K&L Gates and the general counsel of leading luxury brand Calvin Klein were among the big winners at the 2020 Luxury Law Awards.

The top 50 global firm was named Luxury Law Firm of the Year at the awards ceremony, which took place on 3 September, while Calvin Klein’s long-serving general counsel, Pamela Bradford, was awarded the coveted Lifetime Achievement in Luxury Law.

Charlotte Tilbury’s GC, Ashleigh Hegarty, was also among the major winners, securing The Marella Naj-Oleari Luxury Business In-House General Counsel of the Year award after a busy year which culminated in the British brand’s acquisition in June by Spanish fragrance and fashion group Puig for around $1bn.

K&L Gates was praised by the judges for ‘having built up its luxury practice in a relatively short period of time and representing some of the top names in the sector’.

Recent work includes advising longstanding client Coty on a $600m global licensing and collaboration deal with Kylie Jenner and a global collaboration with actress Lili Reinhart to be the new face of COVERGIRL. 

Bradford secured the achievement award off the back of more than 20 years serving as general counsel of Calvin Klein, overseeing brand strategy, transactions, licensing, marketing and enforcement.

In a video interview for the virtual awards ceremony, which took place at the close of Luxury Law Summit Europe, she said Calvin Klein’s acquisition by PVH in 2002 had been an “amazing education” for her and that she continues to be challenged by “new bold creative ideas and initiatives” ever since then.

She added: “The approach changes, the creative vision changes and the goals change and in the legal role you must immediately adapt and change with it – it is constant evolution and for me nothing is better than that.”

Other winners included  the legal team at the high-end shoe brand Manolo Blahnik, which was named Luxury Business In-House Legal Team, and the New Delhi-based IP firm Anand & Anand, which won Independent Luxury Law Firm of the Year.

The awards ceremony followed a full day of keynote speeches, interviews, panel sessions and break outs at the Luxury Law Summit Europe, which is produced by The Global Legal Post and was held as a virtual conference for the first time.

It featured a keynote interview with Michael Ward, managing director of Harrods, and appearances by general counsel from a host of top brands, including Mulberry Group, Kempinski Hotels, Asprey and Marimekko Corporation.

The full list of award winners 

Lifetime Achievement in Luxury Law (sponsored by Taylor Wessing) – Pamela Bradford, Calvin Klein 

The Marella Naj-Oleari Luxury Business In-House General Counsel of the Year (sponsored by Trevisan & Cuonzo) – Ashleigh Hegarty, Charlotte Tilbury 

Luxury Business Leader – Paula Levitan, Manzanita Capital

Luxury Business In-House Legal team (sponsored by C M Murray) – Manolo Blahnik 

Luxury Business Rising Star (sponsored by Kemp Little) – Rita Alves Coelho, Farfetch

Best New Luxury Law Firm Practice – McCarthy Tetrault

Luxury IP In-house Counsel – Amanda Beaton, Jaguar Land Rover

Luxury Sustainability 2020 (Sponsored by Fladgate) – Carry Somers and Orsola de Castro of Fashion Revolution

Luxury Technology Leader – Rachael Barber, partner, Kemp Little, and co-founder, Dupe Killer

Luxury Deal of the Year – RPC

Independent Luxury Law Firm of the Year – Anand & Anand

Luxury Law Firm of the Year – K&L Gates

Click here for more details, including video interviews with selected winners