Diageo’s general counsel, Tom Shropshire, Bird & Bird and Kering’s Italian legal team were among the big winners at the Luxury Law Awards.

Shropshire – acknowledged for his leadership in diversity, equity, and inclusion – won General Counsel of the Year, Kering’s Italian legal team was recognised as Legal Team of the Year and Bird & Bird secured Luxury Law Firm of the Year – International Practice.

Other winners included Mark Green, head of IP at Revolution Beauty, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Adrian Bratt, from Princess Yachts, who secured Business Leader of the Year for his role in the company’s acquisition by KPS Capital Partners. 

Immaculate Vegan founders Annick Ireland and Simon Bell, meanwhile, were honoured as Entrepreneurs of the Year for their work supporting sustainable fashion. 

The ceremony, which was held at the annual Luxury Law Summit in June, recognised outstanding achievements by individuals, teams and firms. There were 12 awards in total: read on for a full round-up of who won what, and why. 

Further reading: Key takeaways from Luxury Law Summit London parts one and two

Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Taylor Wessing
Winner: Mark Green

(L-r) Awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt, Mark Green and Jason Rawkins, head of Taylor Wessing’s fashion and luxury group

Mark Green won the Lifetime Achievement award in recognition of his more than 40 years of work in the patent, trademark and brand protection space, most recently shaping the IP strategy at fast-growing UK cosmetics business Revolution Beauty. As head of IP, he built the company’s IP programme from scratch to develop brand awareness and a robust brand protection strategy, as well as implementing measures to avoid IP conflicts with other IP rights holders. He also developed product name clearance strategies, helped grow its portfolio of trademark registrations globally, put in place policies to avoid accidental IP infringement when using social media influencers, and increased understanding of the importance of IP within the business. This has helped boost the value of its IP portfolio and resulted in a sharp drop of inbound litigation threats for IP infringement, allowing the business to prosper and generate £200m in annual revenue.

Business Leader of the Year sponsored by K&L Gates
Winner: Adrian Bratt, Princess Yachts 

(L-r) Awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt, Adrian Bratt, and K&L Gates partner Francesco Carloni

Adrian Bratt, executive director of people, legal and external affairs at Princess Yachts, picked up the Business Leader of the Year award for his work helping the company bed in its acquisition by US private equity firm KPS Capital Partners, which took a controlling stake in the business. In his role as GC, he helped steer the company through the acquisition process, advising on strategic business planning and playing a key part in post-sale internal restructuring. Peers says Bratt brings a good balance of pragmatism, leadership, emotional intelligence and situational awareness to his role, alongside his strong legal and risk analysis abilities. He also took on oversight of the company’s entire HR function, supporting its 3,200 employees. And if that wasn’t a big enough remit, he is also responsible for planning and implementing the company’s ESG strategy and community engagement initiatives.

Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Perkins Coie
Winner: Annick Ireland and Simon Bell, Immaculate Vegan 

 (L-r) Perkins Coie partner Colleen Ganin, Immaculate Vegan’s Annick Ireland, Simon Bell, and awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt

Immaculate Vegan won the Entrepreneur of the Year award in recognition of its groundbreaking work in sustainable and ethical fashion retail. Founded in 2019 by Annick Ireland and Simon Bell, Immaculate Vegan is a curated online shop that only sells goods that are made out of 100% vegan materials, that are made using ethical labour and that come with sustainable packaging. It works with more than 100 brands, including conscious luxury vegan brand Frida Rome, sustainable clothing business Komodo and animal-friendly French shoes and accessories-maker Minuit sur Terre. Shoppers can choose from a range of ethical goods including clothing made from hemp and bamboo, as well as shoes and accessories made from plant-based leathers and recycled materials, and eco-friendly beauty and homeware. The company’s mission statement is to help people look ‘immaculate’ while caring for animals, people and the planet.

