PEOPLE CAPABILITIES NEWS & EVENTS ABOUT CAREERS OFFICES & CONTACT Retail Featured Publication: Yeah, About That Consignment Agreement … How You Can Lose Your Goods in a Retail Bankruptcy [Alert] Allen Guon and Robert Fishman discuss the Uniform Commercial Code and the steps necessary to perfect your consignment under it. More Cozen O’Connor’s Retail Industry team serves as a one-stop shop for all segments of the retail industry. Led by attorneys who are widely recognized as trusted partners to and advocates for many of the country’s most prominent brands, our Retail Industry Group has a deep understanding of the multitude of issues that retailers face in both ordinary — and extraordinary — times. TRUSTED ADVISERS TO RETAILERS ON COVID-19 ISSUES The retail industry is faced with significant challenges during this unprecedented health crisis. 2020 and 2021 have brought heightened concerns for both essential and nonessential retailers. Our cross-practice group works hand-in-hand with retailers and other consumer-facing companies, helping them navigate a range of pressing and ever-changing concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. By assessing issues, benchmarking practices, and identifying practical solutions in real time, we assist retailers in minimizing disruptions and maximizing protections. Our cross-disciplinary team advises on a host of issues including: Workforce changes Employee leave, work-from-home and travel policies Health and safety policies and procedures for employees and consumers Face covers and temperature checks Employee and consumer privacy State and local regulations regarding store operations and closures Store-reopening protocols Negligence and other tort claims related to alleged exposure Asset protection Contracts with suppliers, operations vendors and other parties Real estate leases The CARES Act Event and subscription services cancellations Returned goods and return policies Shipping disclosures Retooled manufacturing efforts for production of PPE Intellectual property concerns Supply chain and logistics Commercial disputes Consumer, employee and shareholder class actions Customer communications Dynamic pricing and promotional activities Marketing Limitations on telemarketing triggered by state declarations of emergency Immigration and human movement restrictions False Claims Act suits Regulatory compliance Our Public Strategies Group counsels clients on the latest COVID-19-related policy developments affecting retailers and engages with federal, state, and local governments to pursue comprehensive government solutions. We ensure that retailers have visibility and clarity when it comes to the latest developments that may have implications for their businesses. We have never been more proud of being a partner to the industry, and we are committed to assisting retailers navigate these uncharted waters. PARTNERS TO RETAILERS IN AN EVOLVING LEGAL LANDSCAPE We recognize that the retail industry is unique. Our firm has a deep industry focus that enables us to be strategic partners to our clients in a complex and ever-changing landscape. We are not merely lawyers who happen to advise retailers. We are retail lawyers. As retailers grapple with a multitude of issues — including heightened demands for personalized customer experiences, new innovations in technology and data analytics, trade uncertainties, pricing pressures, litigation challenges, supply chain disruptions, enhanced consumer privacy protections, and changes to the workforce — we provide practical and business-oriented counsel to ensure our clients’ interests are thoroughly protected. Our lawyers are out in the marketplace, meeting with technology vendors and testing the latest tools being developed and pitched to the industry — and assessing their potential privacy, regulatory and legal implications. And we are sought after to speak and write on issues pertaining to the retail industry. Our clients include many of the country’s largest and most prominent retailers, as well as international fashion houses, niche and specialty brands, emerging ventures, and e-commerce companies. Our geographic reach, relationships with leading industry associations, and wide array of services, enables us to address any question or issue as it arises, and help retailers remain nimble in this dynamic environment. CLIENTS We recognize and address the shared and individualized needs of different segments of the industry. Our clients include retailers of all sizes and scope: Department stores Apparel Grocery Luxury Fashion Beauty Technology