Buckworths advises retail and fashion businesses, from early-stage designers and e-commerce start-ups through to established brands and multi-site retailers.
We advise on supply of goods agreements, distribution and reseller arrangements, agency agreements, and consumer terms. We advise on e-commerce law for online retailers and on compliance with consumer protection legislation. We handle trademark registration in the UK, EU, and internationally, advise on design rights protection, and enforce IP rights against infringers. We also assist with brand licensing and co-branding arrangements.
For businesses with physical retail premises, we advise on commercial leases, renewals, and related property matters. On employment, we advise on staff contracts, HR policies, TUPE on business transfers, and redundancies.
For fashion and retail businesses raising investment or going through a transaction, we advise on funding rounds, shareholder agreements, and M&A including acquisitions and trade sales.
Book a free consultation to discuss your retail or fashion business.
Our Services
- Commercial
- Commercial Property
- Corporate
- Data Protection
- Dispute Resolution
- Employee Incentivisation
- Employment
- Franchising
- Funding
- General Counsel
- Intellectual Property
- Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
- Regulatory Services
- Secretarial Services
- Strategy and Business Support
FAQs
Protecting a fashion brand involves several layers of IP protection: 1. Register your brand name and logo as trademarks in the UK, EU, and internationally. 2. File registered design applications for distinctive product shapes and designs. 3. Copyright protects original prints, patterns, and creative content automatically on creation. 4. Use written IP assignment agreements with any freelance designers. We advise fashion businesses on the right combination of protection and act in enforcement proceedings when infringement occurs.
Key legal issues in retail supply chains include product liability, compliance with trading standards and consumer protection law, supplier agreements covering quality, delivery, and liability, and payment terms. If you source products internationally, additional considerations include import duties, customs compliance, and the enforceability of foreign supplier contracts. We advise retail businesses on their supply chain agreements.
Online retailers selling to UK consumers must comply with the Consumer Contracts Regulations, providing cancellation rights of at least 14 days, pre-contract information about pricing and delivery, and a clear returns process. Your website terms must be fair and transparent under consumer protection legislation. We advise online retail businesses on consumer law compliance and draft compliant terms and conditions.