ESG Initiative of the Year sponsored by Browne Jacobson
Winner: Capri Holdings (CSR & Legal Teams) 

(L-r) Awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt; Jeii Hong, legal coordinator, and Louisa Christofidou, associate general counsel, Capri; and Caroline Green, senior partner, Browne Jacobson 

Versace, Jimmy Choo and Michael Kors-owner Capri took home the ESG Initiative of the Year award for its partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to drive a more sustainable future for the leather industry. The three-year collaboration will see Capri provide $1.5m in funding (matched by NFWF) to help improve 150,000 acres of US grassland that is used for cattle grazing in the Northern Great Plains, Southern Great Plains and Rocky Mountain Rangelands – an important sourcing location in Capri’s global supply chain. The initiative aims to achieve this by working with private landowners, ranchers and other local partners to promote advanced regenerative agriculture practices, water management, greenhouse gas emissions sequestering and restoring critical habitat for wildlife. Not only can that help preserve biodiversity and natural habitats, it can also increase land productivity, boosting profits for ranchers and supporting local communities.

Fashion Counsel of the Year sponsored by Morrison Cohen
Winner: Giulia Spessotto, Ralph Lauren
 

Giulia Spessotto (centre) with awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt and Keith Markel, partner and co-chair of Morrison Cohen’s labour and employment practice

Giulia Spessotto won the Fashion Counsel of the Year award for her work handling intellectual property matters for Ralph Lauren’s Europe, Middle East and Africa regions for more than a quarter of a century. She has been described as having one of the sharpest minds in European IP law, with a diligent and collaborative approach to defending Ralph Lauren’s IP rights. She has helped the premium clothing brand win important cases (notably in France and elsewhere in Europe), secure large recoveries and injunctions, and tackle fakes and counterfeits to preserve the brand’s value. The latter issue around counterfeit goods is a particular challenge for a designer label like Ralph Lauren and is essential to combat for the brand to remain attractive and desirable in the eyes of luxury consumers, something Spessotto has successfully helped to deliver.

General Counsel of the Year sponsored by Davis Wright Tremaine
Winner: Tom Shropshire, Diageo

Siva - can you add the photo of Tom Shropshire that we have in the system here and remove this pic. 

Tom Shropshire, general counsel of Diageo, leads a 250-strong legal team and is credited with fostering closer collaboration within the department by reorganising the team into five distinct groups, known as ‘ecosystems’. One senior lawyer praised Shropshire for his ability to improve team spirit by providing a strong sense of purpose. Shropshire’s commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace is evident in his recognition as a leader in the field of diversity, equity and inclusion. Recently, he was ranked number one in the 2024 Empower Role Model List for his work in promoting ethnic diversity and inclusion within the workplace​. Additionally, Shropshire has been named the interim chair of Comic Relief.

Legal Team of the Year sponsored by Graff Search
Winner: Kering Shared Services, Italy 

(L-r) Awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt; Chiara Molinari, head of legal shared services Italy, Kering; Graff Search managing director Maneesha Howard

The Italian legal team at Kering has 10 members, organised by areas of expertise. Its challenge is to support Kering’s diverse portfolio of brands, each of which has unique demands, which can range from routine contractual work to complex legal issues. The breadth of the team’s responsibilities across these different entities necessitates a high level of coordination and a strategic approach to workload management. The team’s ethos underlines the importance of collaboration with business partners and teamwork alongside personal development and equal opportunities. Improved information sharing has led to better decision-making while the development of standardised templates has streamlined processes, saved time and ensured consistency. An induction programme for business team members seeks to make legal concepts simple for non-legal staff, helping them to anticipate legal risks from the start. 

IP Counsel of the Year sponsored by Foley & Ladner
Winner: Shona Tennant, William Grant & Sons 

The Global Legal Post’s Sally Dean (left) collects the award on behalf of Shona Tennant; awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt (centre); Jeffrey Greene, partner and co-chair of Foley & Lardner’s fashion, apparel, and beauty industry team

Shona Tennant leads the IP team at William Grant & Sons. The world's third-largest Scotch whisky producer is known for luxury whisky brands like The Balvenie and Glenfiddich and the premium gin Hendrick's. Notable IP work includes enhancing Hendrick's protection by securing a UK trademark for its distinctive bottle shape and label and protecting the Glenfiddich brand in a successful opposition at the UKIPO that featured some unusual and very detailed evidence about the geography, history, and land ownership along the River Fiddich. The case required research and historical knowledge and insight to overcome arguments related to geographical origin. She is active in the IP community in Scotland contributing to The Licensing Executive Society. The judges praised her for her strategic thinking, industry knowledge and evidence-building skills.

