Consumers are becoming ever more discerning. The focus on individual consumers is growing. The emergence of e-commerce offers opportunities for market players such as international retail chains, manufacturers who wish to sell their products directly to consumers, and companies that want to turn big data into smart data. The traditional concept of the ‘shop’ is changing rapidly in response to these opportunities. The combination of online and offline sales is presenting major challenges to manufacturers and retailers alike. What is more, the Authority for Consumers and Markets is making more efforts to regulate unfair business practices, and, in May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force. The GDPR gives European regulators the power to impose substantial fines on companies that misuse personal data. The Retail & Consumer Products Team at Houthoff has in-depth knowledge of the retail sector. The inevitable shift towards omni-channel sales will complicate distribution and data processing, and require strategic partnerships and effective chain management in order to create and maintain a level playing field. At Houthoff, our experienced specialists are well-prepared to handle the legal consequences of these developments.
Our expertise within the retail and consumer products sector
More and more of our clients in manufacturing and production are entering into strategic partnerships and participating in joint ventures. They endorse Houthoff’s knowledge of this sector and engage our specialists to structure these new partnerships, taking new business models into account. It is no longer possible to imagine the current economy without digital platforms.
Suppliers often find themselves facing legal and infrastructural challenges. Our retail lawyers advise these parties on smart solutions for such challenges.
The GDPR will require retail chains to critically assess their data processing activities and revise them if necessary. In that context, our Retail & Consumer Products Team will execute thorough compliance processes for large international retail chains and other clients.
Franchise structures can be complex. We advise various parties on this niche area, always keeping in mind both the PR aspects and the relationships between those involved.
Our Retail & Consumer Products Team understands the issues facing industries involving supermarket concepts, electronics, automotives, bicycles, watches, and food/non-food. The players in these industries work closely with our specialists in the fields of M&A, finance, product liability, labour law, tenancy law, privacy law, and IT law. Our lawyers have excellent relationships with other retail lawyers throughout Europe. The integration of this knowledge leads to well-thought-out and practical solutions that can address all stages in the life cycle of our clients’ companies.
