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Published byTheodore Fleming Modified over 9 years ago
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Kim D.G. Alexander-Cook Clare G. Smith Partner General Counsel N N OVATION LLP Labatt Breweries of Canada T HE P OSSIBLE M EETS THE P ERMISSIBLE M EETS THE A DVISABLE — Rendering Valued Advice on Marketing Practices — CBA National Competition Law Section Young Lawyers Committee / Marketing Practices Committee
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Marketing Practices and the Roles of Outside Counsel The Competition Lawyer Voice: ~ There is no substitute for legal expertise ~ Expertise in the statutes/codes Substance: Competition Act: Criminal & Reviewable / Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act: ss. 2, 4-7 / Food & Drugs Act: ss. 2, 5, 9, 17, 20 / Provincial CPAs: e.g., Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (Ontario): ss. 14-17 Advertising Standards Canada: Canadian Code of Advertising Standards Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board: Code of Advertising Acceptance Other specialized sources Process: Initiating process: complaint, application, private action, public investigation, criminal charge etc. Steps in process: inquiry, court orders, types of evidence, hearings, etc. Resolutions/Remedies/Penalties: AMPs, fines, restitution, corrective notice, rescission, behavioural order, criminal conviction, etc.
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(Competition Lawyer Voice … cont’d) Expertise in economics / claims evidence / jurisprudence Key economics questions: market definition / competitive effects Claims evidence: consumer research / product research / statistics Look to U.S. and E.U. cases, in addition to Cdn cases Expertise in enforcement priorities and the approach of authorities Competition Bureau guidance documents / public statements / personal discussions ASC and PAAB / personal discussions Health Canada guidance / personal discussions
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The Business Lawyer Voice: ~ There is no substitute for good judgment ~ Marketing practices that can attract scrutiny are generally competition at its best — tools to gain commercial advantage Need to understand client well and exercise judgment accordingly: Market position(s), goals, risk tolerance, budget, internal control processes, compliance programs, product/service portfolio, skeletons (if any), etc. Key individuals: Legal Counsel, VP Marketing, VP sales, VP Communications, CFO
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Inside Counsel / Management: What are they looking for from Outside Counsel? Critical area of practice for in-house counsel, but they tend not to be “experts” Expertise in this area can help select law firm of choice Contacts/relationships with regulators, broader industry knowledge, expertise Can help you say “no” or help you to say “yes” Outside perspective
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(Inside Counsel / Management … cont’d) Compliance programs/training for in-house legal departments or senior management Social media can raise privacy, IP, misleading advertising, contest issues etc. Keeping pace with evolving technologies and trends Want practical, solution-oriented advice, and want it fast and at a low cost Key to understand business and risk tolerance of business Type of media used Incumbent or new entrant
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Marketing and Advertising Practitioner: Where Do I Stand and Where Can it Lead? The Role: Practice issues engaged: Contract negotiation & review / agencies / promotional contests / new media / privacy / copyright / trade-marks / regulated products & services / complaints / legal & reputational risk analysis Potential practice synergies: Specialized products & services / trade-marks/copyright, including licensing / general commercial agreements / e-commerce / competition law / entertainment law Positioning the Role: As Competition Lawyer? As General Corporate/Commercial Lawyer? As General Litigation Lawyer? As Specialist?
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Discussion / Questions
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