A highly acclaimed boutique international firm with offices in Brussels and Paris, Food Law Science & Partners provides a full-service offering in relation to food law, including representing clients before the national and EU courts and international arbitration institutions. The team is led by firm founder Katia Merten-Lentz, a renowned expert in the EU regulatory market with three decades of litigation experience. She is supported by two other key names: Nathalie Henin and Charlotte Moutarlier. The team is well equipped to assist clients with bringing new products to market in accordance with EU food regulations and boasts a successful track record of representing multinationals and food tech start-ups. The practice has recently expanded its focus to food fraud, food safety and crisis management in response to public interventions and pressure from public bodies and consumer advocacy groups following the ETO food crisis.
Industry focus: Food in France
Food Law Science & Partners
Responsables de la pratique:
Katia Merten-Lentz
Autres avocats clés:
Nathalie Henin; Charlotte Moutarlier
Les références
‘Katia Merten-Lentz is a friendly business partner who immediately make her clients feel supported. Her network is impressive and she managed to help us gain financing for our projects in addition to providing her legal advice.’
‘A small, close-knit team that is dedicated and highly competent. Their collaborative spirit means they always find the best solutions and we are always satisfied with the service provided. The team is led by a practitioner who brings in-depth experience, technical expertise and an excellent network of relationships with other law firms.’
‘We have formed excellent relationships with both Katia Merten-Lentz and Charlotte Moutarlier. They listen and respond rapidly to all our legal needs.’
Principaux clients
BEL Group
Bunge
Ferrero
JRS Rettenmaier
Kalsec
Kinoko-Tech
Laboratoires Ineldea
Léa Nature
Soufflet Group
Vital Meat
AB Enzyme
Bardinet
Bonduelle
CEAMSA (Compañia Española de Algas Marinas)
Green Spot Technologies
Proteme
Standing Ovation
Principaux dossiers
- Provided legal support to several notable French companies.
- Advised several international agribusiness and food companies on innovation, ingredients, product development, and techniques.
- Developed and helped to execute food safety strategies, negotiated and communicated on behalf of clients’ customers and several national and EU authorities.
Deprez Guignot Associés
Headquartered in Paris, Deprez Guignot Associés is renowned for its in-depth knowledge and specialism in the food industry, with capabilities in all practice areas within the sector. Recent highlights have included consumer deception and economic parasitism work relating to plant-based meats, and advising on major CBD product launches and the regulatory landscape around influencers and the expanding health and wellness industry. Seasoned litigator and former civil servant Jean-Christophe André leads the team from the Paris office. He is supported by Pierre Deprez, a high-regarded expert in IP and economic law.
Responsables de la pratique:
Jean-Christophe André
Autres avocats clés:
Pierre Deprez
Principaux clients
Intermarché
General Mills
Fortepharma
Nouveaux Fermiers
AB-INBEV
Principaux dossiers
- Advising a company in the vegan industry on various cases relating to economic parasitism, denigration and consumer deception over the use of the words “steak” and “meat” to describe its products.
- Assisting a major player in the CBD sector with issues related to product labelling, advertising, and health claims, alongside ensuring ongoing legal and regulatory oversight.
- Advising a client on the launch of a new range of flavoured beer, including advising on labelling and composition, an audit of all environmental claims and reference to the reduction of the carbon footprint on the product.
Product Law Firm
A well-established firm, Product Law Firm handles the full spectrum of legal services, from product-related litigation and disputes before the EU and French courts to industrial risk issues and crisis management in relation to food products, for clients from the food, agribusiness and packaging sectors. Sustainability in the food chain is another area of growing focus. The team is also able to leverage the firm’s deep bench in both litigation and regulatory matters and strong international network of lawyers and scientific experts. The practice is led by the Paris-based duo of Antoine De Brosses and Laëtitia Guillet, who oversee major food crisis litigation and commercial disputes, respectively. Neli Sochirca is also a name to note.
Responsables de la pratique:
Antoine de Brosses; Laëtitia Guillet
Autres avocats clés:
Neli Sochirca
Tactics
Boasting a comprehensive practice in the food and agribusiness sector, Tactics is well placed to advise on a wide range of economic and European law matters, such as consumer law, criminal law, commercial law, competition law, distribution law and litigation, in this sphere. Recent highlights have included advising Lidl on a number of unfair competition proceedings against Carrefour et Intermarché. Highly regarded litigator Julia Bombardier manages the team from the Paris office, with considerable expertise in labelling, unfair commercial practices, fraud, and health and food safety matters, as well as indemnity litigation.
