LK Bennett to Adopt Asset-light Model Under New Owner Gordon Brothers

LONDON – LK Bennett, the Kate Middleton-approved British fashion and footwear label that filed for bankruptcy protection late last month, has found a buyer: Gordon Brothers, the Boston-based brand asset specialist that owns brands such as Nicole Miller, Telefunken and Rachel Zoe.

As part of the deal, Gordon Brothers has purchased the global LK Bennett brand and related intellectual property assets from Alvarez & Marsal, the joint administrators of the British brand.

The U.K. retailer, founded by Linda Bennett in 1990, was owned by Rebecca Feng, who ran the LK Bennett franchise in China.

Tobias Nanda, head of brands at Gordon Brothers, said LK Bennett is “a beloved heritage brand with a reputation for impeccable craftsmanship and quality, and a distinctly British spirit.”

“We are excited to add LK Bennett to our portfolio of brands and proud to steward the brand into the next phase of growth bringing LK Bennett’s modern luxury to both long-time followers and new customers from around the world,” he added.

Under the new ownership, the brand will evaluate go-to-market strategies for the business with an emphasis on building relationships with retailers. It also aims to continue to expand through marketing opportunities, and grow the portfolio of licensees and franchisees.

Gordon Brothers said it will focus on transitioning LK Bennett to an asset-light model, as it has previously did with the Laura Ashley brand.

Nimit Shah, managing director of EMEA at Gordon Brothers, said the company is “delighted to provide a solution to the administrators that both ensures value to the estate and preserves the longevity of this iconic British brand.”

Gordon Brothers has traditionally been known as a liquidator, but lately is refashioning itself as an asset expert and manager.

It bought Nicole Miller in 2022 and still works closely with the designer. The brand now has a presence in 40 different lifestyle categories and in the process of expanding the business into Mexico. 

While some of the big brand management players are building portfolios of brands, Gordon Brothers looks to grow brands through licensed partnerships and eventually find them new homes. Such was the case with Laura Ashley, which the company bought out of administration in 202. It grew the brand to $750 million in annual retail revenues before selling it to Marquee Brands in 2025.