We develop long-term partnerships with our luxury brand clients, providing them with the full spectrum of legal services, from day-to-day strategic advice for their US operations to handling employment and other business-related disputes, real estate, brand protection and intellectual property matters. Over many years, our in-depth knowledge and experience of the luxury retail industry has allowed us to develop a practical and holistic approach, working very closely with in-house legal teams as well as senior management and HR professionals.
Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Governance: Our team counsels clients regarding store closures and business wind downs, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, real estate loan work-outs, restructurings and foreclosures. We have guided several luxury brand fashion manufacturers through bankruptcy cases, represented several luxury fashion, jewelry, footwear, and accessory brands in connection with their negotiations with distressed retail partners both in and out of bankruptcy cases, and presented on bankruptcy topics at the Federal Bar Association’s Fashion Law Conference.
Business Litigation: Business disputes are commonplace in the competitive world of luxury brands, and companies must know how to protect and defend themselves when necessary. Our litigation team provides Alternative Dispute Resolution and related services across the full spectrum of disputes that arise, including liability claims, trademark prosecution, labor relations and workforce issues, e-commerce claims involving Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and litigation matters with landlords on a variety of issues.
Corporate: We advise on the full range of corporate and business transactions, including distribution, licensing, logistics and fulfillment, mergers and acquisitions, buyouts, investments, sales, joint ventures, equity financings, commercial partnerships and other strategic business deals, as well as all related tax and bankruptcy matters.
Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits: We represent executives of global luxury retailers and labels in connection with negotiating and drafting employment and equity arrangements. We are often involved in the earliest stages of a company’s lifecycle, creating operating and partnership agreements, as well as employment, separation and restrictive covenant agreements, incentive compensation plans and ESOPs.
Labor & Employment: We work hand in hand with our clients’ corporate and HR teams to understand their business objectives and resolve the complex legal and employee-relations challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. We structure and implement employment terms based on a unique understanding of the market, draft and negotiate agreements that keep our clients competitive for obtaining the best talent, draft employee policies and procedures to protect businesses from compliance issues, and craft restrictive covenant agreements to deter employees from being disloyal and safeguard the business, as well as provide training regarding policies that prohibit workplace harassment, retaliation and discrimination in any form. In addition to regularly mitigating employment-related risks and protecting brands, we effectively negotiate disputes and vigorously defend our clients’ interests in courts and arbitration forums throughout the country in connection with various employment issues, including wage and hour, discrimination, sexual harassment and contractual claims.
Real Estate: Clients turn to us for their real estate needs, including leasing, construction, acquisitions and dispositions of property. We handle hundreds of lease negotiations each year in flagship street locations, life style centers, shopping centers, storage facilities and distribution centers throughout the US and Canada, securing optimal lease terms for our retail clients. Our real estate litigation team is known for obtaining successful outcomes in real estate-related disputes and litigation involving various retail issues for luxury brands and iconic properties nationwide, including New York, Chicago, Miami and San Francisco.
Technology, Data & IP: We work closely with our clients to safeguard the value of their products through licensing and the registration and enforcement of copyrights, patents, trademarks and trade dress, as well as portfolio management and website terms and conditions counsel. We also help clients comply with evolving privacy and data security laws and regulations (including the CCPA and GDPR), identify gaps in their privacy policy and prevent and respond to data and security breaches.
Recognition
Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ – Named several members of our Retail and Consumer Products sector as leading lawyers in the categories of Real Estate Law, Real Estate Litigation, Bankruptcy Litigation, Executive Compensation and Labor & Employment.
Representative Experience
Represented an Italian-based luxury retailer against a proposed class of current and former corporate and retail employees seeking to conditionally certify a nationwide class action for various wage and hour violations in New York federal court.
Successfully defended an Italian-based fashion brand against discrimination and retaliation claims in Georgia federal court.
Successfully defended an Australian luxury brand against various discrimination and retaliation claims in California state court.
Successfully represented an Italian luxury brand against wage and hour claims and discrimination claims in California federal court.
Represented a French luxury fashion house in the leasing of their flagship stores on Fifth Avenue in New York City and on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago.
Represented an Italian-based luxury fashion brand in the leasing of their flagship store on Madison Avenue.
Handled numerous trademark opposition disputes for luxury fashion retailers.
Advised a private art collector in connection with a multimillion-dollar sculpture acquisition, including transport and installation considerations for the artwork.
