Consumer protection

Our consumer law group comprises specialists in consumer rights and unfair terms, competition (including digital markets), advertising, data protection, product liability (safety and labelling), equality, and financial regulation. As a dedicated consumer law team, we share best practice and knowledge to keep track of fast-moving developments in the regulation of digital markets and platforms at an EU and national level. We can quickly assemble the right team of experts tailored to the investigation and sector focus to most effectively support our clients.

We have been involved in many flagship consumer law enforcement investigations conducted by the CMA, including in relation to online gambling, the leasehold property market, auto-renewing subscription contracts in the antivirus software market (triggered by a “loyalty penalty” super-complaint to the CMA), and alleged greenwashing practices.

We have extensive experience of advising clients on negotiating remedies with the CMA in consumer-facing markets, including the negotiation of undertakings with the CMA to avoid court action in respect of alleged breaches of consumer protection rules. In some cases, this has included advising on potential consumer redress for historic breaches of competition, consumer law or financial services regulation. As a firm, we have also advised on remediation and redress schemes more widely in cases ranging from mis-selling of financial services products to the Construction Workers Compensation Scheme. With the DMCCA placing UK consumer protection law on a par with competition law and giving the CMA strong powers to directly enforce and punish breaches of consumer protection law, the risk of non-compliance is substantially increased for businesses and individuals alike.