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MoFo Advises LIVEKINDLY Collective on Acquisition of Iceland Foods’ No Meat

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Morrison & Foerster advised LIVEKINDLY Collective, a collection of heritage and start-up brands on track to become one of the

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Morrison & Foerster advised LIVEKINDLY Collective, a collection of heritage and start-up brands on track to become one of the world’s largest plant-based food companies, on its acquisition of No Meat, Iceland Foods’ vegan meat alternative company with products currently available in Iceland, Asda, and Ocado in the UK.Under the leadership of global food industry executives, LIVEKINDLY Collective is working to make plant‑based food the new norm by building a robust ecosystem of founder-led, plant-based brands that include the Fry Family Food Co., LikeMeat, Oumph!, lifestyle digital media platform, LIVEKINDLY, and now No Meat.  The transaction was announced on January 6, 2021.Morrison & Foerster is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading law firms for food, agriculture, and agtech M&A transactions, including being “Top Ranked” by legal directory Chambers Global in the space.The MoFo deal team was led by London Corporate partner Andrew Boyd with Corporate associate Jennifer Buckby, and London Technology Transactions partner Alistair Maughan with associate Rayhaan Vankalwala. The team also included San Francisco Corporate partner Alfredo Silva, London Tax partner Sophie Allen and associate Kirsten Banks; London Privacy/Employment partner Annabel Gillham, of counsel Oliver Spratt, and associate Alice Brunning; London Corporate associate William Akman and trainee solicitors Dan Alam and Stephanie Pong; and Brussels Antitrust of counsel Aniek Schadd.Read more about the transaction in the company’s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210105005996/en/LIVEKINDLY-Collective-Expands-Its-Brand-Portfolio-With-the-Acquisition-of-Iceland-Foods%E2%80%99-No-Meat">press release</a>.

MoFo Advises LIVEKINDLY Collective on Acquisition of Iceland Foods’ No Meat

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Andrew Boyd is an M&A partner based in the London office. He specializes in advising on strategic cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity and joint venture transactions with particular expertise advising clients in the technology and food/ag sectors.Andrew regularly represents, among other clients, Uber, Visa, SoftBank, Tate & Lyle plc, Unity Technologies, Toshiba and SoundCloud.Andrew is recommended for M&A and private equity by legal directories including Legal 500 and IFLR1000 and is noted for his ability to “speedily assimilate difficult concepts and come up with meaningful, deliverable action plans that fulfil the commercial objectives”. Clients note that “Andrew knows exactly when and where to get involved …a good person to send in when we need a different voice…he gets to the nub of the issue very, very quickly and with great clarity…” and “Andrew Boyd is fantastic; pragmatic, tons of expertise, and a joy to work with.” Legal 500 2022.Andrew is co-Managing Partner of the London office and sits on the firm’s global Partnership Selection committee and was previously a member of the firm’s global Pro Bono committee.

Andrew Boyd

Managing Partner, London

Jennifer Buckby is a Mergers & Acquisitions and Emerging Company & Venture Capital partner based in the London office of Morrison Foerster.Jennifer advises on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, emerging company and venture capital transactions, and general corporate advisory matters, with particular expertise advising clients in the technology, life sciences, and food/ag sectors.Jennifer regularly represents, among other clients, Uber, Visa, SoftBank, and SoundCloud.In her M&A practice, Jennifer has represented clients in strategic domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and joint venture transactions, including SoftBank in its acquisition of AutoStore and Uber on its acquisition of Autocab.In her venture capital practice, Jennifer has served as company and investor counsel in early- and late-stage financings and minority strategic investments, including representation of Visa Ventures in strategic Fintech investments around the world and SoundCloud in its Series G funding round.In 2018–19, Jennifer was seconded to Visa, working within its M&A and investments team.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Jennifer trained and practiced in the London and Singapore offices of an international law firm.After obtaining an LL.B. Law from the University of Bristol in 2010, Jennifer completed the Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School in 2011. She is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.<h4 dir="ltr">﻿Representative Experience</h4><ul><li dir="ltr">Uber in multiple cross-border acquisitions, including its acquisition of UK technology company Autocab.</li><li dir="ltr">SoftBank in multiple transactions, including its $2.8 billion acquisition of 40% of robotics company AutoStore and its $200 million investment in mobile satellite business OneWeb.</li><li dir="ltr">SoftBank Vision Fund 2 as lead investor in a $190 million financing round in UK Fintech platform Primary Bid.</li><li dir="ltr">Visa in multiple M&A and venture capital transactions, including its acquisition of a minority equity stake in Fintech unicorn Interswitch and investments in Bankable, Fidel, Ecolytiq, and TerraPay.</li><li dir="ltr">SoundCloud in multiple transactions, including its $75 million investment from Sirius XM and its acquisition of Musiio.</li><li dir="ltr">Alpine Investors in multiple acquisitions, including in connection with the Evergreen Services and Predictis platforms.</li><li dir="ltr">LIVEKINDLY Collective, one of the world’s largest plant-based food companies, in its acquisition of No Meat, Iceland Foods’ vegan meat alternative company.</li><li dir="ltr">Autodesk as lead investor in a £36 million Series B funding round for UK software maker CloudNC.</li><li dir="ltr">OrbiMed as lead investor in a $104 million Series E funding round for UK healthcare technology and diagnostics company Binx Health.</li><li dir="ltr">Ally Bridge Group as co-lead investor in a $600 million Series D funding round for surgical robotics company, CMR Surgical.</li><li dir="ltr">Ares in its investment in Swedish vehicle technology company Opus.</li><li dir="ltr">Cambridge Quantum Computing in its merger with Honeywell Quantum Solutions.</li></ul>

