Our firm has served many of the most significant manufacturing regions in the US and UK for generations, helping transform the global marketplace by providing business-focused results across a full range of legal issues.
With our strategic focus on the manufacturing sector, we understand the market, its structure and the unique set of global challenges that our clients face.
Our team is able to advise on the full range of legal issues that must be addressed by responsible companies operating in the US, UK and Europe, as well as their affiliates and counterparts in other jurisdictions.
Our approach spans the whole process, from traditional production to robotics, from the supply chain and logistical issues associated with the purchase and import of feedstocks and components through to the sale and export of finished products as well as related retail/brand management challenges. As an extension of your team, we will work alongside you when new products are developed, produced, and introduced to the market. We will also help you to fulfill your responsibilities in areas of compliance and regulation.
We offer a blend of cross-sector capabilities, ranging from high volume, energy-intensive industries through to high-value consumer products and brands. We share best practice and experience of business process improvements from one sub-sector to another and appreciate the importance of sustainability and environmental issues.
We have extensive experience in manufacturing innovations, brand protection and patents, so we understand the specific challenges and opportunities of industry. Our team deals with the full range of intellectual property issues and regularly counsels clients on the various forms of applicable legal protection. We have established the intellectual property rights of a multitude of designs.
With our knowledge and understanding of the legal aspects of day-to-day issues affecting our clients in the sector we are ideally placed to provide support and assistance in relation to corporate transactions, capital investments and other strategic projects.
The support we offer is complemented by our related sector teams, including retail, transport, energy and renewables and life sciences.
Purchase and supply contracts (products, services, feedstocks and utilities)
Toll manufacturing agreements
Logistics contracts
Construction and engineering projects and disputes
Intellectual property protection and exploitation (patents, trademarks, litigation, transactions)
Mergers and acquisitions
Inward investment and incentives
Health, safety and environmental compliance
Regulatory compliance (including REACH)
Permitting, contamination and waste management issues
Research and development collaborations
Industry 4.0 and connected factories
Export and international supply agreements
Agency and distribution agreements
Employment law employment benefits and pensions advice.
Examples of work
Represented a multinational specialty chemical company in structuring and negotiating a $75 million contract - manufacturing agreement and licensing -to provide additional manufacturing capacity and improved supply-chain capabilities to the client’s existing manufacturing facilities
Advising a leading global producer of packaging in relation to product supply and new product development agreements and other technical and commercial collaborations and contractual joint ventures
Successfully defended the largest hosiery manufacturer in Europe in a breach of contract action in which the plaintiff claimed damages exceeding $600 million. We successfully upheld the client’s acquisition and purchase of third largest textile manufacturer in the US
Advising a global chemicals manufacturer on the full range of UK EHS legal issues
Represented an international furniture manufacturer with manufacturing operations in Southeast Asia on product recall, Consumer Product Safety Commission and litigation risk issues
Achieved denial of class certification in multiple consumer class actions against leading building product manufacturer in cases filed in numerous states and consolidated in multidistrict litigation
Advising a multi-national plastics manufacturer on a project to review its global routes to market to rationalise and refresh its arrangements with customers, agents and distributors and roll out a suite of agreements with intermediaries across the world, co-ordinating local law input where required
Represented an international automotive company as National Coordinating Counsel in mass tort asbestos litigation, supervising law firms across the country, preparing and enforcing billing and cost control guidelines, and managing bet-the-company risk issues
Advising a leading car manufacturer on the full range of UK and European EHS issues including: environmental work: preparing a comprehensive EHS compliance register for the business’ activities in the UK; developing an EU and UK environmental and health and safety Legal Guide for the manufacturing, take-back, recycling and recovery of lithium-ion batteries associated with their electric vehicle project; provision of training on health and safety law compliance and environmental law compliance
Represented international aerospace component part manufacturer in trade secret litigation regarding commercial airline production
Advising a specialist manufacturing investor on defending a £1m warranty claim. Also advising a major subsidiary on exposure to potential associated liability related to its tender for a high-profile 15-year smart-meter supply
Successfully obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction for a major food producer in a trademark and breach of contract case
Advising a multi-national client on threats of patent infringement proceedings made by a competitor
Acting for a listed company in relation to the £140 million refinancing of its UK banking arrangements with a club of 3 core lenders. We assisted the company and their UK debt advisors in preparing term sheets for negotiation with existing banks, which culminated in the refinancing and separating out of the facilities into a Common Terms Structure to meet the company's commercial requirements in relation to its trading and bonding bi-lateral facilities
Advising a manufacturer of industrial fans (for extraction, ventilation and air conditioning) in relation to English law matters in connection with the refinancing of a £100,000,000 Term Loan Facility and a smaller £12,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility to the group
Advising a UK tile manufacturer on the procurement of an ERP solution
Advising a global leader in chemicals in relation to a broad mix of commercial contracts and the negotiation of agreements for the supply of utilities to the world’s largest low density polyethylene facility
Advising a leading global supplier of commercial food service equipment on the implementation of its intra group pan European cash pooling arrangements following its corporate separation from a crane operating group
Advising a leading global producer of packaging in relation to product supply and new product development agreements and other technical and commercial collaborations and contractual joint ventures
Advising a multinational chemical company on a project for the construction of steam-raising boilers, including advising on associated services and utilities contracts.
