Consumer Brands’ 2025 CPG Legal Forum was one for the books, with record-breaking, sold-out attendance in San Diego. We could not be prouder of the event or more grateful to those who attended. More than 280 of the consumer packaged goods industry’s  vibrant legal community gathered to connect, share insights and learn new strategies to tackle litigation, regulatory and business challenges amid a rapidly evolving landscape.

Attendees heard timely perspectives from the nation’s leading law firms and 16 in-house leaders from across all product sectors of CPG. Our speakers reinforced the dynamic and varied nature of CPG’s legal issues and, more importantly, that the industry is more than up to the task of advising on today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. Over the course of 48 hours and spanning 22 workshops/sessions and 23 roundtables, three themes emerged:

The brightest minds are strategic and balanced: CPG Legal Forum attendees heard from the best and brightest on a range of real-time issues to both inform and inspire.

Former United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch shared a range of inspiring perspectives learned throughout her career as an advocate for justice. She noted that as lawyers, thoughtful and holistic preparations are as crucial in 2025 as they were decades ago but, as challenges mount, we must also see them as opportunities to showcase our unique skillsets and experiences. Ms. Lynch stressed that navigating the “unending tyranny of our inboxes” must not undermine our roles as problem solvers and stewards of fairness.

In a rare opportunity, CPG Legal Forum attendees also heard from sitting FTC Commissioner Melissa Holyoak on competition and consumer protection developments. She shared insights on FTC’s process for updating its Green Guides, how CPG lawyers should approach environmental marketing claims and how to utilize AI-generated advertising without undermining consumer protection. Ms. Holyoak underscored her commitment to certainty in the law and the need for federal agencies to work within their delegated authority to promote legal, and by extension, business certainty.

Synergy and respectful alignment is the ultimate flex: CPG lawyers must work holistically across their organizations to align with business realities and satisfy the needs of the industry’s ultimate regulator: consumers. We heard from both general counsels and in-house litigation leads that the best legal advice is the result of working synergistically with business clients across the brand — reenforcing the need to harness and apply the latest developments, distilling complex information, ensuring fluency with the client’s needs and fostering empathy for what each team member brings to the brand’s mission.

CPG counsel must constantly look forward: Whether supporting company growth and innovation, navigating the state regulatory patchwork and the new federal landscape, responding to industry critics or advocating in the face of new and growing litigation threats, our legal community is called to look ahead as it helps its clients develop and execute against strategies that mitigate risk, foster safety and compliance and safeguard the freedom to operate. We are proud to lead a very engaged legal community at Consumer Brands – one we foster with rich content and convenings throughout the year. To that end, know that we are continuously working to generate intelligence and committed to supporting your continued success as industry advocates.

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To help us make next year’s CPG Legal Forum even better, please complete our survey and share any topics you would like covered in 2026. See you at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort in Frisco, Texas.