Created by Olivera Medenica, a U.S. attorney widely recognized for her expertise in fashion law and intellectual property, the Fashion Law and Innovation Conference has become a leading annual forum for professionals in the fashion industry. Since 2017, the French-American Bar Association (FABA) has co-sponsored the event, and since 2018, the Federal Bar Association (FBA) has also been involved, further strengthening its institutional and transatlantic dimension.
The 2020 edition, held on October 20 and 21, took place in a fully virtual format in response to the public health constraints arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-hosted by the FBA Intellectual Property Law Section and the French-American Bar Association, the conference successfully adapted its format while preserving its core mission: providing a high-level forum for exchange between practitioners and key industry stakeholders on both sides of the Atlantic. Programming was scheduled midday EST to allow participation across multiple time zones.
In a year marked by major disruptions to supply chains, retail networks and consumer behavior, the conference was designed to address the most pressing questions of 2020 while offering forward-looking perspectives for 2021 and beyond.
The first theme, “Now and Next: State of the Fashion Industry and 2021 Outlook,” provided a strategic overview of the sector’s condition. Speakers examined the immediate impact of the crisis on fashion houses, retailers and luxury brands, while identifying pathways for transformation and recovery. This forward-looking approach placed legal considerations within a broader framework of business restructuring and adaptation.
The second session, “Global Brand Protection Challenges Amidst the COVID Pandemic,” focused on heightened challenges in protecting trademarks and intangible assets in an increasingly digital environment. The rapid growth of e-commerce, the expansion of online distribution channels and the rise in counterfeit risks intensified enforcement and evidentiary issues. Discussions compared the legal tools available in the United States and in France/Europe, emphasizing the need for coordinated international strategies.
The final theme, “COVID Disruption: A Sustainable Future for the Fashion Industry,” explored how the pandemic acted as a catalyst for structural change. Panelists addressed the growing integration of sustainability, social responsibility and transparency into corporate strategies. Beyond immediate crisis management, discussions considered the long-term trajectory of the industry and the role of legal frameworks in supporting these transformations.
Despite the constraints of a virtual format, the 2020 edition confirmed the resilience and continued relevance of the Fashion Law Conference. By co-hosting the event alongside the FBA Intellectual Property Law Section, FABA reaffirmed its commitment to fostering Franco-American legal dialogue and to supporting practitioners in navigating unprecedented global challenges.