Advertising, Marketing & Promotions
Helping clients strengthen campaigns with proactive strategies.
Even brands with strong compliance programs can face consumer, competitor, or regulatory challenges. Businesses need forward-focused plans to ensure that their campaigns are compliant and effective.
Perkins Coie’s advertising and consumer protection lawyers partner with clients to manage risk and create and launch compelling advertising campaigns and initiatives. We equip our clients with creative strategies to avoid costly compliance missteps and vigorously defend them against deceptive advertising and unfair competition claims in class actions, government investigations, and before such self-regulatory bodies as the National Advertising Division (NAD). And when competitors unfairly compete or publish false advertising, we quickly work to minimize harm.
Our clients include a diverse array of brands in industries including retail, technology, social media, gaming, food and beverage, entertainment, software, and marketing.
Perkins Coie is proud to be acknowledged by Chambers USA as both a leader in transactional and regulatory advertising law and a consistent recipient of Band 1 ranking for retail law. Our team includes former Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff, state attorneys general office staff, and marketing and advertising professionals. Our compliance counseling, transactional, and litigation capabilities make us a valued resource for advertising compliance and consumer protection.
We frequently represent
- Retail.
- Gaming.
- Toy manufacturing.
- Food and beverage.
- Social media.
- Entertainment.
- Software.
- Consumer goods.
- Marketing.
We aid clients in managing marketing materials and navigating complex advertising regulations.
Advertising Review & Claim Substantiation
We assist our clients with compliance with truth-in-advertising laws and substantiation of advertising claims, including:
- Reviewing websites, social media, software apps, TV, radio, print, and other marketing collateral during each stage of development.
- Analyzing comparative advertising claims and mitigating high-risk offers.
- Advising on heavily regulated or scrutinized advertising claims, including “Made in USA,” environmental and sustainability, health and safety, claims to children, “free,” and pricing and sale claims.
- Providing training and education on claim substantiation and advertising standards.
Social Media, Native Advertising, Endorsers & Influencers
We advise brands on social media influencer campaigns and celebrity endorsements, including:
- Drafting and negotiating influencer and endorsement agreements.
- Preparing influencer compliance materials, including social media policies and codes of conduct for influencers.
- Providing influencer and social media training.
- Advising on native advertising disclosures and related compliance.
- Reviewing and advising on social media advertising and social media platform rules.
- Counseling on social media and other space-constrained disclosures.
Coupons, Gift Cards & Loyalty Programs
Coupons, loyalty programs, gift cards, and other promotional activities help make the most of consumer spending and encourage brand loyalty. However, such programs come with a complex set of state and federal regulations. Our counsel includes:
- Advising on state and federal regulations governing coupons, loyalty programs, gift cards, and other promotional activities.
- Ensuring compliance with unclaimed property laws.
- Navigating money transmission regulations.
- Providing guidance on structuring loyalty and gift card programs.
- Assisting with regulatory filings and disclosures.
Regulatory Compliance
We advise our clients on state, federal, and international regulatory compliance issues, including:
- Advising on FTC rules and guidance related to endorsements, packaging and labeling, green and sustainability advertising, pricing and added fees, “Made in USA” claims, and more.
- Assisting clients in navigating changing state and federal laws and enforcement trends regarding recurring subscription programs.
- Advising on compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and parallel state laws governing marketing to consumers through phone calls, text messages, and fax transmissions.
- Providing guidance on marketing, labeling, and promotional campaigns that may implicate rules and guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal Communications Commission, Securities Exchange Commission, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Advertising Disputes
Even the most vigilant brands face challenges from consumers, competitors, and regulators. When issues arise, we are dedicated to defending our clients while ensuring that these disputes do not hinder progress towards their business goals. We also protect our clients' interests when competitors unfairly compete or publish false advertising. Our representations include:
- State and federal consumer class actions alleging false advertising, unfair competition, misbranding and improper labeling, and violations of consumer privacy statutes, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and state equivalents.
- Regulatory investigations and enforcement matters involving government agencies, including the FTC and state attorneys general.
- Challenges and other disputes before self-regulatory bodies, such as the NAD.
- False advertising and unfair business practice disputes between competitors, including claims involving advertising, intellectual property (IP), right of publicity, and antitrust violations.
Advertising & Marketing Agreements
We draft and negotiate a range of marketing and promotion-related agreements, including:
- Advertising and creative services agreements.
- Advertising agency agreements.
- Co-marketing and co-promotion agreements.
- Cause marketing agreements.
- Ambassador, influencer, spokesperson, and celebrity endorsement agreements.
- Event sponsorship agreements.
- Publicity and liability releases.
- Product placement agreements.
- Trademark and copyright license agreements.
- Media buy agreements and IAB terms.
- Publicity, content, and location releases.
Contests, Sweepstakes & Promotions
We help clients design and launch contests, sweepstakes, giveaways, and other promotions by:
- Drafting official rules, disclosures, prizing agreements, winner affidavits, and liability/publicity releases.
- Advising on promotional structures and strategic considerations under illegal lottery and promotions laws.
- Assisting with registering, bonding, and related regulatory compliance issues.
- Counseling on FTC endorsement requirements and social media platform rules associated with contests and sweepstakes.
- Reviewing marketing assets for compliance with truth-in-advertising and promotional laws.
- Advising on IP issues and user-generated content ownership.
- Advising on international promotions.
- Structuring “free” and other promotional offers, including drafting offer terms and advertising disclosures.