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Melanie Shefford

Of Counsel

Portrait ofMelanie Shefford

Melanie Shefford

Of Counsel

Contact
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Cannon Place
78 Cannon Street
London
EC4N 6AF
United Kingdom
Languages English

Melanie is Of Counsel in the Technology & Media Team and has been with the firm since 2010. She is an expert on English and European consumer protection laws, including in relation to distance selling, minimum standards for product sales, and unfair terms and commercial practices. She regularly advises on consumer terms and conditions, disclaimers, website flows (including purchase, sign up and cancellation procedures), subscription contracts and issues relating to product reviews. Melanie can also advise on enforcement risk due to her involvement in regulatory investigations. Melanie aims to provide user-friendly advice, balancing risk and commercial considerations.

Melanie also has extensive experience with commercial contracts, as well as assisting retailers and other businesses with consumer-facing projects, for example where a client wishes to launch a new retail offering. She has previously been seconded to Amazon, M&S, IBM and Skype, which has helped her develop a commercial, practical and hands-on approach. 

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Relevant experience

  • A global retailer on a range of matters since 2014, particularly in relation to UK and EU consumer protection law (including regulatory investigations), but also in relation to high-profile retail projects and commercial contracts (including transportation, logistics and procurement contracts).
  • A large, international technology company in relation to a CMA consumer protection investigation. 
  • A well-known streaming platform in relation to consumer protection law compliance, including in relation to subscription contracts.
  • M&S with a wide range of commercial contracts, with a particular focus on their IT estate and the drafting, negotiation or renegotiation, and termination, of several large outsourcings.
  • An international British e-commerce company in relation to their returns process and technology contracts, which included preparing a suite of technology-related template agreements.
  • A provider of storage services in respect of distance selling laws.
  • A leading wine retailer on commercial and consumer contracts and compliance with consumer and advertising laws.
  • A Japanese retail brand looking to open stores in England.
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Education

2009 – LPC, BPP Law School, London

2008 – GDL, College of Law, London

2007 – B.A. (Hons) French and History of Art, UCL, London

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Expertise

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21/03/2024
Proposed UK consumer legislation now clamps down on drip pricing and fake...
The draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the “DMCC Bill”) has recently been amended (on 13 March 2024) following the Report stage in the House of Lords to include measures that prohibit...
Law-Now Retail
22/02/2024
Latest UK consumer law developments
In January 2024, the Department for Business and Trade published its response to a 2023 consultation entitled “Smarter Regulation: Improving consumer price transparency and product information for consumers”...
Law-Now Consumer Products
13/09/2023
UK Government announces consultation on consumer protection reforms
On 4 September 2023, the Department for Business and Trade launched a consultation (“Con­sulta­tion”) to assess how to improve price transparency and product information for consumers. Prompted by its...
Law-Now Consumer Products
28/07/2023
Beauty box subscriptions: the makeover mandated by the new DMCC Bill
Everyone loves a well-thought-out surprise. And many consumers feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of products available in the cosmetics industry. In steps the beauty box: a personalised, monthly assortment...
Law-Now Consumer Products
28/06/2023
CMS Consumer & Retail Conference
There is still time to register for the CMS Consumer & Retail Conference - Today's Tomorrow taking place on Wednesday 28 June 2023 at our CMS London office. You can find the full line up below, which...
Event Legal
25/04/2023
Consumer regulator given 10% fining powers under new consumer law Bill
10% fining powers confirmed in newly unveiled consumer law Bill:Highly-an­ti­cip­ated proposals for new consumer laws have today (25 April 2023) been published in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers...
Law-Now Dispute Resolution
25/04/2023
CMS’ interactive Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer law regulatory...
Welcome to CMS’ interactive Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer law regulatory hub. Here you will find all of the resources you need on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill and the UK’s regulatory landscape following the Government publication of its long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill.
Publication
30/03/2023
Dark patterns remain firmly under the regulator’s spotlight
This week the Competition and Markets Authority (the “CMA”) has continued to shine a light on dark patterns, publishing an open letter for online businesses regarding urgency and price reduction claims...
Law-Now Consumer Products
29/03/2023
Webinar: Getting to grips with changes to consumer regulation
At a time when competition for customer spend is high, don’t fall foul of changes to consumer protection law. The risks of non-compliance are substantial - reputational damage, civil and criminal penalties and loss of business. Join our webinar on Wednesday 29 March to understand the requirements of the Digital Services Act, dark patterns and the new price reduction obligations under the Price Indication Directive. We will also discuss specific consumer law developments in the UK, Germany and Spain. The webinar will be moderated by Katie Nagy de Nagybaczon, Part­ner & Co-Head of Consumer Products Sector Group and will include the following experts:Melanie Shefford - Of Counsel, Technology, Media and Com­mu­nic­a­tions Alf­onso Codes - Partner, Public Law & Regulated SectorsJuan Moreno - Counsel, Public Law & Regulated SectorsStefan Lüft - Partner, Intellectual Property
Event Webinar
15/02/2023
Hot consumer law topics for 2023
As we ease ourselves into 2023, there has been a recent flurry of activity at UK and EU level in relation to consumer protection law matters. Here is our round-up of the “hot” consumer law topics...
Law-Now Consumer Products
20/04/2022
New consumer protection law announced
Following the Government’s 2021 Consultation Paper on potential new consumer protection reforms (which we discussed in a previous article), the Government has, on 20 April 2022, announced significant...
Law-Now Consumer Products
22/10/2020
CMS Consumer & Retail Virtual Conference - Alternative Futures
Join us for the virtual CMS Consumer & Retail Conference- Alternative Futures on 15 and 22 Oc­to­ber. Wheth­er it’s Covid-19, heightened environmental concerns, or global social justice movements, consumer...
Event Webinar
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