Jennifer Buckby

Partner

Alistair Maughan co-leads Morrison Foerster's European Technology and Commercial Practice. He delivers commercial contracts and technology-based projects for major companies and public sector organizations. He advises on:<ul dir="ltr"><li>Commercial licensing and sales contracts</li><li>Service-based outsourcing transactions</li><li>Technology delivery models, such as cloud and as-a-service platforms</li><li>Contracts for the supply and acquisition of technology equipment</li><li>Key regulatory issues</li><li>Services and software</li><li>Agency and distribution contracts</li><li>Issues and contracts related to e-commerce</li><li dir="ltr">Drafting, negotiating, and advising on technology contracts and issues</li></ul>He advises on the deployment of new technology platforms involving, for example, the internet of things, AI and machine-learning, and blockchain and distributed ledger technology.He also has many years of experience of working alongside our corporate lawyers on the IP, technology and ongoing transitional services aspects of some of the largest technology sector M&A transactions in recent years.In recognition of his deep knowledge in this area, Alistair is recommended in leading independent guides to the legal profession, including Legal 500, Chambers UK, and Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom. Clients comment that he “is incredibly pragmatic, helpful, collaborative and smart” and “brings common sense to the negotiating table”. He “enjoys an excellent reputation as an outsourcing expert and for his deep experience in a wide range of technology issues” and “has a great ability to take a broad view and is proactive in finding legally correct solutions around the discussion points”.Alistair is a member of the Technology Transactions Group and the Global Sourcing Group.

Alistair Maughan

Alfredo Silva is a partner in the Transactions Department, co-chair of the firm's Social Enterprise and Impact Investing Group, and a member of the ESG Strategy Committee. Alfredo represents companies and investors in a broad range of corporate and securities law matters, with a focus on businesses in the life sciences, agtech and fintech sectors. Alfredo’s practice includes capital markets transactions, venture capital, growth equity and corporate venture financings, tender offers and other secondary offerings, digital token matters, and mergers and acquisitions. Alfredo also helps clients leverage environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors to evaluate risk and opportunities and to invest responsibly in businesses seeking sustainable growth and impact.In his private company practice, Alfredo has served as company or investor counsel in early- and late-stage financings, minority strategic investments and impact investments in dozens of private companies, including representation of SoftBank and SoftBank Vision Fund in financings with a combined value of over $2 billion, Temasek in its $800 million minority investment in Verily Life Sciences, an Alphabet company, and Visa Ventures in strategic fintech investments around the world.In his public company practice, Alfredo counsels issuers on strategic transactions, such as the stock-for-stock merger of Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc. with Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp, as well as corporate governance and compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws and stock exchange listing standards, including advising on cutting-edge issues with respect to ESG disclosures and materiality assessments.In addition, Alfredo works extensively with nonprofit organizations, providing advice on fiduciary issues, entity formation, structuring and other corporate matters, and assists small businesses pro bono. He incorporated and continues to advise Illuminate, the nonprofit producer of The Bay Lights, a 25,000 LED sculpture on the western span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, in structuring, corporate governance, and project management matters. Alfredo currently chairs the audit committees of the boards of directors of Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, a charity founded by four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry and The New York Times bestselling author Ayesha Curry to unleash the potential of every child, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre, an international leader in innovative theater whose shows have won eight Tony Awards, nine Obie Awards and a Pulitzer Prize, among many other honors.Alfredo is recognized by The Recorder as a 2013 Lawyer on the Fast Track, in 2014 was the inaugural recipient of the firm’s Kathi Pugh Award for Pro Bono Service, is a 2017 Lawyers Committee for Legal Diversity Fellow, and was the recipient of the American Bar Association’s 2023 National Public Service Award. Alfredo received his B.S. degree, cum laude with distinction, in Engineering Sciences (Chemical) from Yale College in 2004 and received his J.D. degree from Yale Law School in 2008. Alfredo speaks conversational Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, and spent a year at China’s Tsinghua University researching issues in intellectual property protection on a Fulbright Fellowship.

