About

Since being founded in Paris in the 1940s, Christian Dior has been recognised as a leading brand in the luxury goods industry. Now more commonly known as Dior, the company creates everything from clothing, shoes and jewellery, to fragrances and skincare products. Safeguarding the intellectual property and trademarks behind iconic designs and brands is a constant task, which requires the vigilance of an exceptional legal team. Nominators particularly highlighted the important role of Sandra Georges, director of intellectual property for Christian Dior Couture, in protecting flagship designs and products. The legal team has become increasingly international over time, with individuals being hired to secure Dior’s products on a global level, including the counterfeit hubs that have developed in China. In April 2017, rival French luxury goods group LVMH made a successful bid to take control of Dior for an estimated €12bn sum. LVMH had already purchased Dior’s perfume and beauty brands (Parfums Christian Dior) in the 1960s, but this further acquisition will see them re-joined to the fashion part of the company (Christian Dior Couture). This transaction ran smoothly due to the close cooperation of the LVMH and Dior legal teams, and the ongoing integration will be helped by the skill that the teams contain.