This year’s seminar will discuss some of the common business problems faced by the fashion industry and how even the largest companies can get it wrong. We will focus on issues of concern to investors, avoiding employment law challenges relating to size and disability, protecting your intellectual property, and what the details of your property lease really mean.

We also welcome our guest speaker Katherine Elizabeth, an award winning milliner, who will take you through her journey to the top in the fashion industry.

Our panel of experts at this year’s Fashion Law seminar will address:

  • Why Dov Charney almost got it wrong and Lion Capital got it right – Watching for the issues which concern investors.

Peter Faber

  • Why Abercrombie & Fitch got it wrong and Riam Dean got it right – Avoiding the employment law problems of obesity, size zero, and disability.

Joanna Chatterton

  • Is NatWest still in fashion?

Roger Fenwick

  • Why Victoria’s Secret got it wrong and why Thomas Pink got it right – Protecting your IP and knowing when to claim infringement.

Simon Bennett

  • Why Marks & Spencer got it wrong and why BNP Paribas got it right – Ensuring that your lease says what you think it says.

Elizabeth Ruff

  • A Milliner’s Tale – Award winning milliner Katherine Elizabeth discusses her experience in the fashion industry.

Katherine Elizabeth

Welcome: Jonathan Coates, Relationship Director, Commercial Banking, Specialist Sectors, RBS/NatWest

Chair: Stephen Sidkin, Partner and Chair of Fashion Law Group at Fox Williams LLP

Speakers:

  • Peter Faber, Corporate Partner and member of the Fashion Law Group at Fox Williams LLP
  • Joanna Chatterton, Employment Partner and member of the Fashion Law Group at Fox Williams LLP
  • Roger Fenwick,Regional Director of Specialist Sectors, NatWest
  • Simon Bennett, Intellectual Property Partner and member of the Fashion Law Group at Fox Williams LLP
  • Elizabeth Ruff, Real Estate Partner and member of the Fashion Law Group at Fox Williams LLP
  • Katherine Elizabeth, owner of Katherine Elizabeth Millinery.

Date: 8 October 2014

Venue: RBS International HQ, 250 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4AA

Time: Registration 6.00pm

Presentations and Q&A from 6.30 to 7.45pm

Reception from 7.45 to 8.45pm

Biographies

Stephen Sidkin, Fox Williams LLP
020 7614 2505
slsidkin@foxwilliams.com

Stephen is an avid believer in the importance and value of brands and is proud to advise many of Fox Williams’ fashion clients on their commercial law needs. The work undertaken by him regularly includes advising fashion companies on international agency and distributorship agreements, trade mark licensing, franchise agreements and competition law. Stephen has been publicly recognised as a leading authority on distributorship and agency law and, in particular, the Commercial Agents Regulations.

Peter Faber, Fox Williams LLP
020 7614 2525
pfaber@foxwilliams.com

Peter is a partner in our corporate department, where his particular focus is international and domestic M&A. He has extensive experience in UK and cross-border acquisitions, disposals and mergers (for both publicly listed and private companies), public share offerings and financings, corporate reconstructions and joint ventures, as well as private equity and venture/development capital investments (representing, variously, investors, management teams, debt providers and sellers). He regularly advises fashion clients on M&A deals, taking private equity and other external investment and on joint ventures.

Joanna Chatterton, Fox Williams LLP
020 7614 2617
jkchatterton@foxwilliams.com

Joanna is a partner in the employment department with a special interest and specialist experience in working with clients in the fashion industry. This ranges from defending fashion businesses from allegations of disability and sex discrimination to advising on ensuring interns aren’t deemed employees. She is well regarded for her support to fashion businesses through managing grievances, disciplinary processes and dismissals.

Simon Bennett, Fox Williams LLP
020 7614 2522
sbennett@foxwilliams.com

Simon is a partner in the group and advises clients on a variety of fashion related matters. These have included helping Marks & Spencer put a cybersquatter in prison for domain name infringement and copying of its website as well as advising leading French lingerie company Chantelle SA on a trade mark infringement issue.

Elizabeth Ruff, Fox Williams LLP
020 7614 2514
eruff@foxwilliams.com

Liz has joined the Fashion Law team where her experience acting for landlords of large shopping centres as well as tenants on individual retail letttings and portfolio management will be very welcome. Katherine Elizabeth, Katherine Elizabeth Millinery Award-winning

Katherine Elizabeth

Katherine Elizabeth Millinery constantly pushes the boundaries for strong conceptual creations and show stopping collections. Past years have seen Katherine as guest presenter on the BBC’s Royal Ascot Ladies Day screening, commissioned to create the hat for the official Princess Catherine Doll and a special exhibition of her work at Coutts Bank during London Fashion Week. Katherine’s creations are stocked internationally in leading boutiques and she has collaborated with some of London’s most prestigious stores and personalities.

Roger Fenwick

Roger Fenwick is the Regional Director of Specialist Sectors at NatWest.

How to register:

Places are limited so please register early by emailing our Events team at  fashionupdates@foxwilliams.com or 020 7614 2626 with your full name and company details to secure your free