Source: https://www.robinskaplan.com/Industries/Food-and-Beverage
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 19:17:57+00:00

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We know Food and Beverage. We represent America’s largest brand-holders, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Our food and beverage attorneys protect the consumer relationship, manufacturing process, ingredient, and packing innovations that define sector success. Decades of experience have honed our knowledge of the industry’s consumer, competitor, and regulatory landscapes and power our efficient, proactive representations. When conflicts do arise, we help clients manage, assess, and control litigation and litigation risks, engaging in a decisive courtroom contest whenever truly needed. Attuned to industry issues as well events trending on the horizon, our food and beverage lawyers help clients solve the conflicts that most jeopardize consumer trust and competitive advantage.
With each producer offering an ever-increasing selection of beers in a field as crowded as an Oktoberfest tent, trademark clashes are increasingly leading small brewers to turn against one another.
In re Wholesale Grocery Products Antitrust Litigation, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 4584 (D. Minn. Jan. 13, 2013): Represented grocery wholesaler SuperValu Inc. in consolidated federal antitrust actions on behalf of putative multi-state class of grocery retailers challenging 2003 asset exchange transaction. Obtained dismissal of several class representatives in favor of arbitration in 2011 (appeal pending), denial of class certification in 2012, and summary judgment dismissing all remaining claims in 2013.
In re Vitamins Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1285 (D.D.C.): Represented opt-out plaintiffs in Vitamins litigation for decade-long price-fixing cartel of vitamin manufacturers. Clients included Land O’ Lakes, Inc., Hormel Foods Corporation, CHS Co-Operatives, and Gold’n Plump Poultry. The cases settled for an amount in excess of $250,000,000.
In re Methionine Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1311, (N.D. Cal.): Settlement of $35 million for agribusiness clients challenging international price-fixing cartel.
Represented SuperValu in Federal Trade Commission investigation regarding the asset exchange transaction. The FTC publicly announced the closure of the investigation in March 2011.
Kraft Foods Group, Inc. / Mondelēz International, Inc. v. Starbucks Coffee Company: Represented Kraft in a three-year arbitration regarding a breach of contract after Starbucks unilaterally terminated its agreement, cutting off Kraft’s exclusive rights to sell, market, and distribute Starbucks roast and ground coffee in grocery and other retail outlets. The arbitration resulted in a $2.7 billion cash award to Kraft.
Haagen-Dazs International Shoppe Company, Inc. v. Corporacion Todosabor C.A.: Counsel for Haagen-Dazs International Shoppe Company, Inc. in defending a claim brought by Corporacion Todosabor C.A. regarding a dispute over a franchise agreement. The matter went to international arbitration, Corporacion Todosabor C.A.'s claim was dismissed, and judgment was entered on behalf of Haagen-Dazs International.
Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy v. Phillips Beverage Company: Trial counsel in $100 million international arbitration proceeding for the alleged breach of Belvedere vodka licensing agreements brought by Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton French multi-national seller of luxury goods arising from alleged breach of trademark license agreement; obtained a complete defense verdict and an award of fees from unanimous three-member panel.
IP Corp. v. Gold Medal Bakery, Inc.: Represented Gold Medal Bakery, Inc. in defense of a dispute regarding private-label packaging, including counterclaim for consequential damages and unfair and deceptive business practices.
Represent Cargill Flavor Systems US, LLC nationally defending personal injury and product liability claims related to alleged exposure to diacetyl or diacetyl-containing products.
Schwan’s Shared Services, LLC v. McGill Technology Limited (D. Mich.): Represented Schwan’s in a patent infringement case involving food processing equipment. Case settled prior to trial.
Luigino’s, Inc. v. Robert Peterson and IBP: Obtained summary judgment for Robert Peterson, the CEO of IBP, and the company, in the defense of a $500 million theft of trade secret, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract case.
Achieved confidential recovery for Lund Food Holdings in the E. coli O157:H7 contamination litigation after recall of ground beef and hundreds of reports of contamination and illness.
Multi-million dollar recovery for SuperValu in the E. coli O157:H7 contamination litigation.
Multi-million dollar recovery for Schwan’s Sales Enterprises after the 1994 nationwide Salmonella Enteritidis contamination and recall of Schwan’s ice cream involving an estimated 224,000 ill consumers. Also coordinated the defense of Schwan’s in the claims and lawsuits arising out of the ice cream contamination incident. At that time, this food contamination event was considered by The New England Journal of Medicine to be the largest common-source salmonellosis outbreak ever recognized in the United States.
Window Rock Enterprises: Represented the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of a health food products company. Client representation included helping to structure a plan pursuant to which a creditors trust was established.
Food Processing: With our successfully negotiated preferred stock investment, the founder of a billion-dollar food processing company was permitted to retire $20 million of high-interest rate mezzanine financing that was in default, eliminate personal guaranties, and rebuild portions of the business that suffered several market setbacks.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach, Li Zhu and Christine Yun Sauer offer a set of best practices for protecting trade secrets.
While best efforts provide some protection, no safeguards fully insulate against foodborne illnesses. To contain the harm imposed by these lurking catastrophes, companies must prepare with strategic and decisive crisis management.

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