Pharmacy Children Pet Restaurants Accessories Office supplies Electronics Financial products Specialty Direct-to-consumer E-commerce CAPABILITIES Advertising AG investigations and enforcement Antitrust Arbitration agreements and class action waivers Artificial intelligence, AR/VR and biometric tools Asset protection Automatic renewals/subscription services Brand protection Business disputes California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Class actions Co-branded credit cards Consumer products Corporate finance Corporate governance Credit reporting Crisis management Consumer class actions COVID-19 issues Customs and trade Cybersecurity and data protection Data breach E-commerce Email campaigns Employee benefits Employee health and safety Employee training and management Employment litigation Executive compensation Fair pay False claims Foreign practices Franchising GDPR Gift cards HR investigations Human trafficking Influencer marketing Immigration Internal investigations International IP Labor disputes Licensing Loyalty programs “Made in USA” Marketing practices Mass Arbitration Mergers & acquisitions Mobile apps Pay cards Pricing and promotions Privacy compliance Privacy litigation Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) Product labeling Product safety Proposition 65 Real estate Reference pricing Remote workforce Restructuring Rewards programs Securities Shipping and delivery Social media Sponsorships/collaborations Supply chain Sweepstakes Tax Technology transactions and licensing Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) Terms & conditions and terms of use Text messaging Trademarks Trade secrets Wage and hour class actions Website and mobile app accessibility (ADA) Weights & measures Workplace safety Tweet PUBLICATIONS Yeah, About That Consignment Agreement … How You Can Lose Your Goods in a Retail Bankruptcy [Alert] December 08, 2020 Allen Guon and Robert Fishman discuss the Uniform Commercial Code and the steps necessary to perfect your consignment under it. A Wave of Privacy Class Action Litigation in the Wake of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act November 23, 2020 Michael McTigue, Meredith Slawe, and Daniel Brewer co-authored an article published by the American Bar Association discussing how the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) has sparked a meaningful shift in the nature of privacy class action litigation and how the TCPA impacts businesses and customers today. New U.S. Ban on Chinese Cotton Suppliers Adds Stress to Fashion Industry’s Weakened Supply Chain [Alert] September 21, 2020 Danielle Garno, Heather Marx, and Samuel Mogensen discuss U.S. Customs and Border Protection five WROs banning cotton, apparel, and other goods that were produced with state-sponsored forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Fashion Industry Adaptations Amid Trade War, Pandemic September 18, 2020 Danielle Garno and Heather Marx published an article to Law360 discussing the different effects that trade policies and the COVID-19 pandemic have had on the fashion industry. DOJ Prosecutes Fashion Company For Skirting Customs Tariffs - Could This Be The Hot New Trend? [Alert] September 02, 2020 Danielle Garno, Rachel Collins Clarke, and Joseph Simpson discuss the DOJ's action against Ambiance Apparel and what it could mean for other fashion companies. The benefits of long-term relationships in influencer marketing August 14, 2020 Danielle Garno and Mayura Noordyke contributed an article to Agility PR Solutions discussing how putting in the work to build long-term relationships with influencers is the best way for brands to reap stable and continuing benefits. Making Sense of "Made in the USA" July 30, 2020 Richard Fama and Brenden Coller contributed an article to Retail Leader discussing what “Made in the USA” really means and if the definition of that phrase will change given the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent announcement of a proposed rule governing “Made in the USA” claims. Lease Forbearance Agreements in the Age of COVID-19 June 02, 2020 Adam Silvermann discusses a variety of issues and provisions landlords (and tenants) should consider when crafting a lease forbearance agreement during the COVID-19 crisis. While the world is on pause, it’s a good time to review your social media compliance policy April 20, 2020 Danielle Garno and Brianne Polito contributed an article to Agility PR Solutions encouraging businesses to review their social media advertising strategies and compliance programs to ensure that