Fashion & Retail
The Fashion & Retail Industry is a fast moving, rapidly changing industry. The importance of the brand is leading in developing business strategy.
The importance of trends, rapidly changing product offerings, futures orders systems, the short seasonal selling cycles, and margins under pressure are just some particularities of this industry.
Solid experience in this sector is key to provide proper and practical legal advice. Especially now that the European Union sets more and more rules that affect the industry resulting in increased compliance scrutiny on; data protection, competition, product compliance and anti-bribery. This requires an agile business strategy to manage distributor and supplier relationships, product development & marketing, real estate portfolio and (flexible) workforce.
The dynamics of the Fashion and Retail industry require a more fluid, innovative and provocative outside legal assistance. We know this business inside out and provide a dedicated team with solid industry experience.
Please get in touch with Martine de Koning if you require our assistance.
Recommendations
Our clients range from multinational manufacturers of fashion and consumer goods to supermarkets and pure on line players.
"Martine de Koning has been Nike’s Account Manager at Kennedy van der Laan since 2000. Over the years, Martine handled strategically important litigation for us such as international commercial disputes and competition law cases before the relevant authorities. She has a clear vision and takes the lead in a smart and assertive manner with an eye to effective communication with all stakeholders involved. Martine offers high service levels and quickly understands the business interests at stake. Martine handled in a pragmatic way many franchise, distribution, agency and procurement cases over the years. She became involved early on in the legal support of the Nike stores project, including localisation and implementation of contracts in the EMEA region. Martine was a key player in the creation of the Alliance for Nike, an innovative concept which allows Nike to work with selected firms in a number of European countries, under the leadership and coordination by Kennedy van der Laan, creating savings and efficiencies and driving convergence."
"Kennedy Van der Laan is a no-nonsense, value for money, reliable business partner. Their attorneys understand our industry, are very professional and a pleasure to work with. They look at the bigger picture and bring innovative and practical solutions. They quickly focus on the essence and are not overly theoretical in their approach. They are passionate about their profession and it shows."
“The Alliance for Nike, under leadership of Kennedy Van der Laan, has now been in place in the wider European region for five years and it is a great success. In the first years the Alliance accelerated efficiencies, drove convergence and significantly improved spend predictability and insight. In more recent years, the emphasis was on intensive knowledge and best practices sharing, innovative (digital) communications, effective feedback processes, and central project coordination. The Alliance allows us to retain the firms that are the best fit to Nike’s needs in each jurisdiction, while still benefitting from centralized management by Kennedy Van der Laan. It is a true partnership, and the Alliance continues to thrive and expand both in legal fields and jurisdictions.”- Bill Berner, General Counsel Nike EMEA
Market recognition
The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Industry Focus: Retail - Tier 1
Kennedy Van der Laan is a leader in franchising and distribution matters for a range of clients that include luxury, fashion and sports brands as well as innovative consumer goods manufactures and well-known retail chains. Head of the commercial and international trade practice, and an integral member of the EU competition law team Martine De Koning handles customs, trade and import issues as well as matters concerning digital transformations, online distributions and big data. Senior associate Jelle Blom handles international franchise and distribution and agency cases for global clients. Senior associate Isabel van Tuyll van Serooskerken is a disputes resolution practitioner with knowledge of the retail-related consumer, contract and e-commerce and geo-blocking laws.
Leading Individuals
Rising Stars
Isabel Van Tuyll Van Serooskerken
Jelle Blom
Other key lawyers
Renske Sinke
Lisa van Vliet
Lisa Lander
Daan van Lier
Hidde Kleijn
Noor de Werd
Tosca Bokhove
Testimonials
- ‘The team is very knowledgeable about Dutch law, flexible and agile, and able to adapt quickly to the needs of the client and the case. They are collaborative within and outside the firm and very easy to work with. They are clear writers and are able to explain complex concepts in a digestible way.’
