Staci Trager (formerly Staci Riordan) draws on her experience as a corporate executive to help clients optimize growth and protect market share as they navigate post-pandemic business dynamics. A pioneer in fashion law, she works with leaders, teams, creatives, designers, manufacturers, retailers, and entertainers—particularly non–U.S.-based multinationals—to address the full array of corporate, litigation, and compliance issues they face.
I work with all types of consumer-facing businesses, but I have a passion for helping clients in the fashion industry. As a former apparel company executive and an adjunct professor at a leading fashion industry institute, I understand how to work within and use the law for the good of clients trying to navigate and thrive in the challenging, competitive, and crowded fashion market.
In the courtroom or in the boardroom, my goal with every client is to be a trusted advisor. Whether you are a household name like Giorgio Armani or H&M or an up-and-comer like Swet Tailor, you need someone who knows your business, so you can benefit from cost-efficient, goal-oriented strategies—be it to conceive, structure, and grow your organization, aggressively litigate disputes that may arise, or adapt to evolving laws and regulations on issues like privacy and data security.
One of the downfalls of success is that it often opens the door to litigation. Here, I draw on my depth of experience to help clients navigate the legal issues, the system, and the individuals and craft strategies that meet their business objectives.
Clients who are not used to going before the courts appreciate my ability to educate them on the litigation process and communicate the implications of what is happening throughout. I have experience litigating in California state and federal courts, including most recently a case involving statutory interpretation, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.
I help fashion brands adapt, innovate, and stay ahead of their competition, particularly when it comes to the legal strategies at the foundation of brand cultivation. I serve as a business and legal advisor, partnering with clients to define, manage, and expand their brands via traditional media, such as television, film, and celebrity endorsement.
One of my proudest accomplishments is helping to launch the Fashion Law Project at my alma mater, Loyola Law School. Founded in 2014, the Fashion Law Project is an academic center that provides a business and legal curriculum for designers, apparel industry executives, and lawyers. I serve as the program’s executive director—overseeing the annual Fashion Law Symposium and Fashion Law Summer Intensive—as well as an adjunct professor teaching Fashion Law and running the Fashion Law Clinic.
The pandemic hit the fashion industry harder than most. Increased performance pressure and shifting customer behavior are accelerating digital transformation. But the potential for growth remains strong, and we are excited about the innovation we are seeing with existing clients as we enter a new post-pandemic period.
Prior to joining the firm, I was the chair of the Fashion Law Practice Group at two other national law firms. I was exposed to the combination of legal and business affairs as the first law clerk at fashion lifestyle brand, Guess?, Inc. I honed my researching and writing skills as an extern for California Appellate Court Justice Fred Woods. Prior to law school, I was the COO of a multimillion-dollar garment manufacturing company, overseas purchasing and production coordinator for a textile importer and converter, and taught in the entrepreneurship department of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM).
Reuters Legal | January 26, 2022
This article, on Sony Music agreeing to drop a copyright lawsuit against fitness apparel company Gymshark for its alleged misuse of songs in social media ads, mentions Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner and Fashion practice leader Staci Jennifer Trager for representing Gymshark. Los Angeles Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson also worked on the case.
Law360 | November 08, 2021
This article covers Monday’s argument before the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of client H&M Hennes & Mauritz, LP in a five-year-long copyright dispute between the fashion retailer and textile manufacturer Unicolors, Inc. The outcome could have a significant and lasting impact on copyright holders as well as alleged infringers by determining what consequences a registrant faces when it fails to provide accurate information on its copyright application. The article mentions Intellectual Property partner and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan, Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian, and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of the Los Angeles office, for representing H&M.
The National Law Journal | September 29, 2021
This article covering high-profile IP cases in the U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming term includes a case involving client H&M Hennes & Mauritz, LP and allegations of fabric design copyright infringement by textile company Unicolors. The NP team representing H&M includes Intellectual Property partner and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan, Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian, and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of the Los Angeles office.
Law360 | July 08, 2021
Litigation Department vice-chair Staci Riordan and counsel Aaron Brian, both of the Intellectual Property group in Los Angeles, are mentioned in this article for representing Indian electronics company SFO Technologies Private Ltd. in its recent request to vacate a JAMS award. The matter relates to SFO’s complaint against the former owners of California-based Qual-Pro Corp. in 2019, alleging the concealment of debts during an acquisition process and of falsely claiming that test equipment was ready to be capitalized and could be considered an asset.
