Companies in the retail sector face a number of challenges in today’s ever changing and complex marketplace, such as the online consumer, wage and hours of work regulation, restrictions on the hours and days of operation, and increased concern about privacy and data breach.
We advise our retail clients on the full range of labour and employment issues, from international regulatory compliance to conducting whistle-blower and corporate ethics investigations.
We counsel a range of retail businesses, such as consumer goods, consumer health, electronics, food & beverage, luxury fashion, cosmetics and e-commerce.
Our Retail Sector Group spans borders, offering to be your partner for local and international issues relevant to the sector. As a result of our experiences, we can provide industry best practices and practical solutions to common concerns in the retail sector.
Experiences
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Advised a diversified retail and wholesale/cash and carry group on all international employment law matters impacting more than 244,000 employees in 30+ countries worldwide.
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Decades of providing advice to and litigating all issues on behalf of international retailers operating in Canada.
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Represented and advised Canada’s best known retail clothing brand in its expansion throughout Canada and internationally and in its transition from private to public ownership.
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Represented some of Canada’s and the world’s, largest international retailers in the hardware, electronics, grocery, luxury accessories, shoe, clothing, cosmetics, children’s clothing, and eyewear sectors.
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Advised multinational retailers on implementing corporate ethics, whistle blower and harassment complaint procedures. Modified U.S. based wage and hour, overtime exemptions and paid time off policies to comply with all regulatory compliance issues.
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Advised with multinational retailers to source, interview and negotiate agreements with third party logistics providers to provide both online fulfilment and FTL freight services.
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Partnered with retailers to open retail locations, recruit management and staff and performed several retail restructuring projects both in Canada and internationally.
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Advised an important American multinational retail corporation in Mexico on employment and labour matters, including the drafting and implementation of internal policies with respect to wages, work shifts, among others, as well as advice related to litigation and complex labour negotiations to avoid strikes and stoppages.
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Developed and implemented country-wide collective bargaining strategies in the United States involving multiple distribution centres and unions for a big box retailer.