ROYTHORNES
FOOD SERVICES
Knowing your Business
Food industry
expertise Our food team are more than just lawyers
Roythornes connections with the food industry go back nearly 75 years to when the firm was founded. Our reputation in the field of agriculture remains second to none, but our experience of the agri-food industry now goes much further. Our collaboration with the food sector is based on a sound commercial understanding. From raw materials production through processing and packing and on to transport and logistics, our involvement in the food chain helps clients develop their business. Our knowledge of the complete supply chain gives us the ability to advise in a holistic manner - identifying issues and opportunities both up and down the chain to the benefit of our clients and their customers.
Roythornes is a member of many food industry groups and we work closely on providing business advice to their members. Our memberships include the Fresh Produce Consortium, The Food and Drink Forum and The British Frozen Food Federation.
Our food services • Health, safety and hygiene regulations • Regulatory advice • Organic criteria and claims • Workforce issues, working time, foreign and agency labour • Producer groups and cooperatives • Breeder agreements • Managing customer and supplier relations • Traceability issues and COSSH • Supermarket protocols and grocery supply codes • Competition issues • Intellectual property • CIF/FOB Insurance claims for good in transit • Retention of title claims • Development agreements for new food products including fruits • Import licenses for the importation of produce varieties into the UK • Jurisprudence in cross border issues • Commercial agreements • Product quality disputes • Partnerships and Joint Ventures • Dispute resolution • Business sales and acquisitions • Employment issues • Commercial debt recovery
Wider
experience adds value to our service
Much of the food industry is about adding value, and we take this on board in the way we work. As one of the top 200 law firms in the UK, you would expect us to have specialists in a number of disciplines, and we bring these together in our food group to provide a sector focused approach.
The right mix of contacts Because the food industry is a ‘chain’ it helps to work with people who have contacts at every link. Our team have contacts throughout the sector and much of our time is spend bringing people together who otherwise may not have met.
Our international law specialists advise on cross border issues including contracts with non-UK suppliers, distribution agreements and agency networks, and licensing agreements. Working as part of our food team, our commercial lawyers help businesses expand and diversify handling the drafting of confidentiality agreements, joint venture agreements and commercial arrangements. We can draft bespoke agreements to reflect the specialised needs of your business. Roythornes well-respected corporate team help businesses grow or restructure, handling the sale, purchase and restructuring of companies to ensure they are in the right ‘shape’ for the future and to integrate with business partners when required. Our employment team advise on all labour issues including day to day contacts of employment and disciplinary issues through to directors agreements and how to handle the workforce in takeover situations. Our commercial property specialists ensure that client's expansion, moves and mergers go ahead in the smoothest way possible. If problems arise, our litigators help to resolve disputes between suppliers and customers, to recover monies owed or to help in business rescues.
• We have put food manufacturers in touch with transport and logistics providers who have provided improved levels of service, or to help them in a time of need. • We have bought together suppliers with some of the team developing ready meals for the large supermarket chains. • We have contacts in the renewable energy business, bringing together food growers and manufacturers who produce food waste as a by product of their business, with those who can take the waste and convert it to energy.
Recent Work • Handling a dispute over the value of in-field crops by multiples • Formation of the majority of the UK’s Producer Organisations • Investment into a food business by a third party • Retention of title claim on a product being mixed with others • Advising a UK company on a dispute involving crops grown overseas for sale in a third country
Meet the Team Roythornes has a large number of lawyers who have worked alongside and advised the food sector. In order to provide tailored advice and knowledge where needed we have pulled together a dedicated team headed by Peter Bennett to service the agri-food sector. Peter Bennett leads the Food Team and has over 35 years’ experience in the sector. He advises on a wide range of issues ranging from the strategic to the practical day to day issues we all face. His commercial skills and advice are valued by clients and professional advisers alike. e: peterbennett@roythornes.co.uk t: 01775 842567
Martin Jinks’ expertise lies in contract issues with particular skills in warehousing and logistics contracts. His experience covers both transactional and nontransactional work and he advises suppliers to some of the largest retailers in the UK.
e: martinjinks@roythornes.co.uk t: 01775 842636
Edd Johnson is a property specialist. He advises clients on a wide range of property issues including new build, leases, development projects and associated tax issues. He has particular skills in the renewable energy sector - an increasing focus for many of our food clients. e: edwardjohnson@roythornes.co.uk t: 0115 945 4426
Alex Keenan is a tax lawyer who specialises in advising businesses and the families who own them on the best way to structure their business and personal assets. He is particularly keen on ensuring our clients are protected in the event of key individuals no longer being able to take on their role. e: alexkeenan@roythornes.co.uk t: 01775 842621
Solicitor Mike Matthews joined the firm in 2010 and provides valuable back up to the team to add depth to the work they undertake. His experience covers a wide range of businesses from sole traders to large commercial concerns.
e: mikematthews@roythornes.co.uk t: 01775 842606
Roythornes is a top 200 law firm with a strong reputation. From four offices we act for a wide range of businesses and individuals, taking a pragmatic and business focused approach to the challenges they face. Services for Businesses • Agricultural property • Business rescue and insolvency • Commercial property • Company and commercial • Debt recovery • Dispute resolution and litigation • Employment for businesses • Environment • Social housing • Planning for business • Property development. Specialist Sectors • Agriculture • Renewables • International • Food • Charities • Social Housing • Debt Recovery Offices: Nottingham Spalding Peterborough Newmarket
0115 948 4555 01775 842 500 01733 558 585 01638 561 320
www.roythornes.co.uk This publication is for guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. You should always seek professional advice before making decisions of a legal nature. Roythornes Limited is a company registered in England and Wales under number 06611251. We are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Registered office: Enterprise Way, Pinchbeck, Spalding PE11 3YR. Refer to www.roythornes.co.uk for additional legal information. January 2015.