Tydings has represented some of the largest retailers in the country, as well as regional chains and local businesses throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. We understand the legal challenges faced by retailers of all sizes. Matters we handle cover operations, tax planning, facilities, and corporate governance. Our clients have included nationwide pharmacy chains, office equipment vendors, "big-box" and warehouse-style stores, gas station dealers, and building-supply retail chains, among many others.
We have a long history of representing retailers in employment matters, including wage-related claims, allegations of discrimination, and wrongful termination disputes, as well as employee benefits; non-compete, employment, and other agreements; and human resource policies. We also counsel retailers in issues related to e-commerce, antitrust, intellectual property protection, products liability, and federal and state regulatory compliance.
Our corporate and real estate department regularly counsels retailers in matters pertaining to mergers, acquisitions, and sales of their businesses, as well as in preparing their businesses for sale. We also assist our retail clients with supplier and customer contracts, real estate and construction issues, and many day-to-day general business and tax questions.
Representative Matters
Among many other engagements in the retail industry, the attorneys of Tydings have:
- Represented an office equipment retailer in federal court in Maryland against claims of sexual assault, gender discrimination, negligent hiring, and a retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act brought by a former human resources director;
- Represented a group of gas station dealers in a series of cases against their oil company franchisors in matters involving petroleum marketing;
- Defended a pharmacy chain in a personal injury case alleging that that trauma from an incident caused fibromyalgia; at trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court, our client admitted liability and the jury returned a zero-dollar verdict;
- Defended a Mid-Atlantic convenience store chain and a warehouse membership club in separate cases, challenging the validity of state sales-below-cost statutes and regulations and prevailing in both cases; one before reaching trial and the other after trial;
- Negotiated a Section 363 sale of all a debtor’s assets in a liquidation of a restaurant with nearly 50 employees;
- Represented a restaurant in a lawsuit brought by former employees under the WARN Act, winning dismissal on summary judgment;
- Represented numerous automotive dealers against claims of misrepresentation, consumer protection violations, breach of warranty, negligent servicing, and breach of contract;
- Represented a national lumber retailer in a number of cases in both federal and state court;
- Represented several large, national retailers against various discrimination claims in federal and state court;
- Represented a chain of automobile dealers in a stock purchase sale of its business; and
- Served as national leasing counsel to a major fashion retailer, handling more than 75 leases to date.
Representative Clients
- 84 Lumber
- American Office Equipment Company, Inc.
- Best Buy, Inc.
- Bob Davidson Ford
- CVS of Maryland, Inc.
- Dollar Tree, Inc.
- Fox Chevrolet, LLC
- Wal-Mart, Inc.