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Food & Beverage
Legal Strategy for a Dynamic and Regulated Global Industry
The food and beverage industry blends innovation, culture, and commerce—but also faces one of the most complex regulatory landscapes in the global economy.
From product development and supply chain management to branding, labeling, and distribution, each stage involves legal challenges that demand precision, compliance, and foresight.
At SJKP LLP, our Food & Beverage Practice provides full-spectrum legal counsel to manufacturers, distributors, investors, restaurateurs, and global consumer brands.
We help clients launch, protect, and expand their food and beverage ventures while navigating strict regulatory regimes and fast-changing market trends.
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1. Food & Beverage: Comprehensive Counsel Across the Supply Chain
Supporting Every Link From Farm to Table
Our Food & Beverage attorneys represent clients across all stages of the production and distribution process—from sourcing and manufacturing to marketing, franchising, and retail.
We provide pragmatic, results-driven advice that ensures compliance with local, federal, and international standards while protecting commercial interests.
Core Legal Services for the Food & Beverage Industry
- - Business formation and operational structuring
- Mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures
- Supply chain and distribution contracts
- Manufacturing, co-packing, and logistics agreements
- Product labeling and advertising compliance
- Retail and franchise expansion strategies
We help clients turn innovation into sustainable growth in an industry defined by tight margins and high competition.
2. Food & Beverage: Regulatory and Compliance Advisory
Navigating FDA, USDA, and Global Food Safety Standards
Food and beverage businesses operate under some of the world’s strictest regulations.
Our team advises on FDA, USDA, and FTC compliance, ensuring that clients meet safety, labeling, and marketing requirements for all consumer products.
We also guide companies through international food safety regimes, including EU and Asian regulatory frameworks for imports, exports, and ingredient approvals.
Key Regulatory Services
- - FDA food labeling and ingredient disclosure compliance
- USDA inspection and certification
- FTC and state-level advertising law compliance
- Allergen and nutritional claims review
- International import/export regulatory filings
- Environmental, health, and safety audits
We help clients mitigate regulatory risk before it becomes a recall, penalty, or brand crisis.
3. Food & Beverage: Brand, Licensing, and Intellectual Property
Protecting the Creativity Behind Every Flavor and Brand
In the competitive food and beverage marketplace, brand identity is everything.
Our Intellectual Property attorneys secure and enforce trademarks, trade dress, recipes, packaging designs, and proprietary processes that define market success.
We also negotiate licensing, endorsement, and co-branding agreements between chefs, restaurants, and global retail partners—ensuring that creative assets remain legally protected.
IP and Branding Services
- - Trademark registration, opposition, and enforcement
- Trade secret protection for formulas and processes
- Licensing and brand collaboration agreements
- Copyright and design protection for packaging
- Counterfeiting and unfair competition litigation
We ensure that every creative and culinary innovation receives the protection it deserves.
4. Food & Beverage: Restaurant, Retail, and Franchise Development
Building Brands That Reach Global Consumers
SJKP LLP advises restaurant groups, franchise operators, and retail food brands on expansion, franchising, real estate, and operations.
We help clients negotiate leases for flagship locations, structure franchise models, and manage franchise disclosure compliance across jurisdictions.
Restaurant and Retail Services
- - Franchise disclosure and registration under federal and state law
- Real estate leasing and development for retail and dining properties
- Licensing and brand extension through partnerships
- Joint ventures with investors, celebrity chefs, and hospitality groups
- Employment, wage, and compliance issues for restaurant operations
We help transform culinary excellence into sustainable, scalable business models.
5. Food & Beverage: Sustainability, ESG, and Consumer Trends
Meeting the Ethical and Environmental Demands of Modern Consumers
- Sustainability has become central to consumer decision-making.
Our attorneys advise on ESG compliance, sustainability reporting, and ethical sourcing policies for global food and beverage brands.
We help clients align operations with environmental laws, labor standards, and social responsibility frameworks—reducing risk while enhancing brand reputation.
ESG and Sustainability Services
- - Green labeling and environmental claim verification
- Carbon footprint disclosure and environmental audits
- Supplier code of conduct and responsible sourcing agreements
- Waste reduction, packaging, and circular economy compliance
- ESG disclosure and sustainability reporting obligations
We position our clients to lead—not follow—in the shift toward sustainable consumption.
6. Food & Beverage: Litigation, Risk Management, and Crisis Response
Protecting Brand Integrity When Issues Arise
In the food and beverage sector, even minor incidents can have major reputational and financial consequences.
Our Litigation and Regulatory teams represent clients in product liability, contamination, labeling, and advertising disputes, as well as in false claim and whistleblower investigations.
We also provide proactive risk management and crisis response strategies to mitigate exposure before disputes escalate.
Litigation and Risk Services
- - Product liability and contamination defense
- False advertising, consumer protection, and class actions
- Distributor and supplier contract disputes
- Recall coordination and crisis management
- Regulatory investigations and enforcement defense
We protect our clients’ brands with both preventive insight and decisive advocacy.
7. Food & Beverage: Emerging Technologies and Digital Commerce
Adapting to Innovation in Food Tech and E-Commerce
As technology transforms the food industry, our attorneys advise on the legal implications of AI-driven production, lab-grown ingredients, online marketplaces, and delivery platforms.
We also counsel clients on data privacy, cybersecurity, and consumer protection laws governing digital food and beverage transactions.
Technology and E-Commerce Counsel
- - Compliance for food delivery and e-commerce platforms
- AI, automation, and intellectual property in food technology
- Data privacy (GDPR, CCPA) and consumer data protection
- Online advertising, influencer, and affiliate marketing compliance
- Licensing of proprietary food technologies and digital assets
Innovation should move fast—but never without legal clarity.
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading or relying on the contents of this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with our firm. For advice regarding your specific situation, please consult a qualified attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
Certain informational content on this website may utilize technology-assisted drafting tools and is subject to attorney review.
