On May 17, 2016 the annual Luxury Law Summit was held at the Four Seasons Hotel in London, organized by the Global Legal Post. This event for many years remains the main forum for business meetings among companies producing goods of the Luxury segment, as well as lawyers and advisors engaged in the sector.

This year, the central topic for discussion was that of expectations of those who elaborate and implement strategies for developing brands from their legal departments and independent advisors within the scope of providing legal support for their brands. Representatives of well-known brands took part in the discussion, among which were Alexander McQueen, Amanda Wakeley Designs, American Apparel, Anglo American – Aston Martin,  Chanel, De Beers, Ermenegildo Zegna Group, Essential Concierge, Farfetch, Fendi, H&M, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, L’Oreal, Marimekko Corporation, Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët, Michael Kors, Moët Hennessy, Moncler, Pentland Brands, Pernod Ricard, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Stella McCartney, Swarovski, Tiffany & Co, Vivienne Westwood, Zino Davidoff Group (DAVIDOFF). The legal community was represented by Arzinger, Baker & McKenzie, Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP, Capital Legal Services, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Gibson, Kinstellar, Squire Patton Boggs, Stepanovsku, Papakul and Partners and others.

The Managing Partner of Capital Legal Services Vladislav Zabrodin acted as a moderator of the discussion “Luxury Goods Market. BRUKing news” which was dedicated to prospects of developing the Luxury market segment in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Khazakhstan. The following persons were invited as guest speakers: Aleksandr Stepanovsky, Managing Partner at Stepanovski, Papakul and Partners (Belarus), Timur Bondarev, Managing Partner and founder of Arzinger (Ukraine), Joel Benjamin, Managing Partner at Kinstellar (Kazakhstan). 

Speakers informed the participants about various aspects of positioning and strategy for developing luxury brands on the markets of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, which currently are the key markets for many brands of the premium segment. For instance, Prada plans further expansion in Russia, and Audemar Piguet, Bulgary, Chopard and Hermes have opened new stores. The participants also emphasized the issues faced by the retailers working in these countries. The growing number of “grey” and counterfeit supplies impeding the development of the premium segment in Kazakhstan and Ukraine, as well as the obstructive nature of the laws governing e-commerce in Russia and Belarus were specified as the main difficulties.

“In spite of the crisis situation in the economy in general, the premium segment is showing a stable consumer demand. Furthermore, we can observe the release of new brands on the market, which confirms the attractiveness of our market for international brands,” – noted Vladislav Zabrodin based on the event results.