Food, Beverage & Agribusiness

As one of Canada’s only full-service law firms with a dedicated Food, Beverage & Agribusiness group, we are committed to helping our clients meet sector uncertainties, challenges, and opportunities head-on. Our team understands the full breadth of the agribusiness value chain —from farm to factory to fork — and delivers tailored legal solutions that make an impact. Whether you are expanding operations, navigating regulatory change, or defending your interests, we are here to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

How We Differentiate Ourselves

Our national cross-practice team combines deep sector knowledge with integrated legal capabilities across the full spectrum of corporate, regulatory, litigation, and transactional matters. We have advised leading players in every segment of the sector — from multinational growers and processors to agri-tech retailers and investors.

• End-to-end sector coverage. We serve clients across the entire agribusiness ecosystem, both upstream and downstream, including:
  • Growers, producers, wholesalers and manufacturers
  • Alcoholic beverage producers and vineyard operators
  • Distributors, transporters, and storage providers
  • Retail and consumer-facing businesses
  • Research and development companies
  • Private equity, pension funds, and venture capital firms
• Regulatory insight and advocacy. We maintain strong relationships with regulators and industry associations, enabling us to anticipate change and advocate effectively on behalf of our clients. Our team is deeply familiar with Canada’s supply management system, food safety laws, and environmental regulations.
• Trade and international expertise. We help clients minimize the impact of tariffs and retaliatory measures, qualify for preferential treatment under trade agreements like USMCA/CUSMA, and take advantage of programs for tariff relief. Our long-standing relationships with policymakers and international institutions, including the World Trade Organization, allow us to address unfair trade barriers, address anti-modern slavery concerns, and promote business-friendly practices.
• Labour and immigration support. We assist agribusinesses in securing the labour resources they need, including navigating immigration pathways and workforce planning. Our immigration team works closely with clients to ensure compliance and continuity in operations.
• Integrated legal teams. Our lawyers collaborate across offices and practice areas to deliver seamless, strategic counsel. Whether you’re launching a new product, acquiring a competitor, or responding to a regulatory inquiry, we bring the right expertise to the table.
• Proven track record. With a two-decade history in the sector, we have advised on some of the most significant transactions and regulatory matters. Our work has earned us top-tier rankings in Chambers and Partners and recognition from clients who value our responsiveness, commercial acumen, and sector fluency.

What We Offer

We provide strategic legal counsel across the full spectrum of food, beverage, and agribusiness matters:

Corporate, Commercial and M&A

• Structuring and executing mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and partnerships
• Advising on private and public equity and debt financings
• Acting for investors, and supporting new ventures and growth-stage agri-tech companies
• Advising on and negotiating the full spectrum of commercial agreements, including supply, distribution, co-packing and procurement

Regulatory and Compliance

• Advising on food safety, labeling, environmental approvals, and supply management rules
• Supporting branding, product packaging, marketing, and labeling strategies
• Navigating product compliance, recalls, and traceability issues

Trade and International

• Managing import/export restrictions, trade agreements, and tariff relief programs
• Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts across borders
• Addressing global trade disputes and regulatory controls

Litigation and Risk and Reputation Management

• Representing clients in product liability and crop failure claims
• Handling disputes under the Pest Control Products Act, including data compensation and arbitrations
• Managing commercial litigation, class actions, and regulatory proceedings

Intellectual Property

• Protecting innovations in agri-tech, food processing, and branding
• Advising on patents, trademarks, and IP disputes

Tax and Structuring

• Navigating specialized tax rules and optimizing transaction structures
• Advising on tax planning and compliance for agribusiness operations

Labour and Employment

• Supporting workforce strategy and compliance in food processing and agricultural operations
• Advising on immigration pathways and labour resource planning

Environmental and ESG

• Designing and implementing carbon reduction strategies
• Supporting eco-friendly supply chain measures and sustainability reporting
• Advising on environmental law and compliance

We work closely with our colleagues in Retail & Consumer Markets, Environmental Law, Competition, International Trade, and Immigration to deliver cross-practice, comprehensive support tailored to your business.

Pet Industry Team

With the rapidly growing demand for pet food and products, pet care and related services, our Firm has established a specialized team to help our clients navigate the commercial and regulatory landscape of the pet industry. Our team works across practices and regions to provide strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, insurance, financing and strategic investments, product liability and class actions, patents and trademarks, regulatory issues, marketing and advertising, trade and supply chain matters, and more. As active participants in industry associations such as the Pet Food Association of Canada, Food Health and Consumer Products Canada, and Retail Council of Canada, we recognize issues of importance and connect our clients with other industry players so they can collaborate in a legally compliant, proactive way.