Agribusiness

Agribusiness is the primary driver of the New Zealand economy and one of our most dynamic, fast-changing sectors.

Clients look to us for commercial advice on the legal issues facing their businesses. Key issues include securing funding for growth and investment in R&D, managing environmental impacts from operations, scarcity of resources (for example, water), commercialising IP, industry and regulatory constraints, and managing exports, sales, and marketing.

We act for a range of domestic and international clients. Our core services include mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, joint ventures, industry and regulatory compliance, structuring, intellectual property and operational advice.

We also regularly advise our international clients on New Zealand's overseas investment regime.

Dairy

Our dairy clients include Inner Mongolia Yili, LIC and The a2 Milk Company. We advise on investments, acquisitions (including farm land), processing facility construction, joint ventures, regulatory compliance and emerging issues.

Primary production

Our clients include meat production, grain production and sale, salt production, processing, viticulture, and horticulture businesses. We assist with corporate transactions, regulation, compliance (including food safety), structuring, and commercial challenges relating to sales, marketing, and export of produce including food and beverages.

Agribusiness suppliers

We work with a wide range of businesses that support agribusiness, including suppliers of machinery, specialist equipment, life sciences and technology, transport, and animal feed. We advise on commercial issues relating to investment, funding, commercialisation, improvements in technology, efficiencies, environmental impacts and regulatory compliance.

Animal welfare

Animal welfare is increasingly important in international trade and consumer relations, affecting the public image of producers and their brands. Our experts advise on the Animal Welfare Act, codes of welfare, emerging issues and trends, and consumer concerns.

Work Highlights

The a2 Milk Company

We have supported a2 through its growth strategy, including advising on commercialising its IP and on its corporate programme which has included capital raising, acquisitions, strategic arrangements and international expansion.

Significant recent projects include its $268.5 million investment in Mataura Valley Milk.

LIC (Livestock Improvement Corporation)

We provide full service advice including corporate, commercial, competition and employment. Our corporate work has included its share simplification process, effecting the restructure of the co-operative and the consolidation of two classes of shares. We have also advised extensively on the commercialisation of its IP.

Alliance Group

We advise Alliance Group, one of New Zealand’s leading meat producers, on M&A, commercial and infrastructure matters.

Inner Mongolia Yili

We advise on its New Zealand investments, including the acquisition and construction of a $210 million milk processing facility, and its acquisition of Westland Milk.