Retail & Leisure

Success in the retail and leisure sectors requires the right mix of expertise and adaptability. Competition in this sector can be tough; to thrive, it's important to respond quickly to the evolving economy and changing consumer habits. Michelmores has the experience and knowledge to help you succeed.

Our specialist Retail and Leisure Solicitors have a strong track record in providing quality advice to our clients, acting for household-names and in-demand brands. Our industry-aware team will keep you on track and focus not only on the legal aspects, but also on the wider commercial context. We have particular experience in advising retailers experiencing difficult trading and regularly advise clients on:

• Supply agreements
• Lease renewals
• Payment systems
• Employment and employee issues
• Franchises
• Logistics and distribution
• Real estate
• IP protection and exploitation
• Online trading
• Data-security
• Debt and equity investments
• Restructuring

Our experience

• Advising Seasalt on multi-million pound investment.
• Advising Mindful Chef, the UK’s favourite healthy recipe box brand, as it secured Series A investment of £6m from Piper, a leading investor into fast growing consumer brands.
• Acting for Jessops on new stores, relocations and concessions.
• Advising the Boards of Directors of companies in the Karen Millen group on issues arising from its difficult trading.
• Advising a retailer with stores in Westfield Stratford and Soho on a group reorganisation, including employment issues arising from the same.
• Advising the Board of Directors of Toys "R" Us Properties (UK) Limited following the administration of other companies in its group.
• Advising KPMG as administrators of Swoon, an upmarket online furniture retailer, on its sales to its founder directors.
• Acting for the management team in the management buy-out of Gro Group, the award-winning global nursery brand.
• Advising TOMY on the global strategy and enforcement of international intellectual property rights.
• Acting for the Board of Directors of an online retailer of women's fashion on issues arising from its difficult trading and financial distress.
• Advising the Board of Directors of each of Mothercare UK Limited, Early Learning Centre Limited and Childrens World Limited on their duties and responsibilities in respect of their proposed CVAs, and subsequently advising the Administrators of Childrens World Limited.
• Acting for Kew Green Hotels in connection with the restructuring of c.£100m of debt and subsequent assignment of its debt and equity to new investors.
• Advising Semafone in complex negotiations with major retailers for the implementation of its patented and PCI-compliant regulatory-compliant secure voice transaction solution for contact centres and retailers taking Card-holder Not Present payments.
• Advising La Prairie on its commercial arrangements including concession relationships.
• Advising the leading retailer of outdoor clothing, equestrian, shooting, garden and farming products on a business management information system designed to establish a replacement group-wide integrated business solution.
• Advising a leading retailer on Employment Tribunal claims, resolving complex disciplinary and grievance issues, and the restructuring of its group pension schemes.
• Advising Scot Group/Thrifty UK on the negotiation of its UK master franchise relationship with Hertz.