Ciara Cullen
Partner, Consumer Brands & Retail Sector Lead
London
Overview
The fast-moving and intensely competitive consumer brands and retail market presents a vast range of challenges and opportunities spanning regulatory risks, data protection, global consumerism, consumer litigation and more. Many of the world’s most renowned household names across fashion, food & drink, and sports – from mass-market PLCs to niche high end operators – trust our lawyers to navigate this hugely complex landscape.
Our team’s breadth and depth of sector knowledge and rigorous technical expertise is complemented with a reputation for innovative thinking with a commercial edge. Listening and interpreting, we anticipate your future issues, and address your complex business challenges with a tailored and pragmatic approach.
Anchored in the retail community, we are committed to helping shape the agenda through our own high-profile industry initiatives, while our long-term relationship with the British Retail Consortium helps align client and sector interests, driving mutual success. At RPC, we go beyond the legal, enabling you to do more than compete. We help you thrive.
ESG Evolve: for Consumer Brands & Retail
ESG Evolve is a new whitepaper bringing together perspectives from General Counsel, Heads of Legal and sustainability leaders on how ESG can be embedded more effectively across organisations.
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How we help
Consumer Brands
With over 70 specialists our award-winning retail lawyers work with consumer brands on a vast spectrum of legal challenges internationally.
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Food & Beverage
With experience across the food and drink supply chain, we understand the challenges you face. Partner with us to protect your interests and gain a competitive advantage.
Learn moreManufacturers
Rapidly changing regulations, complex legal hurdles and the need to protect your business at every turn - choose a legal partner with the expertise and drive to help you thrive in a challenging environment.
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Retailers
With a long history of supporting household name retailers, we have a deep understanding of the dynamic retail sector.
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DMCCA guide
Our one-stop-shop for digestible and informative content on all aspects of the expansive Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.
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Team
Discover our ESG expertise
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Artificial Intelligence
We help organisations adopt AI while navigating legal, regulatory and ethical risks.
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Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
In today’s landscape, ESG considerations impact every aspect of your business - from governance and people strategy to market engagement and environmental footprint.
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RPC cares deeply about its clients and knows how to provide practical and useable legal advice.
RPC stand out in their ability to combine legal expertise and a pragmatic, commercial approach to advice.
Showcasing ‘deep sector expertise’, the team at RPC has a sizeable team with a strong client base that spans luxury fashion brands, high street restaurant chains, and multinational beverage conglomerates.
They are well attuned to the commercial context of their retail clients.
This is a group with real sector expertise; they get it. As well as high-end legal advice, I am consistently impressed by the insights I get from their experience elsewhere.
An excellent team. Deep sector expertise, smart thinking, quick to grasp instructions. What sets them apart from the rest is how "human" they are - they're a delight to work with, they understand the commercial reality behind what they're working on - it's a true partnership.
FAQs
What legal challenges are consumer brands and retailers facing in 2025?
Consumer brands and retailers are navigating stricter consumer protection rules, expanding privacy and AI regulations, increased scrutiny of green claims, supply chain due diligence requirements, and greater liability for unsafe or counterfeit products sold online.
What consumer brands and retail clients does RPC represent and in what areas?
We advise a broad spectrum of businesses including fashion brands, food and beverage suppliers, pubs, franchisors, and e-commerce platforms. Our team of over 70 dedicated lawyers delivers sector-sensitive support on regulatory compliance, employment issues, data protection, supply chain contracts, and dispute resolution.
How does RPC help consumer brands and retailers navigate emerging regulation and ESG requirements?
Consumer brands and retailers are facing growing pressures from green claims rules, accessibility regulations, UK sustainability standards, and upcoming reforms in consumer protection law. Our consumer markets expertise helps clients stay ahead of evolving compliance requirements and turn ESG obligations into a competitive advantage.
How does RPC support consumer brands and retail clients with cyber, data protection and consumer data innovation?
We guide consumer brands and retailers on personal data mapping, vendor due diligence, privacy-by-design, and post-breach incident management. Our lawyers help translate AI-powered tools into practical use while ensuring they meet transparency and GDPR requirements. We advise on both proactive risk mitigation and responsive breach strategies, tailored to multinational retail exposure.
How does RPC engage with broader retail industry initiatives and clients?
As the British Retail Consortium’s exclusive resident advisor on employment law, we lead D&I roundtables and supports the BRC’s charter signatories in recruitment, inclusion, and workforce progression. Our involvement enables us to translate sector-wide insights into pragmatic legal solutions for retail clients.
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