Our globally integrated team delivers end-to-end intellectual property advice across the deal lifecycle. We combine deep transactional experience with nuanced brand and regulatory insight to execute complex, high-value transactions involving trademarks, copyrights, licensing, and related rights.
We are particularly well positioned in IP-centric structures, including sale/license-back transactions, securitizations, and IP holding company strategies, where brand value is central to the investment thesis.
Our experience spans the full consumer landscape, including food and beverage, apparel and footwear, beauty and personal care, restaurants, luxury, sporting goods, and digital commerce.
How Can We Help
- Leading IP diligence and brand valuation in complex M&A, divestitures, financings, and joint ventures, with a focus on trademarks, copyrights, licensing, and advertising risk
- Structuring and executing IP-driven transactions, including brand acquisitions and divestitures, sale/license-back arrangements, whole-business securitizations, carve-outs, spin-offs, and IP holding company formations
- Negotiating and operationalizing high-value IP licenses and commercial agreements, including co-branding and collaboration transactions, celebrity and influencer partnerships, and supply chain and distribution arrangements
- Building and implementing global trademark and brand strategies to protect, scale, and monetize core brand assets
- Advising on publicity rights and evolving brand issues, including NIL, social media, influencer engagement, and eponymous brands
- Identifying and mitigating brand, regulatory, and consumer protection risks across the full lifecycle of consumer-facing businesses
Awards
We are consistently recognized among the top practitioners in intellectual property transactions and licensing, with honors reflecting our impact on high-value collaborations and strategic transactions.
- Chambers USA – Intellectual Property; Retail: Corporate & Transactional
- The Legal 500 US – Intellectual Property
- The Fashion Law “Top U.S. Law Firms for Retail Companies” (2026)
- Managing IP Americas Awards “IP Transactions Firm of the Year” (2023, 2025)
- WTR1000 – The World's Leading Trademark Professionals (2011–2026)
- WTR – Global Leaders (2020–2026)
- World Intellectual Property Review – USA Trademarks Rankings (2023-2025)
Experience
We partner with consumer-facing brands on the intellectual property aspects of product launches, retail partnerships, endorsement agreements, and brand licensing programs.
- Advent International in its definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Salt & Stone, a Los Angeles-based high-performance body care brand.
- Altamont Capital Partners:
- in an investment in Mini Melts USA, LLC, a premium frozen novelty product company based in the Philadelphia area; and
- in its sale of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, an owner and operator of a chain of dine-in movie theaters, to a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
- Anastasia Beverly Hills, an iconic cosmetics company, in a fully consensual recapitalization. The transaction was supported by all of the company’s shareholders and lenders, significantly reduced the company’s debt, and strengthened the company’s balance sheet through a $225 million equity investment from founder and CEO Anastasia Soare.
- Authority Brands, Domino's Pizza, European Wax Center, Goddard Schools, Servpro Industries, Wendy's, and Zaxby's on IP aspects of whole-business securitizations.
- Compass Diversified:
- in connection with its sale of its majority owned subsidiary, Wheelhouse Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Marucci Sports, LLC, to Fox Factory Holding Corp.; and
- in its definitive agreement to partner with feminine care brand The Honey Pot Company for an enterprise value of $380 million.
- European Wax Center Board of Directors in completing the take-private transaction of European Wax Center, Inc., a leading franchisor and operator of out-of-home waxing services in the United States, by General Atlantic, a leading global investor, in an all-cash transaction with an implied enterprise value of approximately $640 million.
- Gillette in a series of Lanham Act false advertising suits against rival Schick.
- Guess? shareholders, including co-founders and key executives, in a $1.4 billion take-private and IP sale / license-back transaction with Authentic Brands Group under which Authentic acquired 51% of an intellectual property holdco and licensed the assets back to the operating company.
- Leonard Green & Partners in its acquisition of a majority stake in Topgolf and Toptracer from Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp., valuing Topgolf at approximately $1.1 billion.
- National Association of Basketball Coaches on the formation of a new media company, Coaches + Media, related services agreements, and brand and media licensing arrangements.
- OLAPLEX, a portfolio company of Advent International, in its $1.4 billion sale to Henkel, a global manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands.
- Reebok International Ltd. in its exclusive outfitter and apparel deal with UFC. Also represented Reebok in its sales of The Rockport Company and Mitchell & Ness.
- Samsonite Group in its agreement to acquire BÉIS, the digitally native lifestyle and travel brand founded by actress Shay Mitchell, for approximately $210 million.
- Simple Mills on the IP aspects of its $795 million sale to Flower Foods.
- Sodiaal (Yoplait) as IP transactions and U.S. M&A counsel in its acquisition of General Mills' Canadian yogurt business, including licensing of well-known consumer brands in the U.S. and Canada and related commercial arrangements.
- Stride Consumer Partners LLC, a growth equity investment firm focused on passion brands in consumer products and services, in connection with numerous transactions, including:
- as lead investor in Crown Affair’s Series C funding round.
- its minority investment in Odele, a Minneapolis-based clean hair care brand.
- its minority investment in Patrick Ta Beauty, the namesake beauty brand for world-renowned makeup artist to celebrities Patrick Ta.
- The Hershey Company on the IP aspects of its acquisition of Sour Strips.
- The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of European Wax Center, Inc. in the $640 million take-private acquisition of European Wax Center, a leading franchisor and operator of out-of-home waxing services in the United States, by General Atlantic.
- TSG Consumer:
- in its definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Saltair, a Los Angeles-based body care brand.
- in its acquisition of PHLUR, a modern fragrance brand recognized for its emotion-led storytelling and accessible positioning.
- in its strategic growth investment of DUDE Wipes, a personal hygiene company recognized for its flushable wipes.
- Vince Holding Corp:
- in a cross-border transaction involving the acquisition of the operating business of October's Very Own (OVO), a globally recognized Canadian streetwear and lifestyle brand co-founded by the Canadian rapper, Aubrey “Drake” Graham.
- in its strategic partnership with Authentic Brands Group, including a going-forward license from the new IP holding company for total consideration of $76.5 million in cash and a 25% membership interest.
- Yasso Holdings, Inc. and Castanea Partners in a definitive agreement to sell Yasso Holdings, Inc. to global consumer goods company Unilever.
- Xerox Holdings Corporation in its agreement to acquire Lexmark International, Inc. from Ninestar Corporation, PAG Asia Capital, and Shanghai Shouda Investment Centre in a deal valued at $1.5 billion. A large national retailer subject to FTC investigation for alleged failure to comply with a consumer protection statute, resulting in a public closing letter.