Alfredo B. D. Silva

Annabel is a partner at Morrison Foerster and co-Managing Partner of the London office. As a member of our renowned global data privacy team, Annabel specializes in employee data protection and data crisis management. Described by clients as “excellent, very pragmatic , efficient and completely client-oriented”, she works across a variety of sectors, including technology, retail, and financial services, and frequently manages multi-jurisdictional advice for international clients. Her practice includes advice on:<ul><li>cross-border labor and employment matters</li><li>employee litigation</li><li>data privacy compliance management</li><li>data security breach management</li><li>internal and regulatory investigations</li></ul>Annabel regularly helps senior management and HR executives with the “people” aspects of takeovers, restructuring projects, business and share sales, and outsourcings. She also advises employers in relation to sensitive claims, such as unlawful discrimination, equal pay, and whistleblowing. Annabel also advises on team moves.She supports her clients on all aspects of General Data Protection Regulation compliance and regularly advises organizations facing ICO enforcement action. She has developed particular specialties in complex areas, such as the collection and use of data relating to criminal offenses and the application of data protection law to insolvency practitioners.As an experienced litigator with experience in helping clients defend group litigation, Annabel helps clients develop their strategy for responding to regulatory action and court claims relating to the use of employee and customer personal data. She regularly designs and presents employment and data protection law training and updates to senior managers and HR executives and is involved in preparing responses to UK government consultations.In addition, Annabel is qualified to practice in the British Virgin Islands, where she spent three years advising on cross border commercial litigation and insolvency matters, including high value board and shareholder disputes, freezing orders, and third-party disclosure orders.

Annabel Gillham

Oliver Spratt is Of Counsel based in the London office of Morrison Foerster. He advises domestic and international clients on the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment law issues. Oliver works with clients across a range of industry sectors on employer/employee issues arising throughout the employment lifecycle from recruitment to termination. Described by clients as "exceptional: extremely responsive, commercial and pragmatic, he quickly became a trusted advisor".He regularly works alongside colleagues in the corporate, TTG and finance teams where he advises clients that are undertaking complex corporate transactions, such as mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and business restructuring, on employment issues, as well as advising companies on the employment aspects arising out of major initiatives, such as global outsourcing projects, restructurings and global policy changes.Much of Oliver’s work involves advising international clients on cross-border employment matters, and he has significant experience working with local employment counsel to deliver commercial and pragmatic solutions to a broad range of multi-jurisdictional employment law issues.On the contentious side of his practice, he has experience of representing employers in the Employment Tribunal, defending sensitive, high-value claims, such as unfair dismissal, discrimination, and breach of contract. In February 2019 Oliver represented the respondent care home in the matter of Shannon (Appellant) v Rampersad and another (T/A Clifton House Residential Home) (Respondents), which was heard before the UK Supreme Court. Oliver has advised clients on matters involving the misappropriation of confidential information by current and former employees and breaches of restrictive covenants.In the past, Oliver has been seconded to two multinational businesses – one in the oil and gas sector and another in the technology sector.Oliver has produced and delivered training on various employment law issues and has had articles published in the Employment Law Journal. In August 2020 he was a member of the UK Employment Lawyers’ Association working party responding to the recent government consultation on the potential changes to the law surrounding support for victims of domestic abuse in the workplace. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oliver has provided strategic advice and training to a number of clients on the employment law challenges faced by employers across the globe. Oliver has an extensive pro bono practice, and he sits on the Royal Courts of Justice Citizens Advice Bureau’s Service Delivery Committee.Oliver is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.<h4>Representative Experience </h4><h5>Non-Contentious</h5><ul><li>Acting as principal employment law adviser to a global manufacturing client on employment aspects of its acquisition of another global business. The acquisition impacted 1,300 employees across 13 jurisdictions, and involved the automatic transfer of employees pursuant to the Acquired Rights Directive and equivalent laws outside the EU. </li><li>Advising a Fortune 500 manufacturing client on the employment aspects of two global outsourcing projects valuing in excess of $600m. </li><li>Advising a global manufacturing company on the enforceability of a ‘global’ IP and non-complete agreement across 47 different jurisdictions. </li><li>Advising a global insurance company on a complex collective redundancy process, including advising on the process for the election of employee representatives and drafting communications with employees and representatives. </li></ul><h5>Contentious</h5><ul><li>Acting for the respondent care home in the matter of Shannon (Appellant) v Rampersad and another (T/A Clifton House Residential Home) (Respondents), which was heard before the UK Supreme Court in February 2019. The decision of the Supreme Court, which was handed down on 19th March 2021, finding in the respondent’s favour, is the leading authority regarding the application of the National Minimum Wage legislation to employees who are permitted to sleep while at work.</li><li>Advising a global bank on its successful defense of a complex, high-value and highly sensitive whistleblowing claim in the UK Employment Tribunal. </li><li>Advising a global oil and gas company on the successful mediation of claims of sex and maternity discrimination, which had been brought by an employee in the UK Employment Tribunal. </li><li>Advising a medical software company on the protection of sensitive and confidential information unlawfully taken by a former employee for the purposes of aiding a competitor. </li><li>Advising a global digital payments company on a sensitive investigation following allegations of race and age discrimination by a former employee.</li><li>Advising a number of well-known employers on senior employee exits.</li></ul>

