Food & Beverage
The food and beverage manufacturing sector is one of the largest in the UK with an annual turnover in excess of £100 billion, and as a rapidly evolving industry, our specialist legal team are here to help businesses navigate the ever-evolving challenges and regulations while exploring opportunities for growth, innovation and sustainability.
We work alongside our clients on all their property needs, including taking new leases, assigning leases following Partner retirements and appointments, granting underleases to complimentary occupiers, buying and selling property and financing premises.
Our team have advised a variety of businesses in the food and beverages sector in recent years. Our team have advised on multiple transactions involving pubs, cafes, restaurants, takeaways and other food and drink outlets, assisting clients with both sales and acquisitions, and the legal and regulatory requirements that can arise with such transactions. We have also provided clients with advice on data protection, in particular the handling of customer and supplier data, intellectual property for new brands and concepts, and with supplier contracts.
As with the hospitality sector as a whole, business' owners often face tight margins, and a tough economic backdrop, all whilst aiming to provide an excellent experience to their customers. We have the experience and understanding to assist your business to meet these challenges, and look to ensure that as you do with your customers, a great service is provided each and every time.
We act for clients in the food and beverage sector in all areas of employment law, including preparing bespoke employment contracts and policies tailored to the unique needs in this arena; managing staff; advising on employment disputes, termination and recruitment; acting in employment tribunal litigation and immigration assistance.
With our comprehensive understanding of the sector, we swiftly navigate complex workplace matters to ensure, where possible, a swift, practical resolution is reached. Our experience in the sector means our solicitors give relevant, specialist, practical and up to the minute advice on situations in your business as they develop.
We advise clients at all levels of the food and beverage supply chain. We have experience of advising farmers, producers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, franchises and restaurants. Leathes Prior can help with:
- Commercial contractual disputes
- Product quality, safety and contamination disputes
- Supply chain and logistics disputes
- Manufacturing contract disputes
- Distribution agreement disputes
- Consumer complaints
- Commercial landlord and tenant disputes
- Exclusivity agreement disputes
- Licencing disputes
- Defamation
- Intellectual property disputes
Our Regulatory and Criminal Defence team provides advice and representation to businesses and individuals operating in the food & beverage sector, for example those facing HSE, Trading Standards, Police, GLAA, HMRC and Environment Agency investigations and prosecutions, or Coroner’s Investigations and Inquests in the event of fatalities.
Our Licensing team advises and represents businesses in respect of applications for, or challenges to, Premises Licences.
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What our clients say
Just a quick email to say how pleased we have been with the quality of service that Alex Saunders and Jack Horwitz have provided in selling our business. They have at all times been efficient, professional, and courteous, providing us with a top class service.
Alex, Jack, and the team at Leathes Prior were extremely professional, efficient, and supportive throughout the whole sale process. They went the extra mile to ensure that the shareholders fully understood the process, legal implications, and the associated risks and worked tirelessly to ensure that the deal went through as smoothly as possible.
Nina worked tirelessly throughout often working out of hours to complete on a deal that had its ups and downs along the way. This is the second deal Nina has worked on for us and interestingly on the first deal we did with her, the buyers were so impressed that they are using her on a deal of their own!A very nice lady who goes the extra mile to get the deals done!
I've been working with Leathes Prior for years. I highly rate their team for professionalism and attentiveness. Jack Horwitz is a superstar!
I am extremely grateful to Nina Ryan and Leathes Prior Solicitors for their legal advice and guidance during the sale of my shareholding in a private company. Thanks to them the terms of the sale were successfully negotiated, the legal work efficiently executed and a timely completion achieved. I am very satisfied with the outcome.
I found Richard and Nina to always strike that perfect balance of taking care of my position and being practical and commercial at the same time; advising me on which issues really were worth fighting for and which ones really did not matter. They were always timely and responsive. It was a complex transaction which completed spot on time with no last minute hitches or dramas.
I found Jack to be very professional and very polite. All work was completed in time with no delays. Overall, I was impressed with the services provided by Leathes Prior Solicitors. Thank you.
Since employing the services of Leathes Prior some 15 years ago to handle the MBO on mine and my colleagues behalf the service provided has been second to none. Whether it be advice regarding employment law, commercial & corporate matters on every occasion the professionalism has been exemplary as well as being very approachable and with a ‘never too much trouble’ attitude.
From start to finish Paul and Nina were in complete control of our affairs offering nothing short of perfection in communication to complete the acquisition of my company
I am not sure where we would be without the Corporate Team at Leathes Prior Solicitors! The team are firmly embedded within the company – supporting us at every stage – having a positive impact on the business in areas I never thought Corporate Lawyers could affect.
It’s never an easy process but I can definitely say that this deal was far easier than when I acquired the other business. I really appreciated your succinct and commercial advice, taking a lot of decisions away from me and only focussing me on the bigger commercial and legal issues.It’s been a pleasure to work with you and once again Leathes Prior have been brilliant for me.
Sam consistently goes out of his way to understand the unique needs of our company. His commitment to comprehending not only our business but also our legal requirements is truly exceptional. This personalised approach, combined with his vast knowledge of the legal landscape sets him apart as a legal professional of the highest caliber. He is an invaluable asset to Leathes Prior.
I am delighted with the service provided by the team at Leathes Prior led by Alex. The legal advice was delivered at a practical level, helping me understand fully the process and implications at each step of the way. Really big thank you to Alex, Sam and the team in helping me through the acquisition process.
Thanks to Alex for stewarding this deal so professionally and speedily. We couldn’t have got there without him and LP!
Alex, Nina, and the Corporate team were outstanding, not just in terms of the legal due process, but in how they supported us - swift and practical replies, often out of hours, great availability by phone/teams, a super attitude, and a real team push to get us over the line when we encountered a last-minute obstacle. They really felt like an integral part of our senior team.
Leathes Prior did an excellent job acting for us during the sale. Their attention to detail, availability to help and sense of humour held us in good stead to ensure the right outcome in the right timeframe. Thanks, in particular go to Alex and Jack for all their hard work, it was appreciated.
Leathes Prior did an excellent job acting for us during the sale. Their attention to detail, availability to help and sense of humour held us in good stead to ensure the right outcome in the right timeframe. Thanks, in particular, go to Alex and Jack for all their hard work, it was appreciated.
Alex and Hugo have been fantastic throughout the entire transaction, and we would highly recommend Alex and his team at Leathes Prior. Thanks also to Kate for assisting with the property transaction.
Alex and Milan have been exceptional and thorough throughout the whole process of selling our business, nothing was ever too much trouble and their professionalism was second to none, we would highly recommend Alex and his team at Leathes Prior to anyone considering selling their business and in need of a Corporate Lawyer.
Over the years that we have been working with Alex and the team at Leathes Prior, they have built up an in-depth understanding of how we do business and what is important to us as people. This was absolutely critical for us as we navigated through the process of being acquired; we truly felt they had our backs all the way. We developed great personal relationships with many of their team.
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