Plenty of law firms break down practice silos to organize industry-focused groups for hot and emerging sectors. But Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld has created a group to target an industry being rocked by dramatic change, and even frequent failure: retail.

The firm is launching a cross-practice retail-focused initiative, to be led by Philadelphia litigation partners Meredith Slawe and Kate Deal, Los Angeles labor and employment partner Gregory Knopp and Dallas corporate partner Garrett DeVries.