2023 Agenda
Luxury Law Summit New York – November 7th, 2023
Pioneering New Pathways in the Next Generation of Luxury
This is a working agenda and subject to change.
07:45
Registration
08:20
Welcome & Chair’s Opening Remarks
Chair: Barbara Kolsun, Professor of Practice and Director, FAME Program, Cardozo Law School
08:25
The Luxury Outlook
Kerry Burke, Managing Director, Consumer and Retail M&A, Evercore
Beth Hughes, Vice President, Trade & Customs Policy, American Apparel & Footwear Association
08:55
Empowering Imagination: Luxury, Leadership and Influence with Laurent Claquin
Interview Host: Milton Pedraza, CEO, The Luxury Institute
Laurent Claquin, President of Kering Americas
09:25
GC Talk- Inside Capri: Perspectives of a Global Fashion Luxury Group Legal Department
This session will bring you a fantastic insight into the workings of the Capri Holdings Legal Team- the team behind Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors. Capri will talk about the inner workings of the legal team, engaging with global stakeholders and how they navigate and manage a multi brand organisation.
Moderator: Krista McDonough, SVP, General Counsel & Chief Sustainability Officer, Capri Holdings Limited
Natalie Newman, Divisional Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Capri Holdings Limited
Jennifer Rodriguez, VP, Associate General Counsel – Labor and Employment, Capri Holdings Limited
Alexandra R. Simmerson, Assistant General Counsel and Senior Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Capri Holdings Limited
09:55
Panel Discussion: The New Luxury
Moderator: Joseph M. Forgione, Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor of Law, New York Law School / Legal Counsel, Richemont Americas
Jim Clerkin, board member and Chairman of the board of Reserve Bar.com and Onda tequila seltzer
Aysha Saeed, CEO and Creative Director, AYSHA NY
10:20
Coffee Break
11:00
Workshops
Perfecting Your Brand’s Go-to-Market strategy for Europe
Hosted by K&L Gates
In this session our expert panel will look at how luxury brands can optimize their sales strategies in Europe, from exploring dynamic new retail partnership models through to avoiding the traps of the burdensome antitrust law environment in Europe when it comes to pricing and online controls. We’ll contrast European and U.S. luxury go-to-market strategy options and the available tools for a successful and fully compliant distribution model in Europe which maximises opportunities and limits online brand disruption.
Julia Straus, former CEO, Sweaty Betty
Abby Brand, Legal Counsel, Fiskars Group
Melissa Roth Mendez, Luxury Brand Strategist and Former Global VP, Burberry
Jennifer Marsh, Partner, K&L Gates
Gabriela da Costa, Partner, K&L Gates
Michael Murphy, Partner, K&L Gates
Protecting the Brand in an Era of Activism
Hosted by McCarthy Tétrault
This session will explore how luxury brands can protect themselves when confronting social activism. The panel will discuss some recent market developments in social activism, potential sources of liability stemming from social activism, the opportunities and challenges brought on by expressing positions (or not) on social issues, and some of the key legal considerations for brands when assessing and addressing sensitive issues, and more.
Robert Richardson, Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Tansy Woan, Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
11:35
Responsible Fashion: Unraveling the issues and legislative solutions
Fashion relies on complex systems which create numerous challenges for brands trying to be responsible to people and planet. While we work toward real standards and solutions, there are ways to address the issues and avoid ‘greenwashing”. Mary Gehlhar and Hilary Jochmans will explore these issues and the legal options available.
Hilary Jochmans President, Jochmans Consulting and Founder of PoliticallyInFashion
Mary Gehlhar, Fashion Educator, Strategic Advisor, Author of The Fashion Designer Survival Guide
12:05
Panel Discussion: Fostering a Culture of Wellbeing, Belonging and Inclusivity in Luxury and Law
We are facing a time of deep complexity and unprecedented, rapid change. Creating a culture of belonging, inclusivity and wellbeing is not only essential to meet this moment, it is also good business. Our speakers will talk about strategies for implementation and how the luxury space is uniquely poised to lead by example.
Tiffany Stevens, CEO and General Counsel, Jeweler’s Vigilance Committee (JVC)
Rachel Waranch, Managing Counsel, Chanel, Inc.
Pamela Weinstock, Managing Counsel, Intellectual Property, Tiffany & Co.
12:45
Workshops
The Multifaceted World of Hybrid Licensing Agreements
Hosted by Holland & Knight
Overview: High Fashion, beauty, and luxury brands as well as third party licensees/manufacturers are consistently looking for opportunities to work with celebrities to create memorable content, endorsements and marketing opportunities. At the same time, celebrities are increasingly looking to build their own brands around their personality and/or newly created brands. In many respects, when a deal is made, these two independent goals often coalesce in the form of a “hybrid” license agreement which has elements of both (i) endorsements as well as (ii) product licensing.
The goal of this conversation is to discuss the material terms of such hybrid agreements and explain in more detail how they depart from traditional product licensing and endorsement deals. We will also look at a number of case studies. Further, we will explore important considerations in deal-making from both the perspective of Licensors and Licensees.