Luxury Law Firm of the Year – International Law Firm    
Winner:  Bird & Bird

(L-r) IP partner Christine Danos, Bird & Bird, awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt, Bird & Bird IP partner Manon Rieger-Jansen and Nicola Conway, a senior associate in the winning firm’s retail and consumer group

Bird & Bird boasts extensive expertise in supporting luxury businesses, offering comprehensive services across consumer law, commercial agreements, data protection, IP, brand management, employment and dispute resolution. With luxury experts in 32 global offices, it provides integrated legal support to luxury brands navigating complex international laws. Notable work this year includes assisting a high-end wellness brand with store acquisitions, managing global trademark matters for an international beauty company and advising a large fashion corporation on data protection compliance in the EMEA region. Its commitment to ESG has driven the creation of tools like the ESG Navigator, Corporate PPA Hub, Extended Producer Responsibility Tracker and Green Claims Tracker to guide clients through regulatory landscapes. Additionally, it prioritises staying ahead of industry trends such as AI and innovative technologies, ensuring luxury clients remain at the forefront of legal and regulatory developments.

Luxury Law Firm of the Year – Independent Law Firm    
Winner: Henries

Awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt with Elizabeth Henries

Founded in 2017 by Elizabeth Henries, former corporate counsel and senior director at Donna Karan, Henries PLLC is a preeminent boutique law firm based in New York. The firm specialises in acting as an extension of in-house legal teams for globally recognised luxury brands. It has recently overseen several high-profile marketing campaigns, including promotional events for major luxury houses and branding initiatives at prominent venues. The firm also advises on legal matters relating to the supply chain operations for various high-profile brands, while Elizabeth Henries is a frequent speaker on sustainability regulations in fashion and apparel. Operating remotely with a low-overhead model allows the firm to offer services at competitive rates, which aids in retaining top legal talent. Henries PLLC continues to focus on growth, planning expansions into new sectors like professional sports and real estate, while maintaining high-quality daily legal services.

Partner of the Year    
Winner:  Francesco Carloni, K&L Gates 

Francesco Carloni with Awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt

K&L Gates partner Francesco Carloni is based in Brussels and Milan and co-chairs the firm’s global luxury products and fashion group, a multidisciplinary team serving the luxury and fashion sector. With more than 20 years of experience, Carloni represents leading global fashion brands and is admitted to practice in New York, Brussels and Rome. Standout work this year includes assisting major European fashion trade associations with the Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation and successfully representing a high-profile fashion brand in antitrust investigations by the European Commission and US Department of Justice. Carloni also advised a major fashion house on green claims compliance and supported several luxury brands with global antitrust compliance and distribution strategies. His expertise extends to sustainability, ESG issues and greenwashing claims demonstrating a commitment to navigating complex regulatory landscapes and achieving successful outcomes for luxury clients.

IP Team of the Year    
Winner:  Paul Weiss

Paul Weiss partner John Patten and associate Uche Eseonu with Awards host Belmond’s Abbi Hunt (centre)

As key members of Paul Weiss’s deal teams, the firm’s 30-lawyer global intellectual property and technology transactions group plays a crucial role in multibillion-dollar transactions by helping companies identify, value, protect and leverage IP assets. The team, led by partners Claudine Meredith-Goujon and Bonnie Chen, and associate Natalie Affinito, recently advised Estée Lauder on its largest-ever deal: the $2.8bn acquisition of the Tom Ford brand. This transaction involved negotiating three substantial and complex licensing agreements. The acquisition positioned Estée Lauder as the sole owner of Tom Ford’s intellectual property, enhancing its luxury brand portfolio. The deal included licensing agreements with Ermenegildo Zegna for fashion and accessories and Marcolin Group for eyewear, ensuring the brand’s continuity and growth.

Next year’s Luxury Law Summit London and Luxury Law Awards will take place at the British Museum on 10 June. To register your interest in attending, email [email protected]. For sponsorship enquiries, email [email protected].