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Case studies

Corporate

We advised Caudwell Group on its £1.5 billion sale to private equity houses Providence and Doughty Hanson. Caudwell, which includes handset distribution division 20:20 Logistics as well as the 350-outlet Phones4U chain, held a strategic review which prompted the decision to sell.

Real estate

We acted in relation to the roll-out of Asda Living stores, both on the high street and at retail parks. We deal with the property management work for ASDA's investment portfolio throughout England and Wales.

Competition

A major brown goods retailer was receiving a constant barrage of e-mails from suppliers regarding pricing. Some were obvious attempts to restrict discounting. Others were loosely worded but could have been read as trying to restrict pricing freedom. We implemented an e-mail screening service to weed out communications that were problematic, and devised a series of responses to ensure that the retailer preserved its ability to make the pricing decisions it wanted to make, without the risk of appearing to give effect to unlawful agreements with suppliers.

Brand protection

Our client, a leader in High Street fashion, faces large numbers of companies who copy its designs. Fortunately, the relatively new Community design right has provided design right owners with a powerful enforcement tool.

We have been running a successful enforcement campaign against our client's competitors who are selling infringing designs as well as the related suppliers and manufacturers.

The concerted effort against infringers, bringing proceedings wherever necessary and appropriate, has dramatically reduced the infringements and sent a clear signal to the market about our client's commitment to defend its valuable intellectual property.

Reducing risk

We acted for a leading retailer (with over 2,000 stores in over 10 countries) on the recall of faulty electrical equipment. We advised on whether a recall was required, how it should be implemented and on how best to protect the retailer's reputation. All our legal costs were subsequently recovered in full from the retailer's own supplier.