Oliver Spratt

Of Counsel

Dan Alam is a member of Morrison Foerster’s Global Privacy + Data Security and Employment + Labor Groups, based in London.A dynamic lawyer and pragmatic problem solver, Dan supports clients on their contentious, advisory and transaction-related data protection and employment issues on a UK, pan-European and global level. He is described by Legal 500 UK as advising on the “intersection of employment and data protection law”.He regularly works on multijurisdictional projects, and advises clients in a variety of sectors, such as those operating in the technology, media, insurance, pharmaceutical, hospitality, retail, shipping and logistics industries.Dan has a wide breadth of experience advising on a range of complex matters, such as supporting clients with deploying artificial intelligence (AI) systems, responding to data security incidents and creating comprehensive whistleblowing compliance programs. Dan also regularly assists clients with internal investigations and their dealings with data protection regulators.Dan is a founding member and a main contributor to MoFo’s <a href="/gdpr-european-privacy/whistleblowing" target="_self">Whistleblowing Resource Center</a>, which is relied upon by many organizations to support their compliance efforts, and is also leveraged by Thomson Reuters Practical Law to provide <a href="https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/w-034-1767?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)&firstPage=true" target="_blank">updates</a> to its subscribers. Dan has been closely monitoring the implementation of the European Union (EU) Whistleblowing Directive since its inception. He has presented on and advised clients on the implementation of the Whistleblowing Directive across the EU, and regularly provides practical advice to clients on the new requirements and how to incorporate them into their global whistleblowing and investigations processes. Examples of Dan’s other experience include:<ul><li>Advising technology companies and a global logistics and delivery company on the launch of new products, including those involving AI.</li><li>Providing support to clients on how to comply with cross-border data transfer and data localization restrictions.</li><li>Helping to respond to regulatory requests from the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and other data protection regulators, including in relation to direct marketing, the collection and use of children’s data and the ICO’s Children’s Code and data security incidents.</li><li>Advising on age assurance mechanisms and obligations under the UK Online Safety Act.</li><li>Defending clients against claims for compensation in respect of alleged breaches of privacy and data protection law.</li><li>Negotiating data processing agreements on behalf of clients acting as controllers and/or processors.</li><li>Providing specialist data protection and employment support on various public and private transactions, with particular experience advising on the acquisition of technology and AI companies.</li><li>Guiding employers on their employee monitoring practices and the collection of diversity and inclusion data.</li><li>Representing the administrators of a technology company in respect of an asset sale of its business, advising on collective redundancy and Transfer of Undertakings (TUPE) issues.</li><li>Participating in industry working groups to respond to government consultations on employee data protection issues.</li></ul>Before joining Morrison Foerster, Dan spent two months working at the Irish Data Protection Commission.Dan actively contributes to the firm’s pro bono initiatives by working for a variety of charities and NGOs. In addition to assisting organisations on data protection and employment matters, he also advises on social security and statelessness issues. Dan was part of the collaboration between Asylum Aid and various law firms that was recognized with the “Excellence in Pro Bono” Award by the Law Society of England and Wales in 2021 for work addressing the issue of statelessness in the United Kingdom. Dan is also co-chair of the Morrison Foerster London ethnic minority network – MoFo Together.Dan is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Dan Alam

Associate

Food + Agriculture

Mergers + Acquisitions