they are updated, specifically tailored to the business, and that their marketing teams as well as influencers understand what is required under the FTC regulations. EVENTS & SEMINARS Past Events RLAW Education Conference October 26, 2021 - Webinar Mike McTigue and Meredith Slawe Invited to Speak with Members of the National Retail Federation April 28, 2021 - Virtual Miami Fashion Institute at Miami Dade College's Innovators in Fashion Virtual Conference March 24, 2021 - Webinar Driving Innovation, Creativity, and Effective Strategy: The Positive Impact of Diverse Teams on Addressing Trends in Litigation and Government Enforcement March 18, 2021 - Webinar How Social Media is Transforming the Legal Profession March 15, 2021 - Webinar Consumer Class and Mass Action Risks Facing Restaurants in 2021 January 28, 2021 - Webinar Influencer Marketing Latest trends, do’s and don’ts and what’s coming up in 2021 December 09, 2020 - Webinar Luxury’s Litigation Landscape – What is current? And what is trending for next season? - Luxury Law Summit Americas December 03, 2020 - Webinar Trends Within Influencer Marketing - a Nordic and US Perspective November 25, 2020 - Webinar DePaul Sports Law Journal Symposium 2020 November 18, 2020 - Chicago, Illinois Tips from the Top: Career Advice From Some of the Nation’s Leading In-house Counsel – Presented by ACC Greater Philadelphia’s Career Development/In-transition Committee October 27, 2020 - Webinar Aggressively Litigating Consumer Class Actions – Retail Law Conference October 20, 2020 - Webinar Ask a GC: Mike Eckhardt, Wawa – Retail Law Conference October 20, 2020 - Webinar Life and Leadership During COVID – Retail Law Conference October 20, 2020 - Webinar Protecting Your Brand and the New Rules for Influencer Marketing September 23, 2020 - Webinar University of Miami's Entertainment Industry Roundtable June 30, 2020 - Webinar Global Entertainment & Sports Law + Industry Conference April 02, 2020 - Coral Gables, FL How Will Coronavirus Affect Your Small Business? March 27, 2020 - Webinar Innovators in Fashion March 25, 2020 - Miami, FL Dade County Bar Association Annual Bench and Bar 2020 March 06, 2020 - Miami, FL IN THE NEWS Class Actions Group Files Amicus Brief in the Eleventh Circuit Related to Data Breach Class Action May 06, 2021 Mike McTigue, Meredith Slawe, Becky Girolamo, and Max Kaplan of the Class Actions Practice Group filed an amicus brief in the 11th Circuit in support of Brinker International, the parent company of the Chili’s and Maggiano’s restaurant chains, on May 5, 2021. 7th Circuit Considers Scope of IL Biometric Info Privacy Act April 06, 2021 Mike McTigue, Meredith Slawe, and Marie Bussey-Garza in the Class Actions Practice Group; Anna Wermuth in the Labor & Employment Practice Group; and Michael De Leeuw, Stephen Miller, and Tamar Wise in the Appellate & Supreme Court Practice Group collaborated on an amicus brief that was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on Monday, April 5. Legal Groups Back White Castle's 7th Circ. Bid To Curb BIPA April 06, 2021 Meredith C. Slawe, Michael W. McTigue Jr., Stephen A. Miller, Marie Bussey-Garza, Michael de Leeuw, Tamar S. Wise, and Anna Wermuth, the attorneys for the amici curiae, were featured in an article published by Law360. Pepperdine School of Law profiles Danielle Garno November 10, 2020 Danielle Garno's alma mater, Pepperdine School of Law, profiled Danielle and her fashion law practice, featuring her advice for Pepperdine law students hoping to follow her career path, as well as highlighting her recent co-authored Law360 article. Meredith Slawe Honored as a 2020 Best Law Firm Mentor by The Legal Intelligencer September 29, 2020 Meredith Slawe, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Class Actions practice and co-chair of the Retail Industry team, has been recognized by The Legal Intelligencer as a 2020 Professional Excellence Award winner in the Best Law Firm Mentors category. Tariff Takedown: Why Ambiance Apparel's $118 Million Federal Case is Fashion's Cautionary Tale September 22, 2020 Danielle Garno and Rachel Collins Clarke were featured in a Sourcing Journal article which discusses how federal prosecutors have filed charges against a Los Angeles Fashion District clothing importer. What Happens When A Beauty Brand Claims A Product Is Vegan That’s Really Not? July 20, 2020 Danielle Garno was quoted in Beauty Independent discussing the possible consequences for claiming a product is vegan when its actually not. Why Fashion Brands and Their Retail Landlords Are Suing Each Other June 