Advising a world leading US specialty chemical manufacturer in relation to the acquisition of a UK-based manufacturer of fine and specialty chemicals for use in the agrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors.
Overview
Overview
Our team of leading industrial lawyers is dedicated to serving the manufacturing regions in the U.S. and UK, and have been for generations. Focusing on the manufacturing sector with a strategic approach, we can provide comprehensive insights on this complex area of business, including the market, its structure and the set of global challenges faced by manufacturing clients.
With the ability to advise on a wide variety of legal issues that must be addressed by responsible companies operating in the U.S., UK and Europe, as well as their affiliates and counterparts in other jurisdictions, our transatlantic network of skilled manufacturing attorneys can offer clients an invaluable insight into even the most complicated aspects of industrial law.
Incorporating a well-structured approach that embodies every stage of the manufacturing process, our industrial lawyers can provide an in-depth knowledge and understanding on an extensive scope of related legal issues. The business matters covered by our highly skilled manufacturing attorneys include:
Traditional production challenges
Technology
Managing supply chain contracts and logistical issues associated with the purchase and import of feedstocks and components
The sale and export of finished products (inc. related retail/brand management challenges).
As an extension of your team, our legal experts will work closely alongside you when new products are developed, produced, and introduced to the market. Beyond these industrial law services, our other main areas of focus in manufacturing include the following.
Compliance & Regulation
With extensive knowledge spanning across all areas of compliance and regulation, our manufacturing attorneys at Womble Bond Dickinson can provide help and assistance in fulfilling our valued clients’ legal responsibilities. These include health, safety and environmental compliance and REACH, which our manufacturing law firm can complete on behalf of clients.
Cross Sector Collaboration
Ranging from high volume, energy-intensive industries through to high-value consumer products and brands, our manufacturing legal team offer an in-depth understanding across a blend of cross-sector capabilities. We share best practices and our experience of business process improvements from one sub-sector to another, while acknowledging the importance of sustainability and environmental issues.
Brand Protection and Patents Law
Drawing upon our extensive experience in manufacturing innovations, brand protection and patents, our industrial law experts have an excellent understanding of the specific challenges and opportunities faced by the manufacturing industry. Offering complete guidance on intellectual property protection matters, including the creation of toll manufacturing agreements, patents, trademarks, transactions and litigation, our manufacturing attorneys work closely alongside clients to discuss the various forms of relevant legal protection in a straightforward and understandable way. At Womble Bond Dickinson, our dedication has meant that we have successfully established the intellectual property rights of a multitude of designs over the years.
Industrial Law Clients
Boasting a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of day-to-day legal aspects to more long-term issues affecting our clients in the manufacturing sector, we’re in the ideal position to provide support and assistance in relation to corporate transactions, capital investments and other strategic projects. The support we offer is complemented by our related sector teams, including retail, transport, energy and renewables, as well as life sciences.
Whether you’re searching for a long-term partnership with a legal counsel to assist your business as it grows, or you’re simply looking for short-term assistance to help you deal with a specific issue, our manufacturing law firm will work closely with you to find a viable solution that works for your business. If you’re looking to discuss the needs of your company with one of our lawyers, learn more about how we can support and assist you by filling in our contact form, or browse through our manufacturing attorneys and professional staff today.
