Why a solid in-house team is vital in retail

The Marks & Spencer in-house legal team has been busy recently. As well as ongoing disputes over other retailers imitating their products, they’ve had to deal with the fallout from a very public cyber-attack.

Intellectual property and cyber threats are just two of the things that in-house lawyers have to know about. There are also contracts and complexities around suppliers, HR and property to consider, to name just a few.

A reasonably large retailer would usually have a team of at several people, each with specialisms, to cover off all the different legal challenges that can arise. But this is quite a recent thing. JD sports for example, only had three in-house lawyers a few years ago, they are now well into double figures. Many other retailers still only have a handful of people working in-house, instead choosing to outsource to firms as and when needed.

The beauty of an in-house team though, is that you have professionals that understand the business inside out, making them more aware of issues before they arise, which means they can pre-empt situations and react more quickly – vital when issues like a cyber-attack arises.

An in-house legal team is a massive strategic asset. These professionals can work closely with other divisions with a business and play a vital role in strategic planning, by identifying and eliminating any risks as part of the planning process. This proactive approach can significantly reduce the likelihood of costly litigation and reputational damage.

Having a team of specialists ready at all times is also a much more cost-effective way to work. The expertise is there in an external firm of course - but the fees can quickly rise if you have multiple ongoing issues, which is the norm in retail.

We’re still working through how Brexit is impacting supply and staffing, and the global pandemic hit retail harder than many other markets. E-commerce is constantly impacting profits and challenging bricks and mortar retail, plus, we are still working our way through a cost of living crisis within a volatile political landscape. All of this has a massive impact on consumer spending.

The long-term health of your retail operation is key - and that means having the best possible people working within your business. 

If you would like to expand or strengthen your in-house legal team so that you’re always ready for the challenges that could be thrown at you, speak to us at 📞 0161 233 6360 or email at 📧 nick@douglas-scott.co.uk