All operating commercial businesses require legal assistance, from setting up the foundations of the business operations through to any potential legal disputes later down the line. Depending on the size of the business, legal counsel may be contracted through a dedicated legal firm, or based in house at the brand. 

Lawyers working in the fashion industry will all require a foundation of legal training from a university or other training provider, usually followed by further training at a law firm before moving into a dedicated sector. They will then usually specialise in a particular field, for fashion this could include the following: Corporate, Commercial, Employment, Intellectual Property (IP), Data Protection, Compliance. 

Legal counsel is required across all business operations, and for fashion the fields of commercial and IP law are particularly needed due to the nature of rights around original designs and selling products to a consumer. Lawyers will also negotiate the employment contracts for designers. Lawyers will need to put in a lot of hours studying while still in training, then rigorous research when working on cases. Excellent attention to detail, strong negotiation skills alongside strong communication and writing skills are all essential for a lawyer. 


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