Check competitor comparisons before your campaign goes live

It is often worth getting a review when your campaign names a competitor, compares price or performance, claims superiority, or uses charts, rankings, or side-by-side statements that customers may treat as factual. Comparative campaigns can attract attention quickly, especially if the comparison is bold or simplified for marketing impact. A legal review can help test whether the wording, qualifications, and supporting material line up properly before launch. That is particularly useful where the campaign will run across several channels and the same claim may appear in slightly different forms.

The main risk points are often not limited to whether the statement is literally true. Problems can arise where a comparison is selective, based on outdated information, missing important assumptions, or presented in a way that creates a misleading overall impression. Pricing comparisons, market-leading claims, and product feature comparisons can all be sensitive if the basis is not clear. Visual layout matters too. A footnote may not fix a headline if the main message is still likely to mislead. We review those issues in context, not just line by line.

No lawyer can properly promise that in absolute terms. Comparative advertising depends heavily on the exact wording used, the evidence behind the claim, the context in which it appears, and how customers are likely to understand it in practice. You get guidance on the main legal risks and practical next steps, while compliance still depends on your circumstances and how the advice is applied. If your campaign changes after review, or if the supporting evidence is incomplete or later becomes outdated, the legal position can change as well.

Sometimes they can, especially if the campaign also involves a promotion, giveaway, prize mechanic, or channel-specific rules beyond the comparison itself. Permit requirements can vary depending on where and how the promotion runs. This service is aimed at the comparative advertising review, so permit applications and regulator processes are outside the fixed-fee unless expressly added. If your campaign includes a competition element or another mechanic that changes the legal picture, let us know early so we can identify whether a separate review is needed.

After the review, you will receive written feedback identifying the main legal issues we see in the materials provided and the practical changes that may be worth making. Many clients then revise the campaign internally and come back with targeted follow-up questions about the updated wording. If the review reveals a broader issue, such as recurring claims across your website, social ads, and pricing pages, we can also discuss whether a wider advertising or consumer law review would be more efficient than dealing with each item separately.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Comparative Advertising Review service, pricing starts from $900.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.