Fast Moving Consumer Goods

Say “FMCG” and people will generally think of large multinationals like Nestlé or Coca-Cola. The reality, though, is that most FMCG firms are local businesses whose ambitions, although bold, are not necessarily global.

We help clients navigate the legal complexities of managing an FMCG business throughout the various stages of its growth, whether the matter at hand is local or international.

Typical assistance includes distribution and supply agreements, business sales and acquisitions, business restructuring, employment matters, IP issues, and competition and consumer issues.

We help our clients engage effectively with retailers, wholesalers, distributors, franchisors and industry bodies.

Although the law in these areas can be hard to follow, our advice is not. After first ensuring we understand your business and your goals, we discuss matters with you in plain English so you can make decisions with confidence. We also strive to put options before you and let you know which we consider to be the preferred option, and why.

Our extensive international legal network means we have ready access to legal resources in other jurisdictions.

We have built strong relationships with our FMCG clients. Through our focus on their industry we make sure they benefit from our knowledge and relationships with industry associations. Our lawyers sit on the FMCG Institute Forum meetings.

Our team are not just versed in the laws regarding FMCG. They also understand the complexities of managing a supply chain, manufacturing arm, and sales and distribution network in order to create a successful business. We put your commercial success first and then use the law to support it.

This has led some of Australia’s best known brands to trust us to advise them on the best way to reach their objectives. It’s also the approach we’ll use to help your business reach the best legal and commercial outcomes.

We can:

• Show you how to protect and commercialise your intellectual property rights so you profit from your ideas.

• Help you design a workable distribution relationship that best protects your interests without compromising your business relationships and future growth.

• Give you the legal structures that let you get on with business and achieve your commercial objectives.

• Help you understand the Competition and Consumer Law so you know where you stand and avoid infringement.

• Help you achieve productive, harmonious workplace relations so your employees are working towards your business goals.

• Help you successfully negotiate the purchase of an FMCG business or the sale (or part sale) of your own.

• Advise you on restructuring your business or one that you have acquired to maximise the benefits to your business.

• Help you source capital to support an acquisition or manage liquidity issues.

• Help you successfully maintain existing supplier, customer and employee relationships as your business grows.

• If you are planning a new product line, we can help commercialise it and support you in expanding into new markets.

• Help you resolve disputes with customers, suppliers, contractors and others through alternative dispute resolution techniques, such as negotiations.