Most successful consumer businesses are built on the philosophy of staying close to the customer - knowing what drives them and giving them the right products and services at the right price. Delivering on that simple mission in a way that is efficient and cost effective is not easy. We recognise that to look after the end consumer, you need to focus on:

  • developing and sourcing great product;
  • building and sustaining the right brand image;
  • communicating and promoting that brand effectively;
  • managing the flow of goods through the business;
  • using the right distribution channels or having the optimum store network; and
  • keeping ahead of competitors and on the right side of regulators.

We were one of the first law firms to develop specialised sector groups, such as consumer products and retail, that integrate knowledge and experience of the market in which you operate with world-leading skills in our industrial legal practice areas.

Our consumer products and retail sector group has over 100 partners with sector knowhow in key jurisdictions, offering our clients an integrated network backed up by the resources of an international business law firm. We have a proven track record of advising leading multinational companies in this sector on a range of legal issues, including industry consolidation, brand management, product liability and recall and competition and regulation.

See how we add value in these areas or read our publications in our briefings section.

We can give you better legal support in achieving your business plans by building an international team that understands the commercial challenges that you face. Please contact us if you would like to talk about the legal challenges and opportunities in the sector.

Industry investment

We understand that our consumer products and retail clients are operating in a rapidly transforming and competitive environment marked by increased regulation, the need for market consolidation and decreasing customer loyalty.

We invest in our consumer products and retail knowhow to ensure we have a clear business understanding of the issues affecting the market. This allows us to provide our clients with focused legal thinking and high service delivery. We also organise events and information analysis, enabling management to participate in thought leadership in the sector. This industry knowledge helps keep our clients ahead of the competition.

Our team members are widely published and speak regularly on issues affecting the market.

Getting it right: product recall in the EU

An international study of industry attitudes to product safety and recall in the EU

Read the report

Is your product safe? New Guidance published by the European Commission (February 2010)
View

News

Freshfields advises Pearson on its recommended takeover offer for Melorio View

Freshfields elects nine to counsel role View

Briefings

Foreign direct investment in the consumer products and retail sector in China  View

Protecting the consumer from unfair trading  View

Awards

Private equity deal of the year - International Financial Law Review: European Awards, Deals of the Year (2008)

Dispute Resolution Team of the Year - Legal Business Awards (2007)

View all awards

Contacts