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Food

In this increasingly competitive sector, our food sector team offers a complete source of legal support, including specialist expertise in regulatory regimes including food safety, health & safety, environmental, GSCOP and competition.

Understanding the food sector

In this increasingly competitive sector, you need legal advisors who understand the issues you face – whether driven by regulation or commercial pressures. Because we have worked with many food businesses across the UK, advising on a wide range of issues, you can be confident that we will deliver effective and holistic solutions to the challenges you face.

The food sector team offers a complete source of legal support, including specialist expertise in regulatory regimes including food safety, health & safety, environmental, GSCOP and competition. We also have vast experience of handling high profile cases and are well versed in dealing with the media and preventing the adverse publicity that can inevitably accompany emotive issues.

Freeths have a close working relationship with the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC), supporting members with legal insight, including employment and immigration advice. We speak at their events and contribute knowhow to their news updates, as well as being yearly sponsors their Fresh Awards presenting the award for Best Company to Work For. Watch our short animation below to find out more about our food expertise:

Food sector video image

Why choose our Food sector team?

Our industry focused team offers a full spectrum of knowledge, including meeting stringent regulatory and health & safety requirements, as well as appealing against enforcement notices and prosecutions. Or, should you find yourself in disagreement with suppliers or customers, we can assist in settling disputes, using mediation techniques where possible.

  • Our national team of lawyers are based in offices in major food-producing regions across the UK
  • We’re familiar with the challenges you face whether as a food producer, processor or manufacturer
  • We’ll help keep you up-to-date with any European and UK legislative and regulatory changes
  • You can expect clear, commercial advice based on a genuine understanding of the food sector

We will also support you with staff management, property and construction, or environmental issues. And when it comes to commercial agreements we apply our business sense to ensure your contracts are robust and enforceable.

Want to get involved?

We deliver regular legal and topical updates to the food sector community through insight pieces and through our series of sector specific webinars.

We also run regular small food sector focus groups with HR professions to discuss issues that they are facing, including immigration and Brexit related issues.

Click here to subscribe to our mailing lists to keep up to date with the latest information and seminar invites for your sector.

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Our clients & notable work

What our clients say

  • "We knew what to expect after the first few deals and all the other work that Freeths has done for us over the years. The commitment, support and s...

    Client testimonial

  • "The team delivered an extremely proactive and efficient service during our recent MBO, driving the process through to a successful completion. The...

    Client testimonial

Meet our food team

Lisa Gilligan's Profile

Lisa Gilligan

Leicester Office Managing Partner

Simon Barker's Profile

Simon Barker

Partner & Head of Intellectual Property

Rebecca Howlett's Profile

Rebecca Howlett

Commercial Partner & Head of Freeths' Virtual Legal Team

Food sector insights

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  • Article

    Green Agreements: Collaborating with competitors on environmental sustainability

  • Article

    Environmental sustainability agreements under UK competition law

  • Article

    Mandatory separate food waste segregation for all businesses set to come into force from 2023

  • Article

    The Home Office accepts recommendations made in the Chief Inspector’s report on the immigration system as it relates to the agricultural sector

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Contact us today

Whatever your legal needs, our wide ranging expertise is here to support you and your business, so let’s start your legal journey today and get you in touch with the right lawyer to get you started.

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