Food and Agri

We are one of the few Irish law firms to have a specialist, multidisciplinary Food and Agri Group, comprising lawyers from a range of specialisms within the firm, including our International Trade Group. The group advises both domestic and international food, drink and agribusiness companies on the manufacture, promotion and sale of their products in Ireland.

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Our Food and Agri Group has deep expertise across all of the key areas affecting the food, drink and agribusiness industries. We offer integrated legal support in:

Regulatory Compliance
Corporate, M&A and Commercial Law
Product Liability and Product Safety
Litigation and Dispute Resolution
Health and Safety
Environment and Planning
Competition and Regulated Markets
Life Sciences
Intellectual Property
Employment Law
Trade Law
Debt Finance

This cross-practice approach enables us to provide a seamless and comprehensive service, tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities within the sector.

We understand the opportunities for our clients presented by the growth of the food, agribusiness, aquaculture, beverage and distillery sectors and we assist clients, from producers and manufacturers to distributors and retailers, to exploit those opportunities to maximum effect. We have a deep understanding of the overall landscape at a domestic and EU level, in terms of the backdrop of Ireland’s Programme for Government and the European Commission’s 2025 Vision for Agriculture and Food.

Regulatory

We help clients navigate complex food, drink and agriculture regulatory regimes, advising on:

Food and feed safety
Food supplements and obligations around placing on market
Novel foods
Food and feed hygiene, including HACCP
Food packaging, labelling, advertising and marketing of foods and drink products
Nutrition and health claims (and associated risk assessments), as well as restrictions on allergens and additives

We also advise on regulatory compliance issues, including guidance on good manufacturing practice requirements, which can play a role in any defence against regulatory proceedings. We also assist with navigating complex obligations in relation to supply chain compliance reporting, waste packaging, food waste and animal by-products. We also advise on ESG and sustainability reporting, carbon footprinting and carbon-labelling.

We advise on all aspects of the regulatory framework within which our food, drink and agri clients operate, including land use planning, IED compliance, aquaculture licensing, foreshore licensing, waste and by-product regulation, processes at all stages from initial concept, to pre-consultation and to appeal stages.

Transactional

We have advised on some of the largest and most complex M&A transactions and restructurings within the Irish food, drink and agribusiness sector. Our clients include large domestic companies, family-owned businesses, public listed companies and co-operative societies.

We support the structuring and execution of debt finance across all asset classes, including leveraged and acquisition finance, development and real estate finance, aviation and asset finance, trade and asset-backed finance, fund finance, corporate finance and syndicated lending, as well as restructuring, workouts, distressed situations, loan sales and deleveraging transactions.

Commercial

Our specialists in commercial contracts advise on a range of contract matters including drafting and contract negotiation, procurement, liability management and strategic planning. With deep sector insight, we help clients understand what is reasonable for a contracting party to expect in the market.

Product Liability and Product Safety

We advise on regulatory breaches, enforcement proceedings, product safety and liability, environmental issues and related litigation. Our focus is on protecting your brand, reputation and financial interests.

Employment

We provide comprehensive employment law advice, from board-level strategy and executive appointments to outsourcing, whistleblowing, crisis management, and industrial relations. Our experience includes managing collective disputes, industrial action and trade union relations/recognition.

Relevant Experience

Regulatory

Advising on regulatory and environmental matters for clients including Bradán Beo Teoranta, Coillte Forest, Westland Horticulture Limited, Cavan Peat Limited, Westmeath Peat Limited, and Bord Iascaigh Mhara, covering issues such as facility expansion, land use planning, peat harvesting, aquaculture, and foreshore licensing.
Representing clients in environmental and nuisance-related proceedings, including EPA prosecutions in the dairy and meat sectors, animal welfare cases, and disputes arising from food manufacturing activities.
Supporting major infrastructure and licensing projects, including judicial review proceedings for Dairygold Co-operative Society Limited and TINE (Norway’s largest dairy co-operative) regarding the €120 million Jarlsberg Cheese Plant, and for Kilkenny Cheese Limited (part of the Glanbia Group) concerning its proposed cheese manufacturing facility in Co. Kilkenny.
Advising food, drink, and agri-sector clients on data protection compliance, including audits, prosecutions by the Data Protection Commissioner, and direct marketing practices.
Providing strategic guidance on regulatory inspections and supply chain issues, including unannounced inspections (dawn raids) and the withdrawal of food product components from the retail market.

Transactional

Advising Greencore Group plc on a range of strategic transactions, including its recommended acquisition of Bakkavor Group plc, the sale of Trilby Trading Ltd to KTC (Edibles) Ltd, the disposal of its malt business, the acquisition of Freshtime UK Ltd, and the sale of Greencore USA, Inc. to Hearthside Food Solutions LLC, as well as on various financing arrangements.
Acting for Dawn Meats Group on multiple transactions, including the acquisition of Kildare Chilling, its investment in Elivia, a joint venture with the Dunbia Group in Northern Ireland, and on syndicated lending and private placements.
Advising on high-profile M&A across the sector, including Pat the Baker and Irish Pride on their proposed sale to Mayfair Equity Partners, the sale of Promise Gluten Free to Mayfair Private Equity, and Kerry Group on the proposed sale of its dairy business to Kerry Co-Operative Creameries.
Supporting major food and beverage clients on acquisitions and disposals, including Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company on its acquisition of BDS Vending, 3i and European Bakery Group on the acquisition of Panelto Foods, and Compass Group plc on its acquisitions of Glanmore Foods Limited and CH&Co.
Advising on complex cross-border and domestic transactions for clients such as Total Produce plc on its combination with Dole Food Company, Inc. and the IPO of Dole plc, Glanbia plc on the disposal of its interest in Glanbia Ireland to Tirlán Co-operative Society Limited, Musgrave on its acquisitions of Italicatessen and Doyles Veg Prep Ltd, and Dairygold on acquiring a majority stake in Vita Actives Limited.