Product Safety

Designing, developing and marketing a product can take up a lot of time and internal resources. Protecting your product requires a thorough understanding of numerous and often complex laws and regulations.

We advise on all aspects of product safety, from compliance to product recalls and regulatory prosecutions. Our specialist team has the knowledge to help you to realise the potential of your product in the most effective, safe and compliant way.

Ruth Sheret

I have over twenty years’ experience advising businesses on both criminal and civil proceedings, with a particular focus on products. I have defended companies of all sizes, from start-ups to multi-nationals, who operated in an increasingly regulated trading landscape.

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Ensuring product compliance

Product testing, research and marketing all play a part in placing products on the market. However, lack of awareness of the intricacies of product specific legislation or product standards or changes in legislation can lead to businesses inadvertently falling foul of the law.

Our expertise helps you make sure that your products are compliant when they are placed on the market.

Our regulatory specialists provide proactive advice on the safety requirements imposed by product specific laws, helping clients protect themselves with proper labelling and user instructions. We also provide guidance in marketing and advertising claims, to prevent “greenwashing” and/or undermining of safety requirements.

Environmental regulations can be complex however our team works with clients to help them understand their responsible producer waste and recycling obligations. Protection is also critical, and we have significant experience in assisting clients with insurance reviews to ensure their cover is sufficient.

For clients looking who place products on the EU market, we advise on product specific law of EU origin. We also work closely with an international team of lawyers for non-EU products.

Our Commercial team assists with contract drafting, distribution agreements and liability limitations to protect your company’s interests.

Defending non-compliant products

We support clients with marketed products when things go wrong. Our 24/7 crisis response means we are by your side from the moment of notification of a product-related incident.

We help with internal and external investigations. We attend PACE interviews and help you present your evidence to investigating agencies in a persuasive and cohesive way.

Our team have expertise on product recalls and will advise you on any corrective actions needed.

We defend criminal prosecutions brought by Trading Standards and/or the Office for Product Safety and Standards. We assist clients facing investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority. Supporting clients through any investigation, we make sure the process is carried out as quickly and smoothly as possible, minimising the impact on your business. This includes media management to minimise any risk to your brand reputation.

As a full-service law firm, we work closely with colleagues in our Dispute Resolution team to assist in commercial and consumer disputes and negotiate compensation if required.

Our clients include manufacturers, retailers (both physical and online), distributors and online marketplaces, operating in all sectors including consumer goods, construction, automotive and leisure.

Examples of our recent Product Safety work for clients

Supporting a client in the beauty sector in relation to a product recall
Advising a longstanding client in the leisure sector on various matters including product recall and product liability
Supporting a luxury car manufacturer regarding compliance with EU technical regulatory requirements
Assisting an international manufacturing client on product safety notices for construction products
Advising a distributor on greenwashing allegations
Guiding a domestic appliance manufacturer through an Advertising Standards Authority investigation.

Services from our Insurance, Risk and Regulatory team

Recognition of our work

Investors in People

Legal 500 2025 – Top Tier Firm

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Hear what our clients say about us

As well as being incredibly professional and conscientious, Ruth was also incredibly kind and reassuring. This was a very difficult time for me, which had gone on for a long time.

Ruth reassured me with her knowledge of the law but was also a caring and empathetic person to be around. I honestly would not have got through it without her. Thank you so much Ruth.

Client An inquest and with insurance difficulties