Katten represented global brand and entertainment platform Authentic Brands Group (ABG) in connection with its acquisition of the Care Bears brand, a long-running staple of family entertainment, and related rights. The deal represents ABG’s debut in the family entertainment space and its first character franchise, integrating a widely recognized brand into ABG's model of scaling intellectual property through media, live offerings and commerce around the world.
Originally launched in the early 1980s as a greeting card concept, Care Bears has grown into a franchise generating upward of $12 billion in cumulative retail sales, with a global audience reach across more than 190 markets in 26 different languages, and backed by over 500 licensing collaborators and an ongoing lineup of digital shorts, video games, in-person events and film. Through its Authentic Studios and Authentic Live divisions, ABG plans to build out the franchise with fresh storytelling, wider audiences and new fan-facing experiences.
The cross-practice Katten team across multiple offices, led by Corporate Partner Ilana Lubin and Intellectual Property Partner Jessica Kraver, included Corporate Associates Julia Brook, Julie Park and Miriam Wang; Intellectual Property Partner Karen Artz Ash and Associate Alexandra Caleca; Corporate Partner and Head of Employment Transactions Michelle Gyves; London Managing Partner Christopher Hitchins; Counsel Emery Lyon; Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Associate Leslie Nash; Transactional Tax Planning Partners Todd Hatcher and Meredith O'Leary and Associate Dan Collins; Real Estate Counsel Abraham Salander; and Financial Markets and Funds Senior Associate Brigitte Weaver.
"Authentic Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Care Bears, Expanding its Entertainment Platform into Character IP," Authentic, June 30, 2026
