • acquiring and selling property for retail outlets and manufacturing, including associated planning and environmental matters
  • digital challenges faced by online retailers such as data protection and consumer protection.

"We felt they were so good that we have looked to bring them in on further projects."
Chambers UK 2015

Gap's sole IP counsel in the UK

We lead all actions for Gap in Europe. We advise on its IP portfolio and, in particular, trade mark branding issues (prosecution, oppositions, infringements) and parallel imports.

Combatting copycat products for luxury brands such as Moët Hennessy and Richemont

Our specialist anti-counterfeiting team effectively tackle copycats using a strategy involving criminal as well as civil prosecution and their invaluable network of contacts within law enforcement and service providers.

Advising Joseph fashion house on its franchising arrangements

Teams across different Asian Stephenson Harwood offices worked together to implement Joseph's franchising strategy, allowing it to continue its global expansion.

Prosecuted infringers of the Rainbow Loom Kits in Hong Kong

Court proceedings issued in the High Court of Hong Kong in respect of copyright infringement and passing off. The bank accounts of the infringers were frozen and prohibitive injunctions were obtained.

LaSalle Investment Managment, £141 million retail acquisition.

We represented LaSalle Investment Management on the acquisition and follow-on management matters relating to the 712,500 square foot, 133 unit Golden Square Shopping Centre in Warrington.

One of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials

We provide IP advice one of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials, including preventing misuse of the client's brand and actioning takedowns on various online platforms.

Brand enforcement work for easyGroup

We regularly act on domain name and trade mark disputes over the "easy" brands. This often involves multi-jurisdictional proceedings and therefore instructing, co-ordinating and managing foreign counsel.

LOVEFiLM

Advising on the acquisition of Amazon Europe's DVD rental business in the UK and Germany and subsequent sale by the venture capital shareholders of the company to Amazon.

Corporate advisory work for Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie

We provide corporate advice to fashion brands retailers Urban Outfitters and lifestyle brand retailer Anthropologie.

Lawyer

Tom Platts Partner

T:  +65 6622 9641
M:  +65 8233 3245 Email Tom | Vcard Office:  Singapore

Lawyer

Alexandra Pygall Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2137
M:  +44 7881 314 566 Email Alexandra | Vcard Office:  London

Latest news & insights

18 Jan 2022

From Insights

Competition and Markets Authority launches a review of environmental claims in the fashion retail sector

On 10 January 2022, the UK CMA launched its first ever review of environmental claims in the fashion retail sector, amid concerns that the sector is attempting to "gre..

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.