Courthouse News Service | June 01, 2021
The following article covers the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case involving client H&M and allegations of fabric design copyright infringement by textile company Unicolors. Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordon, vice-chair of the Litigation Department and Fashion Practice leader, is quoted in the Law360 article on defending the previous Ninth Circuit ruling, which held that the trial court had erred in its ruling, and found that instead of infringement, the textile company’s copyright was invalid and the plaintiff did not use the copyright process appropriately. The NP team representing H&M also includes Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of the Los Angeles office.
Reuters | June 01, 2021
The following article covers the U.S. Supreme Court’ s decision to hear a case involving client H&M and allegations of fabric design copyright infringement by textile company Unicolors. Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordon, vice-chair of the Litigation Department and Fashion Practice leader, is quoted in the Law360 article on defending the previous Ninth Circuit ruling, which held that the trial court had erred in its ruling, and found that instead of infringement, the textile company’s copyright was invalid and the plaintiff did not use the copyright process appropriately. The NP team representing H&M also includes Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of the Los Angeles office.
Bloomberg Law | June 01, 2021
The following article covers the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case involving client H&M and allegations of fabric design copyright infringement by textile company Unicolors. Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordon, vice-chair of the Litigation Department and Fashion Practice leader, is quoted in the Law360 article on defending the previous Ninth Circuit ruling, which held that the trial court had erred in its ruling, and found that instead of infringement, the textile company’s copyright was invalid and the plaintiff did not use the copyright process appropriately. The NP team representing H&M also includes Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of the Los Angeles office.
Law360 | June 01, 2021
The following article covers the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to hear a case involving client H&M and allegations of fabric design copyright infringement by textile company Unicolors. Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordon, vice-chair of the Litigation Department and Fashion Practice leader, is quoted in the Law360 article on defending the previous Ninth Circuit ruling, which held that the trial court had erred in its ruling, and found that instead of infringement, the textile company’s copyright was invalid and the plaintiff did not use the copyright process appropriately. The NP team representing H&M also includes Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of the Los Angeles office.
Business of Fashion | March 30, 2021
In this article on the rise of fashion professionals pursuing side entrepreneurial ventures, Fashion practice leader and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan is quoted on the benefits of employees being transparent about their activities and the need to disclose a side project due to potential contract issues and general goodwill with employers.
Women’s Wear Daily | January 20, 2021
This article, exploring parts of President Biden’s agenda that will closely affect retail and fashion, quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan, leader of the firm’s Fashion practice, on how the various components of retail are interconnected and how mass vaccinations will help spur these areas of the economy.
Women’s Wear Daily | January 06, 2021
Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan, leader of the firm’s Fashion practice, is quoted in this article on how the new stimulus legislation, as well as changes in Congress, could impact retailers.
Law360 | August 31, 2020
An NP team led by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen on Monday expanded its groundbreaking patent enforcement campaign on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC). The following articles cover the new complaint, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, which seeks an investigation into the unauthorized importation and sale after importation of UC’s patented filament LED lighting technology by General Electric, Savant Systems, Feit Electric, Home Depot, Ikea, and Satco Products.
In addition to Seth and Shawn, the NP team includes Washington, DC Intellectual Property partner Evan Langdon; Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Staci Riordan, Vincent Yip and Peter Wied, and associate Vince Capati; Chicago Intellectual Property associates Paulina Starostka and Angelo Christopher; San Francisco Complex Commercial Disputes associate Tracy Ickes; and Los Angeles patent specialist Jason Moore.
Bloomberg News | August 31, 2020
An NP team led by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Seth Levy and Shawn Hansen on Monday expanded its groundbreaking patent enforcement campaign on behalf of the Regents of the University of California (UC). The following articles cover the new complaint, filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission, which seeks an investigation into the unauthorized importation and sale after importation of UC’s patented filament LED lighting technology by General Electric, Savant Systems, Feit Electric, Home Depot, Ikea, and Satco Products. In addition to Seth and Shawn, the NP team includes Washington, DC Intellectual Property partner Evan Langdon; Los Angeles Intellectual Property partners Staci Riordan, Vincent Yip and Peter Wied, and associate Vince Capati; Chicago Intellectual Property associates Paulina Starostka and Angelo Christopher; San Francisco Complex Commercial Disputes associate Tracy Ickes; and Los Angeles patent specialist Jason Moore.
New York Law Journal | July 22, 2020
New York City Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Schnapp and Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan co-authored this article on developing robust compliance programs for fashion companies, especially as COVID-19 has created disruptions in supply chain management.
Cannabis Business Executive | June 17, 2020
This article, on the reopening of Colorado’s marijuana hospitality industry, cites a recent NP alert that details guidelines for cannabis retailers to consider for revamping operations without spreading communicable illnesses. Cannabis Business Executive also re-published the complete NP alert, written by San Francisco Affordable Housing & Real Estate partner Alison Torbitt; Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice-chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan; and San Francisco Labor & Employment associates Hillary Baca and Rachel Conn.
