4 recent food VAT cases that show why classification matters more than ever
We explore four recent food VAT decisions — from KFC dip pots to poppadom snacks — highlighting the key takeaways and practical steps for businesses.
Legal Solutions for Retail
As true partners and multidisciplinary retail legal experts, our lawyers understand the complex landscape and help to achieve your commercial goals.
Talk to usThe retail landscape is always evolving — arguably at a faster rate now than ever before. Our specialist retail solicitors can help you to navigate it with commercially-driven, bespoke legal advice.
With retailers embracing technological advancements, responding to changing consumer behaviours, driving the ESG agenda and adapting to the cost-of-living crisis, it’s vital to have a true legal partner on your side to withstand the challenges and take advantage of opportunities as they develop — a partner that understands the complex retail landscape and can help to achieve your commercial goals.
As a leading independent full-service retail law firm, our retail team works closely with the UK’s largest retailers across beauty, fashion, leisure and hospitality, food and drink, car dealerships and health.
We also have specialisms in ESG and placemaking as well as RetailTech and eCommerce and charitable giving and gifting initiatives, including how to set up a corporate foundation.
Our annual Future of Retail conference was established to support retailers in adapting to ongoing transformation and to explore what lies ahead for the industry.
Talk to our team by calling 0333 004 4488, emailing hello@brabners.com or completing our contact form.
Trusted by
“Brabners has proven to be an incredible fit for our business. This has gone beyond the traditional client relationship to quickly becoming a true partnership. Having a consistent, dedicated team that recognises our needs has accelerated the understanding and trust between us... Always available, super responsive, with our best interests at the centre of everything they do. I can't speak highly enough of Brabners and the added value [the team] brings to our business.”
Property & Facilities Manager, Beaverbrooks
“Brabners’ retail team truly understands the complex retail landscape. We have worked closely together on Primark’s ongoing significant investments in new and existing UK stores. Highly responsive and commercially minded, Brabners helps us to find solutions and achieve our aims.”
Head of Property Asset Management, Primark
“Ross Shine, Helena Davies and Elspeth Christie have provided high quality, pragmatic and timely advice supporting us in the ongoing redevelopment of The Strand. [This] has added real value to the project, over and above their very competitive pricing.”
Senior Lawyer — Property, Planning and Highways, Sefton Council
“Helena Davies – exceptional knowledge and extremely practical in applying it to get the best for her clients.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500 2026
“Approachable and easy to talk to with fantastic technical ability and commercial realism. Helena Davies takes in a keen interest in our business and seeks to understand our commercial considerations that could inform a choice of approach.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500 2025
Expert legal services and advice for the retail sector
We provide the full spectrum of legal services for the retail sector, including advising on commercial contracts, data protection and cyber security, employment and HR, pensions, corporate transactions and restructuring, branding, intellectual property and reputation management, health and safety, real estate portfolios, charitable foundations and environmental responsibilities.
We also undertake contentious work through our specialists in commercial and real estate litigation, as well as contentious intellectual property and regulatory matters.
By gaining an intimate understanding of your organisation, our retail lawyers can develop a comprehensive, commercially-focused strategy to help meet your business objectives and tackle the ever-changing challenges and pressures of the sector.
Talented retail lawyers, on your side
Our retail team is led by experienced Partner and real estate litigator Helena Davies, who acts for many household name retailers.
As the UK’s largest law firm to achieve B Corp status, we're committed to driving positive change — and Helena’s focus on the sustainability challenge for retailers is bringing various retail leaders together to share best practice and help educate and inform on purpose-led business and the ESG agenda.
Recognised as one of the best law firms to work for in the UK, we bring together some of the UK’s most talented, award-winning legal experts and are also featured in numerous prestigious industry directories, including The Legal 500 and The Times’ Best Law Firms. Our solicitors provide advice to various high-profile, household names across the UK’s vast retail sector.
Future of Retail: Risk & Resilience Conference 2026
We held a retail and risk conference on Tuesday 21 April 2026 in London, bringing together leaders and industry experts who are working to protect and future-proof their organisations.
We were joined by a cohort of insightful speakers, covering how to protect against threats, health and safety management, cybersecurity and the integrity of your IT systems, artificial intelligence (AI), counterfeiting and social media risks as well as how to address false claims — all designed to equip you with the practical knowledge to protect your customers, employees and brand.
We also heard a powerful keynote speech from the architect of Martyn’s Law, the inspirational Figen Murray OBE.
Highlights from the Future of Retail: Risk & Resilience Conference 2026
The Future of Retail and Placemaking Conference series
Watch the highlights from our conference series held in partnership with Portland Design in Manchester and London and read insights from our experts.
Related insights
Deckers v Up & Running: Court of Appeal gives welcome clarity on online sales restrictions in selective distribution agreements
We explore the decision, its legal context and its implications for selective distribution and online sales controls.
