About Ilana N. Lubin

Companies across a range of industries seek Ilana Lubin to advise them on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint venture, carve-out and divestiture transactions and other strategic matters. Notably, Ilana's experience representing clients in the apparel, footwear, accessory and beauty sectors has provided her with unique insight into the global business of fashion and the intensifying commercial exploitation of celebrity, corporate, fashion and entertainment brands. Accordingly, Ilana is seen as a trusted outside general counsel who is able to navigate a range of solutions for her clients in retail, fashion and beyond.

In-depth corporate experience and knowledge of global retail

Ilana's corporate and commercial experience is broad from both a domestic and international perspective. Ilana's cross-border experience spans countries including China, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil, Qatar, France, Denmark, Finland, Russia, Italy and the United Kingdom. She has counseled clients on matters ranging from launching operations in the United States to entering into joint venture transactions in foreign jurisdictions. No matter the deal, Ilana is adept at working with local counsel to isolate local law risk and compliance considerations and evaluating those risks in the context of the overall transaction.

This broad experience, particularly on behalf of retailers, consumer products companies and brand owners, has allowed her to gain understanding into the issues facing members of the retail eco system globally. Ilana regularly supports clients seeking to maximize celebrity, entertainment and corporate brand value through intellectual property transactions, including joint venture, licensing, distribution and endorsement deals. She also manages a range of legal solutions across practice areas, including intellectual property disputes and counseling, tax, bankruptcy, toxic torts, employment and labor, and commercial litigation.

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Representative Experience

  • Represented a subsidiary of a Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed global consumer goods company in connection with its:
    • $378 million acquisition of a leading designer, distributor and supplier of licensed, branded and private-label children's apparel.*
    • $38 million acquisition of one of the world’s leading specialty boot brands.*
    • $25 million acquisition of substantially all of the operating assets of one of the world’s largest specialty ski brands in connection with a concurrent, $50 million licensing arrangement.*
    • $25 million acquisition of a leading designer, distributor and supplier of licensed, branded and private-label lip gloss and other cosmetic products.*
    • $13 million acquisition of substantially all of the operating assets of a NASDAQ-listed jeans company in connection with a concurrent licensing arrangement.*
    • Joint venture formed to exploit the brands of certain globally successful personalities valued at $93 million.*
    • Restructuring of a joint venture, including the $37 million conversion of equity to convertible debt financing.*
    • Joint venture formed to design and develop a celebrity-branded footwear line.*
    • Joint venture formed to create one of the world’s largest brand-management companies.*
    * Experience prior to Katten

News

Publications

Presentations and Events

  • January 9, 2025
    The Four Pillars of Fashion Law: Business & Finance
  • November 14, 2018
    Women in Law & Leadership
    Panelist | Mentor and Sponsorship: Creating Growth in Your Organization
  • November 9, 2018
    2018 ANA/BAA Marketing Law Conference
    Speaker | Global Social Media: Key Issues and Learning in Mergers, Acquisitions, Contracts & Management
  • June 15, 2017
    ACC's New York City Chapter – The Art of Contracting
    Presenter | Tools and Tips for Identifying and Avoiding Common Traps in Commercial Contracts
  • May 24, 2017
    Association of Corporate Counsel Webinar
    Presenter | Tools and Tips for Identifying and Avoiding Common Traps in Commercial Contracts – Part 2
  • April 12, 2017
    Association of Corporate Counsel Webinar
    Presenter | Tools and Tips for Identifying and Avoiding Common Traps in Commercial Contracts – Part 1– Part 1
  • July 13, 2016
    Association of Corporate Counsel – New York City Chapter Signature CLE Program
    Presenter | The Art of Contracting: Tools and Tips for Identifying and Avoiding Common Traps in Commercial Contracts
  • June 2, 2016
    Family Office & Private Equity Dealmakers Breakfast Series
    Moderator | Private Equity in Apparel and Fashion
  • March 31, 2015
    Startup Legal Night
    Presenter | Forming Your Business: A Practical Approach
Practices
Industries
Education
  • Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, JD
  • Cornell University, BS
Bar Admissions
  • New York
Recognitions
Recognized or listed in the following:
  • Crain's New York Business
    Notable Women in Law, 2021
  • New York Law Journal
    Rising Star, 2019
  • Super Lawyers Rising Stars
    New York, 2015–2022
  • Thomson Reuters
    Stand-out Lawyer, 2025
Award Methodologies