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Examples of our work and how we’ve helped companies of all sizes with a wide range of challenges.
Represented a multinational specialty chemical company in structuring and negotiating a $75 million contract - manufacturing agreement and licensing -to provide additional manufacturing capacity and improved supply-chain capabilities to the client’s existing manufacturing facilities
Advising a leading global producer of packaging in relation to product supply and new product development agreements and other technical and commercial collaborations and contractual joint ventures
Successfully defended the largest hosiery manufacturer in Europe in a breach of contract action in which the plaintiff claimed damages exceeding $600 million. We successfully upheld the client’s acquisition and purchase of third largest textile manufacturer in the US
Advising a global chemicals manufacturer on the full range of UK EHS legal issues
Represented an international furniture manufacturer with manufacturing operations in Southeast Asia on product recall, Consumer Product Safety Commission and litigation risk issues
Achieved denial of class certification in multiple consumer class actions against leading building product manufacturer in cases filed in numerous states and consolidated in multidistrict litigation
Advising a multi-national plastics manufacturer on a project to review its global routes to market to rationalise and refresh its arrangements with customers, agents and distributors and roll out a suite of agreements with intermediaries across the world, co-ordinating local law input where required
Represented an international automotive company as National Coordinating Counsel in mass tort asbestos litigation, supervising law firms across the country, preparing and enforcing billing and cost control guidelines, and managing bet-the-company risk issues
Advising a leading car manufacturer on the full range of UK and European EHS issues including: environmental work: preparing a comprehensive EHS compliance register for the business’ activities in the UK; developing an EU and UK environmental and health and safety Legal Guide for the manufacturing, take-back, recycling and recovery of lithium-ion batteries associated with their electric vehicle project; provision of training on health and safety law compliance and environmental law compliance
Represented international aerospace component part manufacturer in trade secret litigation regarding commercial airline production
Advising a specialist manufacturing investor on defending a £1m warranty claim. Also advising a major subsidiary on exposure to potential associated liability related to its tender for a high-profile 15-year smart-meter supply
Successfully obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction for a major food producer in a trademark and breach of contract case
Advising a multi-national client on threats of patent infringement proceedings made by a competitor
Acting for a listed company in relation to the £140 million refinancing of its UK banking arrangements with a club of 3 core lenders. We assisted the company and their UK debt advisors in preparing term sheets for negotiation with existing banks, which culminated in the refinancing and separating out of the facilities into a Common Terms Structure to meet the company's commercial requirements in relation to its trading and bonding bi-lateral facilities
Advising a manufacturer of industrial fans (for extraction, ventilation and air conditioning) in relation to English law matters in connection with the refinancing of a £100,000,000 Term Loan Facility and a smaller £12,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility to the group
Advising a UK tile manufacturer on the procurement of an ERP solution
Advising a global leader in chemicals in relation to a broad mix of commercial contracts and the negotiation of agreements for the supply of utilities to the world’s largest low density polyethylene facility
Advising a leading global supplier of commercial food service equipment on the implementation of its intra group pan European cash pooling arrangements following its corporate separation from a crane operating group
Advising a leading global producer of packaging in relation to product supply and new product development agreements and other technical and commercial collaborations and contractual joint ventures
Advising a multinational chemical company on a project for the construction of steam-raising boilers, including advising on associated services and utilities contracts.
Advising a world leading US specialty chemical manufacturer in relation to the acquisition of a UK-based manufacturer of fine and specialty chemicals for use in the agrochemical and pharmaceutical sectors.
Testimonials
"The Manufacturing team offers a thoughtful yet pragmatic approach to the many differing scenarios, be it a contractual supply issue, people based or dispute orientated."
Procurement manager, manufacturer/supplier
"The Manufacturing team at Womble Bond Dickinson has an extremely good understanding of the Manufacturing sector and what is required from a legal support team to help companies who are operating in that sphere, offering sound yet pragmatic advice at all times. I would thoroughly recommend using them."
CEO, Global polymer manufacturer
"I approached Womble Bond Dickinson Manufacturing team during a dispute with an overseas contractor and due to their diligent review of the problem and the paperwork involved, we were able to avoid a very large claim."
Global manufacturing client - consumer goods
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