Demystifying the policy landscape — key insights from the ScaleUp Institute
We explore how scaleup policy, growth opportunities and local engagement help ambitious businesses to turn national strategy into practical support.
Summer 2026 VAT cut: opportunity or compliance trap? 5 steps for retail & hospitality to prepare
We break down the VAT changes, highlight the risks and outline the steps that retail and hospitality businesses can take to prepare.
New research shows rising workplace conflict in retail & hospitality — 5 key findings for employers
We explore what the Acas research reveals and outline how retail and hospitality employers can respond early and effectively.
Key takeaways from the Future of Retail: Risk & Resilience Conference 2026 — Martyn’s Law, AI & consumer trust
We brought the retail sector together in London for a focused look at the risks, from physical threats, digital disruption and reputational challenges.
Why second-hand fashion presents both opportunities & risks for retailers
We explore the drivers behind the second-hand fashion trend and consider the opportunities and risks that it presents for retailers.
Deepfakes & AI fraud — what retailers need to know about the new digital battlefield
We explore why retailers are particularly affected by deepfakes and the implications around data protection, IP, advertising compliance and more.
Martyn’s Law — what retailers need to know & how to prepare
We explore the key challenges retailers face with Martyn’s Law, how to balance compliance with operations and the common misconceptions.
How retailers can protect their business from false or misleading claims — key legal & practical considerations
We outline the steps that retailers can take to contain an emerging online issue and the legal remedies available for responding to false statements.
7 crisis management steps every retailer should have in place to respond efficiently & protect your brand
We set out seven practical steps to help retailers to prepare, respond decisively and recover quickly when the unexpected happens.
Business rates reset in April 2026 — 6 essential steps for retail & hospitality businesses
We break down what’s changing, where the risks sit and how businesses can turn this shift into an opportunity to prepare for the new rates landscape.
Am I a data controller? GDPR for social media users explained
We look at the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 and outline how the GDPR can apply to both organisations and individuals as data controllers.
Jaguar Land Rover cyber‑attack — protecting your workforce during digital disruption
We explain the impact of the cyber-attack on JLR's workforce and outline what to do to protect your business and minimise the impact if an incident occurs.
Retail’s battle with ‘dupe’ culture — how brands like Lululemon are fighting back
We explore recent examples of how brands are responding to dupe culture and outline practical steps that retail businesses can take to protect their brand.
Christmas markets & public safety — key legal duties for organisers & retailers
We explore safety considerations around Christmas markets and outline practical steps to comply with relevant safety legislation.
English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill — what it means for retail leases
We explore what the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill means in practice and how its reforms may affect both retail tenants and landlords.
AB v Grafters — why employers can’t ignore off-site harassment
We break down the case of AB v Grafters Group Ltd and explore some key lessons for employers.
Key takeaways from the Future of Retail: Risk & Resilience Conference 2025
At the Future of Retail: Risk & Resilience Conference 2025, leading voices explored the challenges and opportunities shaping the sector.
Changes to UK accounting standards — is your retail business ready?
We explore the upcoming changes to UK accounting standards, offering practical guidance on how retailers can prepare for the new rules.
Hiring seasonal workers in retail & hospitality — 3 key things to get right
We explore the key legal and practical considerations for retailers hiring seasonal staff.
Influencer marketing & advertising standards — common breaches & how to avoid them
We explore the main issues that influencers and brands need to consider before entering into partnerships.
The Crime & Policing Bill — a turning point for retail crime enforcement?
We explore the Crime and Policing Bill and what it would introduce to protect retail workers.
Online marketplaces set for increased scrutiny under UK Product Regulation & Metrology Act
The Product Regulation and Metrology Act is ushering in a new era for consumer protection and market oversight, laying the foundations for significant regulatory change.
The rise of TikTok Shop — key legal considerations for ‘social commerce’ retailers
Our retail law team explore what retailers must do to stay compliant with consumer protection laws, advertising standards and more when looking to capitalise on social commerce.
ESG in the Retail Sector: Purpose, Product and Place
How do we find a model where the business wins, the customer wins, and the planet wins?
Our retail sector experts were joined by industry leaders to strip away the jargon and showcase how major retailers are rising to the challenge of becoming sustainable, through their products, their purpose, and their strategy for place.
Brabners is a purpose-led independent law firm.
Our independence allows us to be objective, principled and provide a service with heart and character.
We’re on a mission to make the difference for our clients, people and communities. Proudly anchored in the North since 1815, we serve all of England and Wales.
Sustainable Business
In 2022, we proudly became the UK’s largest law firm (and the first outside London) to become B Corp certified.
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Northern Ambition
The collaborative network for purpose-led businesses. We’re building a more sustainable and innovative tomorrow.
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Community Impact
We channel the energy of our public-spirited people and clients towards improving our local communities.
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