Top 100 law firm Foot Anstey has launched its Retail Advisory Board. Thought to be the first of its kind within the legal sector, the firm has recruited industry heavyweights to provide additional expertise to their retail sector offering. The advisory board which will be made up of representatives from Property, HR and Finance disciplines along with members of Foot Anstey's retail team will provide real world insight into how the sector operates and ensure that the firm are offering strategic and commercial solutions for their clients.

The individuals on the board include:

• Graham Seaton, a retail and leisure property consultant, currently working for Ann Summers heading up their property function and working with the Board on their property strategy.
• Alison Cross is a HR specialist with Specsavers, most recently having worked at senior level in the People team at Halfords. Her retail background also includes HR positions with Tesco and Do-It-All.
• Mike Iddon has extensive experience in the sector; he is currently Chief Financial Officer at Pets at Home, having previously worked for New Look in a similar role.

Foot Anstey partner, Head of Retail and employment law specialist Patrick Howarth is Chair of the Board.

Patrick commented: "We've launched our Retail Advisory Board to ensure that our approach is always client-centric through understanding what different challenges and regulations could mean for the sector so that we can provide our advice in this context. We hope to add to the Board with senior representatives from technology, marketing and in-house counsel in due course.

"We work with a cross section of Great British retail brands, from food and drink through to fashion and leisure. Following Brexit we've entered a period of some uncertainty with challenges and opportunities for the sector. It's never been more important for us to champion and support British business. Our Retail Advisory Board will ensure that we're thinking through these issues with a view to providing practical and commercial support for our clients."

I am really pleased to serve on Foot Anstey's Retail Advisory Board; this novel move shows their commitment to the sector and drive to understand issues from the client's perspective.

Graham Seaton, Retail and Leisure Property consultant