Danielle Garno, Partner, Holland & Knight
Collaborations: Luxury Brands & Toys
Hosted by Epstein Drangel
This session will explore the background of recent collaborations between Mattel and certain luxury brands, including its recent collaborations with Balmain, Moncler, Off-White, and Gucci, among others, and will touch upon how the deals developed, their successes, and the unique business and legal challenges involved in bridging the gap between the toy and luxury sectors.
Kerry B. Brownlee, Partner, Epstein Drangel LLP
Daria Licausi, Senior Counsel, Legal and Business Affairs, Mattel Inc.
Racheal Irizarry-Sauer, Senior Counsel, Mattel Inc.
13:15
Lunch
14:15
The NY Times Interview: Insights on fashion and culture
Vanessa Friedman, Fashion Director, New York Times
14:45
GC Talk
Gail Wheeler, Vice President, General Counsel and corporate Secretary, Hermes USA
15:25
Workshops
A View from the Trenches: Class Action Threats for Retailers and How to Stay Ahead
Hosted by Benesch
This session will explore recent developments in the retail class action space. Our speakers will delve into new privacy claims, including wiretapping and VPPA (Video Privacy Protection Act) litigation, in addition to important updates in the ongoing waves of pricing and greenwashing litigation. Additionally, this discussion will address the rising threat of mass arbitration, and how retailers can protect themselves.
Stephanie Sheridan, Partner and Chair of the Retail & E-Commerce Practice, Benesch Law
Meegan Brooks, Partner, Benesch Law
Hot Topics in a Post-Pandemic Supply Chain
Hosted by Greenberg Traurig
This panel will address hot topics in a post-pandemic supply chain where legal issues intersect and strike at the heart of business continuity, compliance and risk mitigation, and the furtherance of social and environmental initiatives. Key issues include:
- Defining ESG to resonate with key stakeholders: identifying risks and opportunities
- Managing supply chains with increased tariffs including duty mitigation and sourcing strategies
- Forced Labor – focus on protecting the business
- Driving compliance and inclusion through ESG: drafting and implementing Vendor and Employee Code of Conducts
- Global economic impacts on supply chain
Moderator: John R. Richards, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Laura Siegel Rabinowitz, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Friederike S. Görgens, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
Julia K. Hughes, President, United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)
16:00
Workshops
The Anti Money Laundering and Sanctions Risks of NFTs
Hosted by Crowell & Moring
Some luxury companies considering creating non-fungible tokens to promote their brands. If not done properly, this can result in the NFTs being treated as virtual currency, and the companies being treated as money transmitters subject to regulation under federal and state law. There also can be risks under US sanctions on the sale or distribution of NFTs. We address these risks in this session and consider ways to avoid or mitigate these risks.
Carlton Greene, Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP
Alexander Urbelis, Senior Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP
Rachel Zilberfarb Schreiber, Legal Counsel, Wix.com
Private Equity and M&A Trends in Fashion and Beauty: 2023 and Beyond
Hosted By Accordion and Holland & Knight
Despite market volatility and dynamics this year, the fashion and beauty sectors had some blockbuster deals in 2023 (think: L’Oreal and Aesop, Kering and Creed, Tapestry and Capri Holdings, Estée Lauder and TOM FORD). What’s more, many luxury fashion houses are pouring dollars into building and/or rebooting beauty divisions (think: Prada, Dries Van Noten, Valentino, Kering, Richemont). So, what does 2024 hold for these sectors? How are these industries innovating to remain desirable to transactions during a recessionary economic environment? In this session, we’re bringing together experts from the Private Equity and Brand worlds to dig deep on these industries’ rampant M&A activity and top deal trends – as well as hot button topics like Generative AI, IPOs (think: Birkenstock going public this year), strategic global expansion, and more – to get a clearer picture of what’s to come for fashion and beauty for the remainder of 2023 and beyond.
Penny Tehrani-Littrell, Managing Director and General Counsel, Accordion
Leslie Mahre, Partner, Holland & Knight
Pascal Houdayer, CEO, Orveon Global
Jessica Parry, Principal, Blackstone
Lucy Chen, Principal, L Catterton
16:40
Brand Focus: Commercially Focused Global Perspectives Within the Beauty Industry
This session will provide insight into the operations of the Global Commercial Relations Legal Team within The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Our speakers will share how they effectively support the brands, regions and business units within the portfolio and the key legal challenges the beauty industry is currently faced with.
Stefania Geraci, Vice President, Global Commercial Relations, Estee Lauder
Maria Ayerbe, Vice President & Legal Counsel Travel Retail Worldwide, Estee Lauder
17:10
Sue Timney in Conversation with Michael Holman
Our closing conversation will see Sue dive into the extraordinary life and career of Michael Holman, Hip-Hop pioneer and film maker – whilst drawing on parallels and differences between their individual creative work, transatlantic journeys and new methods of communication in today’s luxury world.
Interview Host: Sue Timney , Designer, Sue Timney Design
Michael Holman, artist, writer, historian, MTH Productions, LLC
17:45
Fashion Showcase and Luxury Law Awards
Showcase by Anthony Thomas Galante