Candy Competition Sours Company on Now-Former Counsel
Nestle reportedly has axed its lead antitrust counsel in Europe after focusing during a review of its legal staffing there on the fact that Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer also represented the competing Mars company.
Perhaps best-known on supermarket shelves for its M&M’S candies, Mars is a competitor of Nestle. The two companies have previously clashed in court in Europe over Nestle’s attempt to trademark the “have a break” slogan that has been used for decades to market its Kit Kat bar, according to the Lawyer and brandchannel.com.
After showing the London-based Freshfields to the door, Nestle is now represented as antitrust counsel in Brussels by Howrey, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Lawyer reports.
“Norton Rose keeps its place as Nestlé’s chief M&A adviser in Europe, with White & Case supporting,” the article states. “Mayer Brown has been appointed London antitrust counsel, winning its first major European panel place with the company after a long relationship in the U.S.”
