Consumer & Retail
About
After a quarter century of innovation and growth on a global scale, consumer products companies face an uncertain future. Fluctuating brand loyalty, pricing pressures, safety and compliance issues, rising digital influences and cross-channel friction have created an increasingly challenging environment. Meeting these changing demands while executing strategies to grow profitably requires sound legal counsel.
We provide consumer products companies with the guidance and advice needed to navigate the challenging terrain of global markets. We advise some of the world's leading retailers and manufacturers on issues that cross the spectrum of business law, from mergers and acquisitions, antitrust, disputes, intellectual property and brand management, tax, financings, and other cross-border issues. We offer deep industry knowledge, a global perspective and on-the-ground local insight. Our ability to handle complex multijurisdictional matters gives our clients assurance as they work to succeed across both emerging and mature markets.
In addition, we offer significant experience in product labeling, safety and compliance issues in individual countries and regions. We assist clients in devising and implementing global compliance and legislative approaches. This ensures that products conform to necessary requirements across all markets, reducing compliance costs. And, when product issues arise, we assist clients in developing and implementing effective remedies, including appropriately tailored product recalls.
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AWARDS & RECOGNITION
#1 M&A Legal Advisors by value: consumer sector
GlobalData, H1 2023
Consumer Deal of the Year in relation to the sale of Le Pain Quotidien USA to Aurify Brands
The M&A Advisor 2021
"Global Elite" Antitrust
GCR 100 2023
Tier 1 in Antitrust, Dispute Resolution, International Trade and Finance Restructuring
Legal 500 USA (nationwide) 2023
ESG Law Firm of the Year & ESG Deal of the Year
Shortlisted for GlobalCapital Awards 2023
Ranked for Environmental, Social & Governance Risk
Chambers Global Crisis & Risk Management, 2022
Experience
Ahold and USF multi-district class action litigation
We represented US Foodservice (USF) and Royal Ahold in a very significant multi-district class action litigation brought in a number of jurisdictions on behalf of USF's cost-plus customers. The MDL panel has transferred the case, as USF requested, to the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. The cases allege breaches of contract and violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act with respect to USF's receipt of promotional allowances from suppliers and certain entities that purchased products on USF’s behalf. The case represents a challenge not just to USF, but to the foodservice industry's practice as a whole.
Sale of Nestlé Waters Home and Office Delivery (HOD) business
We advised Nestlé Waters on the sale of Nestlé Waters Direct Europe, its Home and Office Delivery (HOD) business in Europe to Eden Springs Group. This transaction encompassed five European countries including France, where the seller is based, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Russia. Carving out the well-integrated HOD business from the larger Nestlé Waters organization was one of the key issues in the transaction, along with managing the complex regulatory aspects.
We also advised on the HR issues arising from the transfer of HOD employees and managed trademark and licensing arrangements arising from the sale, as some trademarks were retained by our client and others transferred to the new owners of the HOD business.
Nestlé acquisition of Chinese confectionery producer
We advised Nestlé S.A. on its US$1.7 billion acquisition of 60 percent of Hsu Fu Chi, a Singapore-listed leading manufacturer and distributor of confectionery products in China, and on its joint venture with the Hsu family, who retained a 40 percent interest in Hsu Fu Chi. This was the first deal of this size in the food and beverage sector to be approved by China's antitrust authority and remains one of the largest foreign acquisitions of a Chinese business ever carried out.
This transaction was also the first Cayman law-governed scheme of arrangement to be implemented on the SGX-ST and involved several complex layers of law across various countries.
Nespresso
We represented Nespresso, the coffee maker and coffee machine distributor in negotiated procedures before the French Competition Authority (FCA). Over time, Nespresso products have become so popular that many major competitors prefer to sell Nespresso-compatible capsules rather than developing their own. Antitrust teams from Paris and Brussels have been advising Nespresso before the FCA and on the competition law aspects of litigation in several European countries, which primarily pits Nespresso against its key competitors, Sara Lee now DE Master Blenders 1753 (DEMB), Mondeléz and the Ethical Coffee Company ("ECC").
DEMB and ECC had complained to the FCA in 2010, accusing Nespresso of abusing its dominant position by discouraging consumers from using compatible capsules in Nespresso machines. The FCA issued its final decision, closing the case without a penalty and with no acknowledgement of liability.
