Birketts LLP

Birketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich, and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: real estate, corporate services, dispute resolution and private client.

We are defined by our next level law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.

From after fork to before shelf or fork every stage of the food and drink production, processing and distribution chain is subject to regulation of one form or another. Our multi-disciplinary team combines leading legal expertise with a deep understanding of the issues facing players in the food and drink sector – from start-ups to international brands.

Our team works closely with many food and beverages sector businesses to deliver advice on a broader range of issues and opportunities ranging from food service, food and beverages packaging and processing, food production, drink production and pet food brands.

Our expertise

• Corporate acquisitions and disposals
• Management buy-outs
• Management buy-ins
• Corporate lending
• Restructuring and refinancing
• Joint ventures and partnerships
• Supply chain, logistics and distribution issues
• Food safety law, including trading standards and product liability
• Competition law
• Brand development, exploitation, and diversification
• Food labelling, marketing and advertising
• Commercial contracts and disputes
• Employment, immigration and employee benefits
• Regulatory, including environmental and health and safety
• Property acquisitions, disposals and tenancies

Our Food & Beverages Team advise a wide range of sub sectors within the sector, including:

Services: delivery services, caterers, supplies and equipment and technology supplies.

Packing and processing: crop production, ingredients, innovation, packing, wholesalers and manufacturers.

Food and drink production: crop growers, grain and hops producers, meat wholesalers, artisans, distilleries, breweries, wine merchants and malt manufacturers.

Animal and pet food: suppliers, manufacturers and wholesalers.

Our clients range from agricultural producers, animal feed manufacturers, livestock operators, drinks companies, ingredient and flavourings manufacturers, food processors, distributors and packaging and labelling companies. From acquisitions, restructuring and partnerships, to supply chain issues, commercial contracts, employment and disposals, our team can advise on any legal challenge that arises as part of the lifecycle of any food and drink industry business.