Experience

Outside General Counsel for Regional Food Delivery Service, Restaurant

Served as outside general counsel to a regional food delivery service, handling matters from the company’s inception on an ongoing basis, including trademark and marketing needs. Provided counsel regarding the establishment of a brick-and-mortar restaurant location.

$150 Million Consumer Food and Beverage Industry Acquisition

Represented acquired person in $150 million acquisition in the consumer food and beverage industry.

Multimillion-Dollar Litigation Victory in Disputed Business Acquisition

Represented animal product manufacturer in investigation of regulatory defects in business acquired by client and litigation for breaches of acquisition agreement. Successfully prosecuted federal court litigation alleging more than $7 million in damages, resulting in highly favorable settlement for client.

Successful Defense of Game-Changing Technology for Agricultural Manufacturer

Successfully defended game-changing agricultural equipment patents before the USPTO during reexamination related to a pending infringement suit in which the major manufacturer is the plaintiff.

$1.15 Billion Divestiture of Animal Health Product Lines

Company counsel for simultaneous completion of more than $1.15 billion in sales of animal health product lines pursuant to an FTC-mandated divestiture.

Defended National Chip Brand on California Proposition 65 Claims

Served as regulatory counsel for nationwide chip brand, focusing on compliance with California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Proposition 65). Defended both filed and threatened Proposition 65 claims.

$33 Million Sale of Animal Feed Manufacturer

Served as lead counsel in a $33 million sale of an animal feed manufacturer.

Regulatory Counsel for Animal Feed, Nutrition Product Manufacturer

Provided counsel to a manufacturer of animal feed and other health and nutrition products regarding label compliance and regulation domestically and abroad.

Represented U.S. Agricultural Company in International Trademark Litigation

Successfully represented U.S.-based agricultural company in complex international trademark dispute. Oversaw international counsel, case development, and strategy for favorable resolution of claims.

National Dairy Counsel for Global Beverage Company

Served as nationwide dairy counsel for a global beverage company, specifically focusing on distribution regulations and agreements. On an ongoing basis, Armstrong Teasdale attorneys regularly support product launches, including product analysis, label review, distribution guidance and dairy regulation compliance for various product lines including juices, sodas and carbonated beverages, flavored waters and energy drinks.

Engineering Contracts for the Design and Construction of New Food Production Plant and Facility

Advised a well-known U.K. food producer in negotiating NEC engineering contracts for the design and construction of a new food production plant and facility.

Advised U.K. Food Service Company on Sale

Advised U.K. food service company on the sale of its business and assets to a subsidiary of an NYSE-listed corporation.

Litigation Counsel for Craft Brewery

Represented a regional craft brewery in the course of dispute with distributor’s breach of agreement.

Regulatory Compliance Work for Private Label Food Manufacturer

Provided counsel concerning regulatory compliance with FDA and state regulatory entities for multiple product lines involving multiple customers/retailers, as well as assisted with contractual disputes arising from co-manufacturer agreements.

Counsel to Pet Food Company Expanding to National Sales

Serving as regulatory, compliance, and litigation counsel to Pet food company growing from a regional online sales presence to national in-store distribution.

Favorable Settlement and Dispute Resolution for Animal Feed Producer

Successfully opposed efforts to seek class certification in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in case founded upon consumer fraud claims, resulting in a favorable settlement for the client and elimination of continued liability exposure.

Dismissal of Class Action Suit Against National Grocer in Data Breach Case

Served as lead counsel in dismissal of a class action lawsuit against a national grocer in a data breach case.

Compliance Counsel to Nutrition and Supplement Companies in Assessing Cybersecurity, Incident Response

Served as compliance counsel for publicly traded nutrition and supplement companies in relation to cybersecurity maturity and incident response assessments.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy for Public Agribusiness Company Following Chinese Reverse Merger

Served as lead counsel for the equity committee in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of a publicly traded agribusiness company which was the result of Chinese reverse merger that resulted in the successful sale of U.S.-based assets, assets in China, and a global settlement with the company, secured creditors, SEC, class action plaintiffs and unsecured creditors. This resulted in a successful distribution to shareholders in an insolvent company that had little hope of recovery due to massive securities fraud in the U.S. and China.

Trade Compliance Audits for Global Agricultural Company

Regularly conduct U.S. trade compliance audits/reviews of company's international locations in which we examine overall organizational structure, U.S. export and import controls and supply chain security.

$8 Billion+ Bond Offerings

Advised a British multinational brewing and beverage company in multiple bond offerings totaling in excess of $8 billion in proceeds.

Advised Leading U.K. Food Manufacturer in Relation to Chief Executive’s Exit

Advised a leading U.K. food manufacturer/supplier in relation to the exit of the company’s Chief Executive Officer. This was a particularly complicated, high-risk and high-value termination, given the seniority of the employee involved.

Advised Packaged Foods Company on Voluntary Liquidation

Advised packaged foods company, and its parent company, in respect of packaged foods company’s voluntary liquidation in the U.K.

Representation in Massachusetts-Based Pizza Chain Bankruptcy

Served as representation for landlord and committee member in the bankruptcy cases of a Massachusetts-based pizza restaurant chain.

Regulatory and Compliance Counsel Across Industries, Including with the FDA, DOJ, SEC and FTC

Provided regulatory and compliance counsel to clients in various industries, including matters involving the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Justice, various agencies that govern import and export controls, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission.

£27 Million Factory Site for U.K. Food Producer

Represented a well-known U.K. food producer on the real estate elements of sequential development financing totalling for the construction and development of an 85,000-square-foot factory site comprised of a production plant with ancillary logistics infrastructure.

Defense Verdict for Livestock Association

Secured a defense verdict serving as co-defense counsel in a two-week jury trial in a defamation and breach of contract lawsuit brought against a livestock association by barred competitors.

Initial Fundraising for Food Industry Startup

Initial fundraising for food industry startup and subsequent capital raises.

Representation of Dietary Supplement Supplier, Manufacturer in FDA Investigation

Representation of dietary supplement manufacturer and supplier in U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation of alleged Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act violations.

Represented Marijuana Business Owner in Dispute

Represented an officer and owner of several marijuana cultivation and dispensary businesses in successfully resolving a wide-ranging business dispute with the co-owners, negotiating favorable buy-out terms for the client’s ownership interests in the companies.