SAN FRANCISCO, CA — October 22, 2026 — Sideman & Bancroft LLP Partner Kelly P. McCarthy participated as a panelist at the 4th Annual West Coast Edition of the American Conference Institute’s Legal, Regulatory, & Compliance Forum on Cosmetics & Personal Care Products, held October 7, 2026, at the Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel in San Francisco.
The forum brought together legal, regulatory, compliance, and industry professionals to examine emerging challenges and developments affecting the cosmetics and personal care products industry, including intellectual property protection, regulatory compliance, consumer protection, and evolving marketplace trends.
McCarthy joined Emilie Lavirotte, Senior Advisor, Intellectual Property at Sephora, for the panel discussion “Dupes, Decants, Counterfeits and Look-Alikes: Protecting Brands in a Copycat Economy.”
As dupes, decants, look-alikes, and counterfeit products continue to gain visibility through social media, influencer marketing, and online marketplaces, brand owners face increasingly complex legal, regulatory, and reputational challenges. The discussion explored strategies for protecting intellectual property, preserving brand identity, and maintaining consumer trust in an evolving competitive landscape.
The panel addressed several key topics, including:
- Understanding Copycat Products: Examining the distinctions among dupes, look-alike products, decants, unauthorized resellers, and counterfeit goods, including circumstances in which legal liability may arise.
- Brand Protection Strategies: Exploring legal and practical tools available to brand owners seeking to safeguard their intellectual property, products, and brand identity.
- Social Media and Influencer Marketing: Assessing how digital platforms and influencer-driven trends contribute to the visibility and proliferation of copycat products.
McCarthy is a Partner in Sideman & Bancroft’s Brand Integrity and Innovation Group (BIIG), which provides comprehensive intellectual property services, including trademark protection, enforcement, and strategies to combat counterfeiting and unauthorized use of intellectual property.
Her participation reflects the firm’s continued commitment to helping businesses navigate emerging intellectual property challenges and protect their brands in an increasingly complex global marketplace.
About the Conference
The 4th Annual West Coast Edition of the American Conference Institute’s Legal, Regulatory, & Compliance Forum on Cosmetics & Personal Care Products brought together industry leaders, in-house counsel, regulatory professionals, and legal practitioners to discuss the evolving legal and compliance landscape affecting the cosmetics and personal care products industry.
For more information, visit:
https://www.americanconference.com/cosmetics-personal-care-products-west/
About Sideman & Bancroft LLP
Founded in 1978, Sideman & Bancroft LLP is a women-owned law firm headquartered in San Francisco. The firm represents Fortune 500 companies, emerging and closely held businesses, public entities, nonprofits, and individuals across a broad range of legal practice areas. Its Brand Integrity and Innovation Group provides integrated intellectual property counseling, prosecution, enforcement, and litigation services to help clients protect and maximize the value of their intellectual property assets.