- ‘Martine de Koning is a pleasure to work with and a talented lawyer with a keen eye. She is able to jump into an issue quickly and provide excellent advice that affects the strategy. She is practical and eminently responsive. You can trust her to get the job done.’
- ‘Isabel van Tuyll van Serooskerken is very helpful and is particularly skilled at making good use of evidence.’
- ‘Top notch firm, highly technical and with great service, from beginning till end. Perfect combination of experience and agility. There are excellent and skilled lawyers from junior level to head level. The firm provides accurate, timely advice.’
- ‘The Commercial & International Trade team is top class in this field because they combine excellent knowledge of the EU and Dutch regulatory framework for consumers, competition and products with a lot of market experience. They are leading for example in matters pertaining to digital commerce, product recalls, sustainability, greenwashing, advertising, loyalty schemes and pricing.’
- ‘The team is very flexible, dedicated and efficient. Martine, Isabel & Jelle guarantee in depth but at the same time practical and straightforward advice with fast turnaround times.’
- ‘One of the leading franchise practices in the EU.’
- ‘Martine de Koning is the best in the Netherlands as regards retail – and combining retail with competition law! Jelle Blom excels too, especially in distribution and retail issues.’
The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Industry Focus: Retail - Tier 1
Kennedy Van der Laan has a ‘highly-skilled team capable of coordinating multijurisdictional matters for clients’. It has ‘excellent knowledge of the broader EU and Dutch regulatory framework for consumers and competition, in particular the regulatory framework relevant for product compliance, sustainability, advertising and greenwashing in commercial practices’. Practice head Martine de Koning is a leading authority on international franchising, distribution and agency, and her ‘knowledge about competition law is phenomenal’. Also recommended in her team is senior associate Jelle Blom, whose strengths include franchise and agency, commercial contracts, distribution, procurement, sourcing and EU competition law.
Practice head(s): Martine de Koning
Other key lawyers: Nico Jacobs; Jelle Blom
Leading Individuals
Martine de Koning
Rising Stars
Jelle Blom
Testimonials
- ‘Highly skilled team capable of coordinating multijurisdictional matters for clients and through cooperation with other law firms in Europe, providing succinct advice on issues covering large number of jurisdictions.’
- ‘I have worked with Martine de Koning who is an excellent lawyer. She has high-level and demonstrable expertise and she has excellent writing/drafting skills. Martine is personable and easily gains the trust of the people that she works with.’
- ‘This office is really well known in the retail sector. Really a top office. They also have an incredible client base and are very commercial and pragmatic towards their retail clients. It is one of the strongest firms in the Netherlands in retail.’
Who's Who Legal 2023 - Thought Leaders Global Elite - Franchise
Martine de Koning is ranked by WWL as a Global Elite Thought Leader on Franchise.
WWL says: "Martine de Koning enjoys a stellar reputation in the market, where she garners widespread praise as "exceptionally knowledgeable" and "easy to work with" on franchising and distribution matters across a range of sectors, from fashion to sports.”
Who's Who Legal 2022 - Thought Leaders Global Elite - Franchise
Martine de Koning is ranked by WWL as a Global Elite Thought Leader on Franchise.
WWL says: Martine de Koning draws praise as a “knowledgeable and practical lawyer who services household names, especially from a competition law perspective.”
Who's Who Legal 2022 - Thought Leaders Global Elite - Franchise
Martine de Koning is ranked by WWL as a Global Elite Thought Leader on Franchise.
WWL says: Martine de Koning draws praise as a “knowledgeable and practical lawyer who services household names, especially from a competition law perspective.”
Who's Who Legal - Thought Leaders Global Elite 2020 - Franchise
Martine de Koning
WWL says:
"Martine de Koning is a “very active” franchise lawyer with “exceptional legal knowledge”. She has extensive experience of structuring complex matters including joint ventures."
Read the full recommendation at Who' s Who Legal.