Retail Review

Women in Retail: in conversation with Emma Lessani at New Look

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Focusing on Women in Retail, in this episode of 'Retail Review', Womble Bond Dickinson's Nikki Powell speaks to Emma Lessani, Head of Property at New Look, about her unconventional career journey into retail property leadership.

Emma shares her candid insights into motherhood, mentorship, resilience; and why representation and authenticity matter most in our fast‑moving industry.

Watch the podcast on our YouTube:

What regulatory changes mean for interest-free lending

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000

From 15 July 2026, changes to buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) regulation could bring more retailers into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s scope. Find out more from our financial regulatory experts, Emma Radmore and Stephen Wilson, on what’s changing, who may be affected, and the key questions businesses like yours – especially retailers and consumer-facing businesses offering interest‑free credit – should be asking now.

Unlocking Trade Mark Protection: Navigating China's Legal Landscape

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Registered trade marks in China have come a long way in the last 40 years: from little to no intellectual property laws in the 1980s; to now, where the region has more reasonable rules and protections in place.

Join James Love, Head of Intellectual Property, and Amy Galloway, Associate and Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, who explore whether China is still considered 'The Wild West' of trade marks, or if the protections available now turn this former reputation into something of the distant past.

Retail Review: The Future of Solar and EV

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode of Retail Review, Alistair Walton and Anthony Alderman explore how solar panels and EV charging are reshaping the retail landscape. From cutting costs to driving sustainability, discover the bold strategies retailers are using to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Dark Patterns

Tue, 13 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

Join hosts Katie Simmonds and Amy Battinson as they delve into the shadowy world of dark patterns within the retail sector.

This episode explores the implications these practices have on consumers and retailers alike. They will navigate the complex regulatory landscape, shedding light on the efforts of organisations like the CMA and the EU in enforcing compliance.

Discover the critical importance of website accessibility and the intriguing potential of AI in both detecting and creating these dark patterns. Finally, gain practical advice for retailers on how to overcome these challenges while maintaining consumer trust. Tune in for an insightful and eye-opening discussion.

Want to hear previous Retail Review podcasts? Click here.

Tacit Relocation

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 09:00:00 +0000

Join partners Clare Lamond and Paul Mason as they delve into the Scots law doctrine of tacit relocation, which facilitates the automatic renewal of leases if neither party issues a termination notice. They explore the ramifications of this doctrine for retailers, discuss recent reform proposals by the Scottish Law Commission, and underscore the significance of clear communication between landlords and tenants.

Want to hear previous Retail Review podcasts? Click here.

Opening Back Up our High Streets

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

With the government instilling new powers under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 to get the nation's high streets back to their best, how could these impact landlords, retailers, and lenders? Join partner Jon Hobbs and practice development lawyer and associate Alison Morden-Hawke from the firm's Real Estate group as they talk about the new powers granted to councils, what challenges landlords could be expected to face, and the timelines for compliance and potential for disputes.

Want to hear previous Retail Review podcasts? Click here.

National Minimum Wage and National Insurance

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Staffing costs for retailers are set to rise, with increases in the national minimum wage and changes to how much national insurance employers need to contribute going forward. Join practice development lawyer and managing associate Karen Plumbley-Jones and legal director Nicola Allen from WBD's employment team as they talk about what these changes mean for you in the retail sector, and how it could impact recruitment, employee wages, and overall business strategies.

Want to hear previous Retail Review podcasts? Click here.

Law Commission Consultation – Security of Tenure

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Hot off the press: the Law Commission have issued their provisional conclusions on reform to the Act on 4 June 2025.

In short, it is an initial win for retail and the provisional recommendation is to retain the current "contracting out model, not expand the current types of tenancy that are excluded from the 1954 Act but they do recommend further consulting on extending the threshold for tenancies to be able to benefit from security of tenure under the 1954 Act from 6 months to two years.

A second consultation paper will now follow, detailing how any recommended model or change in scope would work, reviewing the current contracting out process and proposing other technical changes to the Act.

---

With the Law Commission currently consulting on the security of tenure in commercial leases, how may the proposed changes impact your business going forward?

Join partner Nikki Powell and associate David Jones as they dive into the implications of proposed changes to the 1954 Act, what groups of retailers are thinking about the changes, and the potential impact on employment within the retail industry.

The Employment Rights Bill

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 15:00:00 +0000

Curious as to how the current Employment Rights Bill being worked through UK parliament may impact your business? Join partners Dan Fawcett and Christina Tolvas-Vincent from WBD's employment team as they dive into some of the biggest changes the Bill could bring to UK retail and hospitality - from probation periods and flexible working, to fire and rehire practices and collective redundancy.

Want to hear previous Retail Review podcasts? Click here.

Futureproofing your Portfolio

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 14:00:00 +0000

With retail making up 5% of the UK economy and still working through the range of changes to the sector in recent years, how can companies ensure their portfolios are safeguarded while maintain a strong competitive advantage?

Join partner and head of WBD's retail and hospitality sector Claire Wilkinson and Tom Caplen, partner and co-head of WBD's real estate finance practice, as they discuss the balance between sustainability and building out a portfolio, the opportunities physical stores could present in a modern market, and how financing and sustainable lending might play an increasing role in the sector.

Want to hear previous Retail Review podcasts? Click here.

AI & Employment

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 09:00:00 +0000

How will artificial intelligence transform the retail industry and its workforce? In this episode, we explore the impact of the rise of AI on the retail sector, which has already undergone significant technological change in recent years.

Hear from Employment Partners Gearalt Fahy and Dan Fawcett, who share their insights on the legal and practical implications of AI for employers and employees in the retail industry, and examine how increasing AI use may affect change management.

If you need to manage your legal risks and follow the right redundancy processes, WBD Navigate can help you. It is a fixed-cost digital solution and consultancy service that provides template documents, guidance, and legal insight. To find out more visit www.wbdnavigate.com.

Greenleases

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:00:00 +0000

With retail companies of all sizes eyeing up pathways to meet sustainable goals and objectives across their business, how can the store front play a crucial role?

Join Nikki Powell, a partner in WBD's Operational Property team, as she discusses the tight rope between balancing sustainability in retail properties and maintaining a strong relationship with landlords and property owners, as well as what businesses could be doing to make the most of their space and meet sustainable goals.

AI Facial Recognition

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 16:00:00 +0000

AI Facial Recognition technology is quickly becoming an area of interest within the retail sector – but how is it being used to combat shoplifting and what are the legal and ethical challenges of using this?

Join WBD managing associate Katie Simmonds and trainee solicitor Amy Battinson as they talk through how this new technology is making its mark on the sector, and what retail companies should be thinking about when considering the use of AI Facial Recognition technology.