Lawyering for the Met Gala with William Bowes

From the Met Gala to "The Devil Wears Prada 2," publishing and media have long shaped fashion, luxury, culture, and politics. In this episode, Kenya Wiley sits down with William Bowes, General Counsel of YouGov and former General Counsel of Condé Nast—home to Vogue, Vanity Fair, GQ, Wired, and The New Yorker.William offers an inside look at lawyering for the Met Gala—covering the four main areas, with some work taking shape years in advance. He also shares how an in-house counsel would likely advise on potential protests and demonstrations, given the current geopolitical climate.Beyond the Gala, William explains why understanding politics was critical to his in-house counsel role, particularly for navigating AI and IP policy in the US and the UK. He breaks down his three-L strategy—lobbying, licensing, and litigation—and how lawyers can successfully partner with colleagues in communications and government affairs.And with "The Devil Wears Prada 2" as a backdrop, we explore how print media has transformed in the twenty years since the original film—including the legal issues around digital, data privacy, and managing employees who are also influencers. Though we can't forget that editors-in-chief were the original influencers, long before social media.Producer: Kenya WileyAssociate Producer: Argin Hutchins IVSubscribe to William’s Substack covering creative policy in a complex time.For more on fashion law, culture and power, follow SUITED on Instagram and subscribe to our newsletter here.