26, 2020 Danielle Garno was quoted in the Business of Fashion discussing the legal battles going on between fashion brands and their retail landlords. Cozen O'Connor snaps up high-profile litigation team May 28, 2020 Cozen O'Connor was highlighted for their recent additions of two of the country's leading class action litigators. Class Action Litigators Bring Team to Cozen O'Connor: Michael W. McTigue Jr. and Meredith C. Slawe Spearhead National Class Actions Practice; Recognized White Collar Defense Attorney and Trial Lawyer Mira Baylson Joins May 27, 2020 Continuing the firm’s strategic expansion of complex litigation and investigations practices and the premier Technology, Privacy and Data Security Team What the Bankruptcy Onslaught Means for the Future of Retail May 11, 2020 Danielle Garno was quoted in The Business of Fashion explaining that retailers, healthy and distressed alike, have tapped their credit lines with banks, which are now “overextended and cautious about the sector.” Thinking of Not Paying Rent Amid COVID-19? Landlords Sue Ross Stores, Other Commercial Tenants May 05, 2020 Danielle Garno was featured in the Daily Business Review warning that parties to the lawsuit must understand how intertwined their businesses are in order to come to a resolution, rather than just enforcing obligations under the lease. What To Do About Rent April 02, 2020 Danielle Garno was quoted in the Business of Fashion, discussing the best thing for tenants to do during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cozen O’Connor Welcomes Miami-based Litigator Danielle N. Garno February 24, 2020 Cozen O’Connor announced Danielle N. Garno, a seasoned litigator, who has joined the firm from Greenberg Traurig, will be a member in the firm’s Miami office. Garno will chair Cozen O'Connor’s Retail Industry Team and lead the firm’s fashion, beauty, and luxury goods practice. CONTACTS Meredith C. Slawe Co-Chair, Class Actions Chair, Retail mslawe@cozen.com (215) 665-4175 PEOPLE Andrew Baer Chair, Technology, Privacy & Data Security Philadelphia Mira E. Baylson Member Philadelphia Daniela Berisiartu Barshel Associate Miami Richard H. Berney Co-Chair, Leasing New York Daniel Brewer, CIPP/US Member Philadelphia Christian S. Bruno Member Miami Alphonso A. Collins Member New York Rikisha Collins Associate Philadelphia Amy F. Divino Co-Chair, Trademark Prosecution Practice New York Jason Domark Member Miami Richard Fama Member New York Lisa A. Ferrari Co-Chair, Copyright Practice New York Debra Steiner Friedman Member Philadelphia Tia C. Ghattas Member Chicago Jenny R. Goltz Member Chicago Jonathan M. Grossman Co-Chair, Antitrust Washington, D.C. Susan A. Grueneberg Member Los Angeles Danielle Harris Associate Chicago Kendall Kelly Hayden Member Dallas Peter Henein Member Toronto Katayun Jaffari Chair, Corporate Governance & Securities Philadelphia Lori Kalani Co-Chair, State Attorneys General Washington, D.C. Menachem J. Kastner Member New York Paul K. Leary, Jr. Co-Vice Chair, Business Litigation Philadelphia Lorraine Linford Co-Chair, Trademark Prosecution Practice Seattle Thomas Alan Lisk Member Richmond Thomas E. Lombardi Member Santa Monica Ann-Marie Luciano Member Washington, D.C. Hugh J. Marbury Member Washington, D.C. Patrick G. Martin Managing Director, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies Chicago Michael W. McTigue Jr. Co-Chair, Class Actions Philadelphia Camille M. Miller Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Department Philadelphia Christian Moretti Vice Chair, International Practice New York Edgar G. Rapoport Member Minneapolis Nandini Sane Associate Houston Michael C. Schmidt Vice Chair, Labor & Employment Department New York Martin T. Schrier Chief Strategy Partner Miami Meredith C. Slawe Co-Chair, Class Actions Chair, Retail Philadelphia Walter M. Stella Member San Francisco Edward M. Weisz Co-Chair, Patent Prosecution Practice New York A. Martin Wickliff, Jr. Member Houston Paula L. Zecchini Vice Chair, Business Litigation Seattle AWARDS Meredith Slawe Honored as a 2020 Best Law Firm Mentor by The Legal Intelligencer RELATED PRACTICE AREAS Commercial Litigation Intellectual Property Italy Practice Labor & Employment Mergers & Acquisitions Real Estate Tax Keep up-to-date with the latest Retail news from Cozen O'Connor Enter your City or Zip. SIGN ME UP Sign up to receive alerts, publications, and event / webinar invites. By submitting your contact information, you are giving Cozen O'Connor consent to contact you via email. 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