Agri-food

The agri-food sector is facing significant challenges relating to the higher cost of the inputs necessary for food production, a greater concern for sustainable production and trade, the implementation of circular economy systems and procedures and growing regulatory intervention in the sector’s competitive dynamics.

At Ramón y Cajal our team of professionals is able to resolve any legal issue that may arise for operators in the agri-food sector, both in their day-to-day operations and in their strategic decisions.

In particular, our team of professionals brings together the necessary experience and in-depth knowledge in relation to the application of food chain regulations since 2013, the time when the current regulations came into force.

A notable example of this experience is the legal advice that we have provided in the investigations conducted by the Agencia de Información y Control Alimentarios (Spanish Food Control and Information Agency) regarding one of Europe’s largest distilleries or one of the main olive oil producers globally. In this same area, we have also advised one of the main national distributors of food products in relation to the compatibility with the Spanish Food Chain Act of its contracts with suppliers. 

Other matters in which our team has participated are:

• As advisers of an investment fund in the acquisition of a producer of juices, nectars and nutritional drinks for private labels and in the purchase of the leading company in Europe in the production and sale of seedless table grapes.

• In a claim for breach of a share purchase agreement filed by one of the main restaurant chains globally.

• In infringement proceedings opened by the Spanish Competition and Markets Commission against a multinational producer of dairy products, as well as in the contentious-administrative appeal and in the claims for damages.

• Advising a group of companies in the sector for the distillation of wine products in the filing of observations in response to a draft royal decree on the circular economy drawn up by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. 

• In the contentious-administrative appeal against an order of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which extended the agreement of the relevant interbranch food and agriculture organisation to the whole of the sector.

• In various employment-related matters of one of the largest producers of brand name ice-creams in Spain, regarding industrial disputes with the works councils and collective redundancies and temporary redundancies.