Consumer products and retail
We have considerable expertise advising some of the world's leading consumer goods companies. From food and drink to luxury brands, our lawyers advise on legal and commercial issues including brand management and IP, competition and regulatory and investing in, acquiring and financing consumer businesses.
Examples of our expertise in the consumer products and retail/wholesale industry include:
Budweiser
Representing Anheuser-Busch, the US brewer of Budweiser beer, in the High Court and Court of Appeal in an action relating to statutory acquiescence regarding trade mark invalidations, which was then referred to the European Court of Justice.
Comet
Advising OpCapita LLP on its purchase of electrical retailer Comet Group plc from Kesa Electricals plc.
Costa Limited
Advising Costa Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Whitbread plc, on its public bid for coffeeheaven international for £36m and related matters.
Darwin Private Equity LLP
Advising Darwin Private Equity in relation to the management buy-out of retail and wholesale fashion label Fenn, Wright and Manson, from its founding shareholders and management team.
Mayborn Group
Advising 3i on its £150m take private of the baby goods and household dyes producer and subsequently for Mayborn on its disposal of Dylon and in its day to day activities. Mayborn has a range of international brands in baby feeding and hygiene, including Tommee Tippee and Sangenic.
Mothercare
Advising on the disposal to Mothercare of the Early Learning Centre and Daisy & Tom businesses (200 plus retail outlets).
Nike and Umbro
Advising on sportswear licensing and distribution contracts, including contested terminations in numerous jurisdictions.
Ottakar's
Advising Ottakar's on its takeover by HMV/Waterstone's. This deal involved an in-depth investigation by the Competition Commission into book retailing and resulted in over 400 complaints yet was cleared unconditionally.
Pernod Ricard
Advising Pernod Ricard on look-alike disputes against various supermarket own-label products.
Pret a Manger
Advising the selling shareholders on the sale of Pret a Manger to Bridgepoint for £345m.
Reebok
Acting for Reebok on a High Court dispute with Liverpool FC and a LCIA arbitration relating to a joint venture agreement.
TA Associates
Acting for TA Associates in relation to the acquisition of M&M Direct, an online merchant of sporting and clothing goods. We also advised on its acquisition of Cath Kidston, the consumer goods retailer operating from multiple outlets in the UK and Japan.
Threshers
Advising Threshers in relation to an investigation by the OFT into allegations of price-fixing in the retailing of tobacco products. The OFT imposed fines totalling £225m but under the terms of "early settlement" our tactics resulted in a significantly reduced fine than would otherwise have been the case.
