Team size: 14  

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?  

As well as the many and various legal challenges involved with the operation and continual evolution of the Harrods store, we have been involved in supporting our new business venture in China and the H Beauty stores, and continue to support our Heathrow and Gatwick retail outlets.  

What do you see as an opportunity or risk over the next six months?  As with any retail business, we are impacted by the economy.   

In terms of opportunity, we have embraced new technology to consolidate and enhance our CRM capability. This should help us meet customer more efficiently and successfully.  

What are some of the main trends impacting the industry sector you work in in the United Kingdom?  

Some general issues impacting trade are the cost-of-living crisis which affects customer confidence and disposable income. Also, the continued absence of tax-free shopping drives trade to countries such as France which have tax free shopping. Other than these economic factors, we are seeing luxury retail becoming more focused on experiences, exclusivity, and personalisation. 

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company? 

ESG has long been an important issue for our business, but we have recently created a standalone ESG committee to provide even greater focus on these issues, ranging from achieving net zero to the phasing out our famous green plastic bags.  

As the legal landscape evolves, what steps are you taking to foster a culture of continuous learning and development within the legal team, ensuring that they are all well-equipped to address future legal complexities? 

We try to achieve this in an organic way through regular team meetings in which we share our experiences and ‘teachable moments’. Consequently, our learning and development is more focused on the specific legal issues that impact our business.