Responsables de la pratique:
Julia Bombardier
Les références
‘The team is responsive and thorough. They possess an impressive knowledge of food law and consumer law.’
‘Julia Bombardier is without exception excellent when it comes to planning legal strategy and technique and adapts according to the client’s particular needs. Her presence for over 10 years at the Paris International Agricultural Show is proof of her outstanding reputation.’
‘Julia Bombardier particularly stands out. She is highly involved in matters and always creative when it comes to complex casework. She is tenacious, meticulous and takes charge when needed.’
‘The Tactics food law team is extremely competent, responsive and pragmatic.’
‘Julia Bombardier is a lawyer who is always available. She delivers her expertise in a practical and strategic manner.’
‘Very specialised team in French and European food law.’
‘Julia Bombardier is a lawyer with whom I really enjoy working. She is very direct, very professional and rigorous. She approaches issues in a very hands-on way and adapts to operational staff.’
‘An attentive firm, which knows how to adapt to requests and be efficient in the face of emergencies. Julia Bombardier listens to and quickly understands the issues and expectations of her clients. She is very committed and passionate. His answers are clear and quick.’
Principaux clients
Lidl
Lactalis
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted Lactalis and other leading companies in a case against the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud control in the context of the protected designation of origin “Camembert de Normandie”.
- Advising Lidl in the context of numerous unfair competition actions against Carrefour et Intermarché concerning the broadcasting of TV spots contested on the grounds of misleading commercial practice.
DWF (France) AARPI
Noted for its experience and specialised knowledge in competition law, DWF (France) AARPI is skilled at handling cases involving crisis management and product composition and communication, as well as product liability and unfair competition. With particular expertise in the agri-food sector, the team is led from the Paris office by Nicole Coutrelis, who leverages her 30 years’ litigation experience. Emily Amat is an up-and-coming name in the team and focuses on food labelling and communication, food processing, and food safety issues, amongst other matters.
Responsables de la pratique:
Nicole Coutrelis
Autres avocats clés:
Emily Amat
Les références
‘The DWF team of experts are at the top of their game when it comes to finding solutions. Adaptability and understanding of the challenges, both long and short-term, as well as their availability and quality of analysis, are all commendable qualities of the team.’
‘I have had the opportunity to work with Nicole Coutrelis and Emily Amat, two experts in European regulations, who in addition to their excellent listening and analytical skills, are skilled at proposing solutions and alternatives in an efficient manner.’
‘Nicole Coutrelis and Emily Amat are great food law experts in France. Both are commended for any food law cases in France.’
Principaux clients
Merisant (Canderel, Purevia)
INTERBEV (Association Nationale Interprofessionnelle du Bétail et des Viandes)
Brewers of Europe
Brialcash
Givaudan
Ajinomoto
Principaux dossiers
- Assisted a subsidiary of Carrefour which was found not liable for the labelling of products it had imported into France.
- Assisting Interbev in relation to the labelling and presentation of meat substitutes of vegetal origin.
- Advising the baby food industry on the legal status of milk drinks designed for young children.
Qolumn
Boutique firm Qolumn was established in 2021 by food and consumer law specialist Gilles Boin, formerly of Product Law Firm, alongside Gaëlle Saint-Jalmes. Boin regularly advises leading companies on regulatory affairs as well as litigation in the administrative, criminal and commercial courts. Meanwhile, Saint-Jalmes draws on her experience both in private practice and in-house, and acts for an impressive roster of international clients. The team offers the full range of sector-related services, including compliance, products legal affairs, enforcement actions and litigation, and crisis management and represents many globally recognised food companies.
Responsables de la pratique:
Gilles Boin; Gaëlle Saint-Jalmes
Autres avocats clés:
Anaïs Aubert
Les références
‘Qolumn is characterised by its creativity and intellectual robustness, put at the service of the operational needs of the company. The team is always looking for added value for the client and has a forward-looking approach (with regard to legislative and regulatory developments, but also technological and societal innovations).’
‘Gilles Boin is a top expert and encourages a high-performing culture. Gaëlle Saint-Jalmes perfectly combines her legal and regulatory expertise and her in-depth knowledge of how our company operates.’
‘The Qolumn team demonstrates great professionalism – they are easy to contact and respect the announced deadlines to provide their responses, which are always of a high quality. It should be noted that the processes are clear and that their team is diverse.’