Agribusiness

We provide science and manufacturing-based companies with advice and resources for trade and international sanctions compliance, domestic and international commercial alliances, strategic planning, product development, intellectual property strategy and management, asset acquisition and mergers, identification of complementary technologies and insurance and risk management.

Matters handled recently for agribusiness clients

• Regulatory issues, including environmental, FDA, USDA and antitrust
• Domestic and international mergers and acquisitions
• Commercial and venture financing
• Commercial transactions
• Joint ventures and licensing
• Funded research and product development agreements
• Formation issues for start-ups, such as venture capital, strategic investments, commercial agreements and intellectual property protection
• Defense of consumer and commercial labeling claims
• Agribusiness Middle Market Transactions

Our team has extensive experience handling strategic transactions of all sizes, including numerous deals in excess of $1 billion.  A key differentiator from other Tier 1 firms is our market-leading position in the middle market transaction space (i.e., deals valued between $50 million and $500 million). Because middle market deals are a particular strength of our firm, we offer a more sophisticated and efficient approach to navigating the particular challenges of this part of the market than our counterparts who focus primarily on isolated larger-scale deals and whose cost structures are considerably more expensive. Our team is known for providing informed, nuanced and creative counsel to develop unique and yet efficient solutions for each transaction.  We also have extensive experience with private equity sponsors, and appreciate the concerns particular to these transactions so that legal issues are addressed, liability exposure is reduced and business opportunities are realized.

High Value Agribusiness Litigation & Regulatory Disputes

Our Agribusiness Disputes team represents agribusiness companies, farmers and collectives in disputes, and in avoiding disputes, across the agricultural spectrum, including disputes related agricultural chemicals and inputs, dairy farming, protein production and agtech. We have particular experience regarding disputes and litigation in trade secret, personal injury, property damage, antitrust, data privacy, and a wide variety of commercial and contractual disputes.

Our team has substantial experience in major multi-district and class action litigation, representing some of the most well-known agribusinesses in the world, in high profile claims. We’ve handled dozens of cases across the country involving off-target pesticide application and pesticide drift, crop loss, chemical exposure, and catastrophic personal injuries. We also advise various farming associations regarding disputes with the USDA, and labeling claims for meat and dairy products. Additionally, we counsel clients on the related risk management, testing requirements for approval of new herbicides, business operations issues, as well as assist with the recovery for business interruption, brand damage and other losses.