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Retail & Consumer Brands

We appreciate the unique demands facing consumer product and retail companies.  Our attorneys have helped consumer-oriented businesses grow and succeed while safeguarding brand equity and image. From financing and acquisitions to product launches and licensing, we understand all you do drives the company’s image and future.

Our clients include a wide range of consumer entities – from start-ups developing and commercializing products to multi-billion dollar international consumer product enterprises.  Our clients span the entire spectrum of consumer sectors, including:

  • Household and personal products
  • Apparel and shoes
  • Retail stores
  • Food products
  • Luxury goods
  • Publishing and music
  • Toys and games
  • Gaming
  • Sports

We frequently work with clients as they develop and extend brand image and protect rights in products, brands and proprietary technologies. For example, our work has recently included:

  • Represented Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in connection with its agreement with McDonald's for 650 stores in New England
  • Acquisition of naming rights to Gillette Stadium, a major professional sports arena
  • Development of an exclusive brand license with Reebok and the NFL
  • Revision of a licensing program for major mattress manufacturer Simmons
  • Development of a design protection program for Carter's, the nation's largest branded marketer of children's clothing

Understanding consumer product companies’ needs also allows us to provide strategic advice in acquisitions and financings involving privately held and publicly traded entities, operating companies and private equity clients.  Our recent experience in this area includes:

  • Acquisition of Reebok by adidas-Salomon
  • Acquisition of Party City, a major discount party store
  • Acquisition by Reebok of Ralph Lauren Footwear
  • Acquisition by Timberland of Smartwool, a manufacturer of wool-based apparel, socks and accessories
  • Sale of Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp. to AMC Entertainment Inc.
  • Acquisition of Brookstone, Inc., a specialty retailer
  • Acquisition by Carter's, Inc. of OshKosh B'Gosh, a marketer of children's apparel
  • Acquisition of MD Beauty, the maker of the Bare Escentuals line of beauty products
  • Acquisition of Bombardier, a major recreational product business
  • Initial public offering of Domino’s Pizza Inc., the leading pizza delivery company
  • An initial public offering of Carter’s, a premier children’s clothing manufacturer
  • Acquisition of Bob’s Stores, a northeast regional retail chain

Ropes & Gray attorneys also assist consumer organizations with day-to-day operational activities.  From attaining new financing, to managing governance issues, to preparing securities disclosures, to ensuring that your intellectual property portfolio is properly handled, we have the experience to anticipate needs and exceed expectations.  Our industry knowledge allows us to guide your development of pricing and promotional plans, distribution and franchise matters, compensation systems and other industry-specific management processes.

For further information on this industry area, please contact:

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