Our team at Harbottle & Lewis has extensive experience across the fashion sector and we are known for our work advising fashion, lifestyle and luxury brands, and other industry stakeholders. Our breadth of expertise is demonstrated by our range of clients including major fashion houses, designers, distributors, agents, influencers, retailers, photographers and models.
The fashion industry continues to face many challenges as consumer choices change. Our cross-practice expertise and the considerable industry knowledge of our lawyers in this sector allow us to advise our fashion clients on the wide range of uncertainties facing this sector today and help them to respond to the opportunities presented in a multi-channel environment.
Whatever your role in the fashion industry, our multi-disciplinary team can provide pragmatic and commercial advice to all stages of the supply chain.
We advise on:
- Branding and designs – we are specialists in all aspects of brand management and offer a complete legal service to fashion brands. We are specialists on comparative advertising, brand protection, copy clearance, defamation, image rights and regulatory advice.
- Influencer marketing and social media – we advise on the use of influencers in marketing campaigns, competitions and promotions on social media and the production of innovative branded content featuring influencers and other talent.
- Commercial contracts – we advise on all types of commercial contracts and partnerships including agency agreements, joint ventures, supply and distribution agreements, sponsorship, endorsement and ambassador agreements.
- Employment issues – we advise our fashion clients on the full range of employment issues, from employee disputes through to appointment deals and exit deals for senior management staff.
- Corporate transactions – we have a strong reputation for advising fashion clients of all sizes, from entrepreneurs to household names, seeking investment for their business – whether that be from a seed or venture capital fund, an angel investor or a family office looking to invest in a growing company.
- Litigation and disputes – we regularly handle disputes for well-known fashion retailers and provide key strategic and commercial advice from the outset of any dispute.
- Reputation management – we have unrivalled experience in handling legal issues faced by large retail global brands in the media spotlight including pre-publication or broadcast advice on threats to publish inaccurate or damaging allegations and helping companies who are resisting unwarranted attacks on their reputation. We have advised various high-profile individuals on the creation and development of their brand identity and the associated reshaping of their public image.
- Property – we manage property portfolios for both household name retailers and luxury brands and advise on complex fit outs and the continuing trend for pop-up stores.
- Technology – we provide unique strategies to tackle the legal obstacles posed by the use of new technologies by retailers. We regularly advise on online technical facilities, digital currencies, data handling, wearable technology, consumer protection legislation and more recently, blockchain. We advise clients on everything from the application of new technology to the creation of innovative business models.
The Beckhams
A number of departments across the Firm have been instructed by the Beckhams. We have advised longstanding client Victoria Beckham Limited, on the £30million private equity investment by Neo Investment Partners and the establishment of the new VB Beauty business.
Astrid & Miyu
We have been a legal advisor to Astrid & Miyu, the fast-growing cult-fashion brand founded by Connie Nam, since it was a start-up in 2015. More recently, we advised on all legal aspects of its £4 million investment round from German-based investment firm, Aeternum Holding, including employment, GDPR and commercial contract negotiations.
Harrods
We have advised Harrods in relation to multiple employment law issues including ad-hoc HR matters and employment tribunal proceedings.
Hunter Boots
We have advised iconic British heritage brand Hunter Boots for a number of years on a range of commercial, digital and data protection matters, including ecommerce and marketing.
Temperley London
We advise fashion power-house Temperley London, founded by Alice Temperley MBE, on a broad range of issues including corporate, intellectual property and property matters.
Wolford London
We have acted for Wolford for many years, regularly advising the company in relation to day-to-day employment law issues including dealing with all employment contracts, policies and procedures. We have also advised Wolford in relation to its e-commerce website documentation. We also act for Wolford on property matters including lease renewals and portfolio management including advice on rent review.
Melanie Benson
Partner
E: melanie.benson@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Sandi Simons
Partner
E: sandi.simons@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Marian Derham
Partner
E: marian.derham@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
John Kelly
Legal Consultant
E: john.kelly@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Michael Lister
Partner
E: michael.lister@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Rhys Llewellyn
Partner
E: rhys.llewellyn@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Shireen Peermohamed
Partner
E: shireen.peermohamed@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Sacha Wilson
Partner
E: sacha.wilson@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Lizzie Williams
Partner
E: lizzie.williams@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
May Delaney
Senior Associate
E: may.delaney@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Zoey Forbes
Managing Associate
E: zoey.forbes@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Emily Miles
Managing Associate
E: emily.miles@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Sofie Sigvardt
Associate
E: Sofie.Sigvardt@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000