RILA flexes legal muscle

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has announced the formation of a first-of-its-kind Retail Litigation Center (RLC) to give voice to the retail industry on relevant legal issues by marshalling some of the big legal guns of the largest chain retailers in the United States.

“With guidance from the RLC’s board of directors and participation from diverse representatives of the retail community, the Center will focus on producing better outcomes in litigation affecting the retail industry,” said RILA president Sandy Kennedy.

The RLC will participate in both state and federal cases, principally at the appellate level, giving the retail industry an opportunity to weigh in on important legal issues and highlight for courts the importance and potential industry-wide consequences of the legal issues before them. RILA has participated in litigation in the past, including its successful challenge to the healthcare spending mandates in Maryland.

RLC membership will be open to all retailers, and will invite participation from other retail-focused entities as well, including law firms. The board of director will be chaired by Janet Dhillon, executive VP, general counsel and secretary for J.C. Penney. Other directors serving on the RLC board are: • Timothy Baer, executive VP and general counsel, Target • David Goldston, senior VP, general counsel and secretary, Jo-Ann Stores • Susan Lanigan, executive VP and general counsel, Dollar General Corp. • Samuel Reeves, Senior VP and general counsel, Walmart US, Wal-Mart Stores • Michael Veitenheimer, senior VP, secretary and general counsel, Michaels Stores

Beginning this year, the RLC will co-sponsor with RILA an annual conference that will bring industry leaders together to focus on the most important legal issues affecting retailers and how best to address them. The first event, tailored toward retail and consumer product general counsels, senior legal executives and retail corporate counsel, will be held Nov. 8 to 10 at the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa in Clearwater, Fla.

Based in Arlington, Va., the RILA includes more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.