Consumer goods and retail
We give our clients a competitive edge.
We partner with many of the world’s leading FMCG and retail clients to help them adapt to the changing consumer landscape.
We regularly advise national champions and multinational companies in the FMCG and retail space on M&A, finance and capital markets offerings, restructuring, competition and consumer protection inquiries, joint ventures, global investigations, litigation, arbitration, franchising, real estate, logistics and distribution. Our lawyers are also experienced in brand protection issues and can help with IP, pricing and marketing strategies as well as new product launches.
We can guide you through the rules on digital commerce, data protection, advertising, cyber regulation, and product safety, and assist with product recalls and large-scale consumer litigation, including class actions.
We have advised high profile retailers and consumer goods companies on responding to ESG allegations in connection with their supply chains, and regularly help consumer and retail businesses with diligence (including in an M&A context) and risk management across their supply chains, taking into account their wider ESG impact.
Client successes
Acting as independent counsel to Haleon on its demerger from GSK (one of Europe’s largest ever demergers), and its associated listing on the London Stock Exchange
Advising Tesco on multiple matters, including the divestment of its Asian businesses for $10.6bn, and more recently its inaugural issue of sustainability-linked bonds (the first to be issued by a UK-rated issuer)
Defending a leading German food manufacturer against numerous follow-on cartel damage claims asserted by its customers as well as third parties
Advising Japan Tobacco on its joint venture with Altria to market and commercialise heated tobacco sticks in the US, as well as the parties’ long-term partnership to explore commercial opportunities for a wide range of potentially reduced-risk products
Providing Hong Kong and US law advice to joint sponsors and underwriters in the global offering and listing of China Tourism Group Duty Free on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in the territory’s biggest listing of 2022
Advising a leading international retailer on a variety of cross-border consumer product regulatory, product recall and liability issues
Representing a major online food delivery business on its IPO
Acting for Warburg Pincus on the sale of a 25% sake in Reiss to Next, having advised the client on its original acquisition of a majority stake in Reiss in 2016
Representing PepsiCo in its $1.7bn acquisition of South Africa’s Pioneer Foods, one of the client’s largest ever international deals
Acting for Anheuser-Busch InBev in the context of the sale of its Australian subsidiary to Asahi for $11.3bn
Advising Arcadia on its complex restructuring, involving seven separate CVAs as well as a renegotiation of its pensions liabilities and financial loan agreements
Industries
- Automotive
- Chemicals
- Consumer goods and retail
- Energy and natural resources
- Family offices and closely held companies
- Financial institutions
- Financial sponsors
- Governments and public sector
- Infrastructure and transport
- Insurance
- Life sciences
- Manufacturing
- Professional and business services
- Real estate
- Sports
- Technology, media and telecommunications
Our blogs
Our team
Claire Wills Partner
London
Andrew Murphy Partner
London
Simon Weller Partner
Singapore, Hong Kong
Dr. Helmut Bergmann Partner
Berlin
Alex Potter Partner
London, Brussels
Giles Pratt Partner
London
Vincent Macq Partner
Brussels
Chris Mort Partner
London
Samantha Trevan Partner
London
Piers Prichard Jones Partner
London
Victoria Sigeti Partner
London
Andrew Hutchings Partner
London
Edward Cole Partner
London, Tokyo
Simon Duncombe Partner
London
David Sonter Partner
London
Deirdre Trapp Partner
London
Paul Humphreys Partner
New York
Ken Baird Partner
London
Lindsay Hingston Partner
London
