Press Release - Sedgwick Launches Fashion Industry Practice Group; Partner Stephanie Sheridan Takes the Helm as Chair

May 2007

Sedgwick announced the formation of its Fashion Industry Practice Group.  Chaired by Stephanie Sheridan, a partner in the San Francisco office and co-founder of the firm's innovative Women's Forum , the new practice integrates attorneys from multiple practices and offices.

As one of the few international firms with a Fashion Industry Practice Group, Sedgwick will offer a cross-specialty team counseling clients in such areas as litigation, class action matters, business transactions, intellectual property, labor and employment, and creditors' rights.  The members of this practice group represent clients in wage and hour disputes; retail store "uniform" cases; Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) class actions; mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures; licensing, distribution and franchising deals; trademark, trade dress and copyright disputes; and creditor protection in buyer or supplier bankruptcies.

"The fashion industry is a complex, multibillion-dollar enterprise with specific business and legal counsel requirements," said Kevin Dunne, firm chairman.  "While we have been immersed in this industry for quite some time, it was becoming more apparent that we needed to formally establish a dedicated team to better address the needs of an expanding client base.  This group solidifies our position as the go-to firm for fashion and retail companies."

Sedgwick's Fashion Industry Practice Group serves a cross-section of fashion industry retail and manufacturing clients, including sportswear companies, high-end clothing retailers, eyewear and footwear companies, and cosmetics and fragrance retailers, among others.

"FACTA litigation, intellectual property issues, and a growing number of wage and hour disputes are posing new legal challenges for the industry," added Sheridan.  "With our experience in all of these areas, combined with Sedgwick's other service offerings, we are able to provide our fashion industry clients complete solutions for their business needs or to challenges brought by an increasingly active plaintiffs' bar and directed at businesses in this sector."

The Fashion Industry Practice Group showcases the diverse legal expertise of Sedgwick's attorneys.  As a firm committed to diversity and the advancement of women professionals, this practice will mirror the existing corporate culture within many fashion industry companies. 
"Sedgwick has established itself as a leading supporter of women's business issues through programs such as our Women's Forum, which provides professional growth and networking opportunities for women business leaders throughout the country," noted Sheridan.  "The Women's Forum has served as an excellent opportunity for us to facilitate introductions among our fashion industry clients and contacts, enabling them to enlarge their own business networks."

Sedgwick's Women's Forum provides a platform for the firm's women attorneys to advance professional development goals, enhance the role of women attorneys in the profession, and create programs that strengthen client relationships and foster networking opportunities.