From concept and production through to marketing and sale, businesses in the consumer products and manufacturing sectors face a complex array of legal, regulatory and commercial challenges. Protecting your brand, ensuring compliance with the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), managing supply chains and navigating international trade issues are all critical to success in these highly competitive industries.

At Hope Earle Lawyers, we provide end-to-end legal support to manufacturers, distributors, retailers and brand owners. Our team combines technical legal expertise with practical industry insight, enabling us to deliver advice that is commercially astute, strategic and tailored to your business objectives.

Key Areas of Expertise

Australian Consumer Law & Compliance

• Advising on consumer guarantees, product liability and statutory rights

• Ensuring compliance with advertising and marketing restrictions under the ACL

• Assisting with product recalls, safety standards and compliance audits

• Advising on “greenwashing” and environmental claims in line with ACCC enforcement priorities

Brand & Intellectual Property Protection

• Trade mark registration, enforcement and portfolio management

• IP strategies across patents, copyright, designs and confidential information

• Protecting against counterfeit goods and parallel imports

• Leveraging intellectual property to build brand value and market share

Product Labelling & Marketing Claims

• Advising on compliance with packaging and labelling requirements

• Guidance on permissible marketing language versus misleading or deceptive conduct

• Food, beverage and grocery sector compliance, including the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct

• Specialist advice on measurement, safety and certification standards

Manufacturing, Supply & Distribution

• Drafting and negotiating manufacturing, supply, distribution and agency agreements

• Advising on domestic and international import/export arrangements

• Structuring joint ventures, collaborations and licensing arrangements

• Navigating industrial and commercial property issues for manufacturing facilities

Industry Focus & Innovation

• Advising on advanced manufacturing technologies, automation and innovation frameworks

• Supporting clients in the technology, food and beverage, FMCG and industrial product sectors

• Advising on sustainability initiatives and regulatory reforms affecting manufacturers

• Assisting with acquisitions, disposals and restructures of manufacturing and consumer product businesses