Consumer protection law is much broader than your company’s dealings with ‘consumers’ - misleading and deceptive conduct is now a very common allegation thrown around when contractual relationships break down and parties are in dispute. Unconscionable conduct is also increasingly common and not just when you’re dealing with mums and dads.
We work with Australian businesses at every stage of consumer protection law - from making sure clients have compliance programs in place early to minimise risk, right up to litigation.
Should you ever find the ACCC on your doorstep, our team can advise during investigations and while we take every step to help clients avoid litigation, we’re ready to provide the expertise you need if it comes to that. We understand that early resolution of issues is critical and we waste no time in steering you through the process.
Experience you can count on
Many of our lawyers have worked in senior levels of government or undertaken secondments to government, giving our team a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of consumer law from all perspectives.
We’ve advised a range of industries including major food producers, manufacturers and telecommunications companies responding to ACCC investigations about misleading and deceptive claims.
We advise clients on all aspects of consumer protection law including:
- truth in advertising
- unfair terms in standard form contracts
- basic guarantees when supplying good or services
- product safety standards and product recalls
- unconscionable conduct, and
- door to door and telephone sales.
We have experience with the laws designed to prevent scams such as pyramid selling, referral selling, bullying sales tactics and bait advertising. Some industries also have particular codes of conduct that will apply in addition to these, covering matters such as the information required on food labels and utilities bills.
We have advised on the entire range of this broad area of law: from training your people how to spot and avoid mistakes in this area, to giving legal sign-off on your advertising, to advising on your rights or exposure, to investigations from regulators, to litigation.
Your reputation is at stake
In addition to the legal issues, adverse public relations can cause irreparable damage to reputations and brand value.
Managing a PR crisis can cost you more than any legal proceedings and our team are also equipped to advise you on your crisis management plan - media relations, customer relations and any other communications to internal or external stakeholders.
