Clients ranging from start-ups to conglomerates turn to Bird & Bird for all issues relating to the food and beverage sector, where the firm pools its cross-practice capabilities to advise on regulatory matters, as well as on contentious and non-contentious IP. The practice is also embedded in the firm’s wider network, making it a popular choice for multinational companies in multijurisdictional work. Nicolas Carbonnelle, who also heads up the firm’s s international food and beverage sector group, leads the team jointly with national head of IP Jean-Christophe Troussel.

DALDEWOLF assists clients in advisory and dispute matters along the whole food and beverage lifecycle, spanning advertising and market entries as well as national and EU-wide litigation. The firm combines in-depth expertise in regulatory issues with know-how in competition and IP law. It fields a sizeable client roster consisting of global players in addition to Belgium-based companies. ‘Top-performance support’ Aude Mahy leads the practice group and is highly regarded for her experience in food law which includes a number of high-profile matters relating to nutrition and health claims.

Serving numerous prominent multinational clients, DLA Piper excels in both cross-border advisory work and contentious matters relating to the food and beverage sector. The practice’s expertise ranges from commercial and corporate law to regulatory and IP, where it regularly acts in trademark applications and related disputes. Bob Martens is a go-to figure for regulatory work and leads the practice together with Alexis Fierens, who fields extensive experience in matter relating to IP, IT, and commercial law. M&A transactions and restructuring are key parts of Koen Selleslags‘ advisory portfolio.

With a client portfolio that includes breweries, fast food companies and food producers, A&O Shearman comprises a multidisciplinary practice which handles a wide-range of work in the food and beverage sector. Corporate, IP, and litigation matters form as much part of the team’s expertise as transactions and regulatory work. Key contacts include banking and finance partner Yves Van Pul, environmental and public law specialist Gauthier van Thuyne as well as co-head of the firm’s global corporate practice Dirk Meeus.

Fielding ‘extensive knowledge’ in the food and beverage industry, ALTIUS assists clients across a vast variety of matters ranging from consumer protection and product liability to labelling and advertising, as well as IP enforcement. Practice heads Olivier Vrins and Philippe de Jong are both specialised in IP; de Jong focuses on patents and plant variety rights, while Vrins counts geographical indications and designations of origins amongst his areas of expertise.

Crowell & Moring‘s food and beverage team advises retailers, manufacturers, grocers as well as restaurants on competition, distribution, IP, and regulatory matters, though the group also fields capabilities in product safety and advertising. Litigator Jan-Diederik Lindemans and Eric Montens, who specialises in commercial, product risk management, and distribution law, are the key partners.

Simont Braun advises global conglomerates and domestic corporations across a wide-range of topics with a focus on commercial and IP matters. Eric De Gryse, whose expertise covers geographical indications as well as labelling, consumer law, and unfair competition, leads the practice together with IP specialist Emmanuel Cornu and corporate partner Tom Swinnen, who is particularly well-versed in venture capital and private equity matters.