Retail Law Conference 2020

The Retail Law Conference 2020, organized by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the Retail Litigation Center (RLC), was held virtually from October 20 to 22, 2020. This annual event is tailored for general counsel and their top legal deputies, offering retail-specific legal education in a digital format, allowing participants to engage from their homes or offices without the need for travel.

The conference covered a range of pertinent topics, including aggressive class action defense, state regulatory trends, cannabis-related legal issues, combating counterfeits, diversity in corporate boards, workplace safety concerning weapons, international compliance impacts on supply chains, and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sessions also addressed ethical practices during and after the pandemic, bankruptcy strategies amid the retail apocalypse, lease strategies during COVID-19, digital age right-to-know laws, independent contractor strategies post-Uber and Lyft, and upcoming Supreme Court term insights.

The event featured various session formats designed to facilitate peer-to-peer interactions and meaningful discussions. These included "Ask a GC" sessions with top retail industry general counsel, keynotes and general sessions from industry leaders, CLE breakout sessions blending lectures and case studies, and retailer roundtables for sharing best practices and benchmarking information. Notable speakers comprised senior legal executives from major retailers such as Gap Inc., PetSmart, Ulta Beauty, The Michaels Companies, Foot Locker, Qurate Retail Group, Wawa, Ahold Delhaize USA, 7-Eleven, Starbucks Coffee Company, Best Buy, Designer Brands, Walgreens, Target Corporation, Five Below, Lowe's Companies, VF Corporation, Tractor Supply Company, The Home Depot, ThredUp, Dollar General, Walmart, and PepsiCo.

The conference was designed for general counsel, their top legal deputies, and entire legal departments within the retail industry. It provided a platform for in-house legal teams to enhance their performance through a shared understanding of challenges and access to essential knowledge, making it a valuable opportunity for legal professionals in the retail sector.