WWD | June 01, 2020
This article, which examines commercial insurance policy considerations for retail storefronts, quotes Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice-chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan, based in Los Angeles.
Reuters Legal | June 01, 2020
The following coverage highlights recent developments in a fabric design copyright infringement dispute in which the NP team secured a unanimous decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, reversing the trial court’s decision for client H&M. The NP team that advised H&M was led by Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice-chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan, Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of Los Angeles.
Law360 | May 29, 2020
This article mentions Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice-chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan, Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of Los Angeles, for representing H&M in a dispute involving allegations of fabric design copyright infringement. The NP team secured a unanimous decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth District to reverse the trial court’s decision.
The Recorder | May 29, 2020
The following coverage highlights recent developments in a fabric design copyright infringement dispute in which the NP team secured a unanimous decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, reversing the trial court’s decision for client H&M. The NP team that advised H&M was led by Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice-chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan, Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of Los Angeles.
Bloomberg Law | May 29, 2020
The following coverage highlights recent developments in a fabric design copyright infringement dispute in which the NP team secured a unanimous decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, reversing the trial court’s decision for client H&M. The NP team that advised H&M was led by Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice-chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan, Intellectual Property counsel Aaron Brian and Labor & Employment senior counsel Dale Hudson, all of Los Angeles.
Women’s Wear Daily | April 23, 2020
This article about the how the coronavirus era has impacted the future of dealmaking in the fashion industry quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice-chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan.
Women’s Wear Daily | March 25, 2020
This article about the types of matters and questions that fashion and retail attorneys are handling for their clients during the COVID-19 pandemic quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner, Litigation Department vice-chair, and Fashion practice leader Staci Riordan.
Rochester Business Journal | March 20, 2020
Rochester Corporate partner Jeremy Wolk contributed this column analyzing a copyright dispute between home exercise giant Peloton and the National Music Publishers Association regarding the use of popular music in Peloton video workouts. This column was adapted from an NP alert by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan, New York City Complex Commercial Disputes partner Dan Schnapp, and associate Catherine Savio.
Law360 | March 18, 2020
This article mentions Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan and Los Angeles Complex Commercial Disputes associate Ryan Duckett for their representation of Fashion Nova in a breach-of-contract claim against incarcerated rap star Tekashi 6ix9ine.
Rochester Business Journal | December 20, 2019
Rochester Corporate partner Jeremy Wolk co-wrote this contributed article analyzing the recent wave of lawsuits against companies whose websites and mobile apps are alleged to be in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The column draws on an NP Alert written by Boston Complex Commercial Disputes partner Matt McLaughlin, Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan, and Boston Complex Commercial Disputes associate Marx Calderon.
The American Lawyer | October 04, 2019
This column includes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Jennifer Riordan and New York City Complex Commercial Disputes partner Kristin Jamberdino as “Litigators of the Week” runner ups for securing a dismissal on behalf of fashion retailer Express, LLC.
World Intellectual Property Review | September 11, 2019
This article quotes extensively from a petition filed at the Supreme Court by Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan and Government Investigations and White Collar Defense associate Neal Gauger, who are representing H&M in a copyright suit.
Law360 | September 10, 2019
This story mentions Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan and Government Investigations and White Collar Defense associate Neal Gauger, who are representing H&M in a copyright suit. The story quotes the attorneys’ petition for cert, which asks the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Ninth Circuit ruling that would make it much easier to sue for infringement.
Billboard | September 05, 2019
This story highlights Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan and associate Sydney Pritchett and Government Investigations and White Collar Defense associate Neal Gauger, all of Los Angeles, who successfully defended their client, the estate of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G., in a copyright infringement lawsuit.
Law360 | September 05, 2019
This story highlights Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan and associate Sydney Pritchett and Government Investigations and White Collar Defense associate Neal Gauger, all of Los Angeles, who successfully defended their client, the estate of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G., in a copyright infringement lawsuit.
Law360 | September 04, 2019
This story quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan discussing the successful defense of the estate of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. in a copyright infringement lawsuit. Intellectual Property associate Sydney Pritchett and Government Investigations and White Collar Defense associate Neal Gauger, both of Los Angeles, also worked on this matter.
Women’s Wear Daily | August 23, 2019
Women’s Wear Daily, a leading publication covering the fashion industry, has named Nixon Peabody one of the top law firms for fashion clients. This story quotes Los Angeles Intellectual Property partner Staci Riordan, who leads NP’s fashion practice.
Loyola Law School, J.D.
Emory University, B.A.
U.S. Supreme Court
California
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
