Cleaver Fulton Rankin’s Agri Business team are ideally placed to provide legal advice and assistance in relation to Agri Food producers. The dedicated team recognises the importance of the Agri Food industry to the Northern Irish economy and have a wealth of experience and knowledge in this area. Our team is drawn from a range of disciplines within the firm including corporate, banking, planning and environmental, dispute resolution, construction, procurement, private client and commercial property.

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Areas of Expertise

We advise clients within the Agri Food sector on a variety of issues. These can range from every day operational issues to complex and challenging development issues. Some examples of the areas in which we advise include:

  • Advice on Site assembly in relation to new premises
  • Advising on the Corporate transactions in relation to the purchase of existing businesses
  • Advising in relation to the funding of broiler poultry production infrastructure
  • Advising in relation to asset finance for the implementation of agricultural technology solutions
  • Advising in relation to lender, supplier and producer agreements in the poultry sector
  • Advising on the Planning and Environmental consents required for new premises or extensions to premises
  • Liaison with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in relation to operational issues
  • Attending interviews under caution and defending criminal proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court and Crown Court arising from Environmental and Regulatory incidents
  • Employment and HR related issues when recruiting and managing staff within the sector
  • Defending personal injury claims
  • Protection of copyright and trademarks
  • Terms and Conditions of Sale Agreements
  • Advice in respect of Food Labelling
  • Advising on EPC contracts and other associated construction contracts

Why Us?

Our team works closely together to provide a holistic and innovative approach to all Agri Food operators, service providers and public bodies in relation to a diverse range of legal issues. Irrespective of the issues involved, the Agri Food team will provide a bespoke service tailored to the requirements of the individual client and their particular circumstances.  Chambers and Partners UK have commented that Karen Blair is highly sought after for her experience in transactions and regulatory issues, with sources describing her as ‘first-class’. Lisa Boyd ‘consistently delivers beyond expectation’ and Michael Graham’s Private Client team have been described as ‘everything in an ideal world that you would expect a solicitors firm to be’. Stephen Cross heads the Corporate team who’s work has been praised as ‘exceptionally good’. In addition Legal 500 have commented that the firm houses ‘exceptionally hardworking’ lawyers, who ‘deliver clear advice to clients and always bring added value to a case’.

 

Notable Cases

  • Successfully defending a leading dairy operator in respect of prosecution by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency following an alleged water pollution incident
  • Advising a leading locally owned dairy operator in relation to their proposals to expand existing premises and on the need for a variation to their environmental consent
  • Advising a leading Agri Food operator in respect of a proposed variation application resulting from their expansion in operations
  • Advising on AD construction documents across multiple sites for both contractors and developers