consumer products & retail
At Schoenherr we advise leading consumer goods companies on their market entry as well as on expanding in markets through acquisitions as well as supply, distribution and franchising arrangements. In addition, we assist our clients in complying with regulatory requirements, competitive as well as compliance pressures. We have deep knowledge of relevant product labelling, food, and product safety and brand protection laws, and we help our clients to comply with the legal challenges owing to changing consumer behaviour triggered by the ongoing digitalisation of the industry.
We are proud of our expertise in procuring protection for brands and products through ip rights and enforcing these. We check advertising and promotion activity in respect of unfair competition rules and litigate in this respect when needed.
legal areas
- administrative & public law
- arbitration
- commercial contracts
- eu & competition
- compliance & internal investigations
- corporate & reorganisations
- data protection & privacy
- environmental law
- ip & unfair competition
- it & technology law
- labour & employment
- litigation
- m&a
- restructuring & insolvency
- white collar crime & criminal defence
services
- advertising
- buying alliances
- brand protection
- consumer finance, such as outsourcing, store-cards, credit cards and loyalty cards
- dealing with consumer claims
- e-commerce and distance selling
- market entry
- product safety, product liability and product recalls
- supply, distribution and franchising agreements
news
Romania: DRS packaging to go live soon
The implementation of the deposit return system ("DRS") for bottled water, soft drinks, beer, cider, wine and spirits ("DRS products") in disposable plastic, glass or metal packaging of between 0.1l and 3l, will kick-off on 30 November 2023. As of that date, Romanians will be able to return the packaging of these beverages to the reverse vending machines provided by retailers or producers, as per the legal provisions.
Romania: Schoenherr advises euShipments.com on acquisition of Helpship
Schoenherr Romania advised BlackPeak-backed euShipments.com, one of the fastest-growing ecommerce logistics platforms in the region, on the acquisition of a majority stake in Romanian e-fulfilment provider Helpship.
Slovenia: New requirements for consumer-facing industries
The new Slovenian Consumer Protection Act (Zakon o varstvu potrošnikov; ZVPot-1; "CPA-1") became applicable on 26 January 2023. The act implements three EU directives, specifically Directive (EU) 2019/21611, Directive (EU) 2019/7702 and Directive (EU) 2019/771.3 CPA-1 repeals not only the previously applicable Consumer Protection Act, but also the Consumer Protection from Unfair Commercial Practices Act (Zakon o varstvu potrošnikov pred nepoštenimi poslovnimi praksami).
info corner
UTP info corner
Our UTP info corner summaries the main UTP acts and other acts aiming to curb the exercise of SMP, decisions, supplementing materials, as well as our insights and thoughts on this topic.
our experience
industry highlights
We're happy to share some information on a few matters we have advised on in the consumer products & retail industry.