INDIANAPOLIS – Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today the debut of the firm’s newest practice group. The Agriculture and Food Processing Practice Group was created to provide a greater range of services to Barnes & Thornburg’s agriculture and food industry clients.
Despite coming online as a new practice group in 2013, Barnes & Thornburg has years of experience working with ag producers, agribusinesses including seed and biotech companies, processors, manufacturers, distributors/wholesalers, cooperatives, retailers and suppliers on everything from corporate counsel to regulatory affairs, intellectual property and labor and employment matters.
More than 50 attorneys belong to the group that assists clients in new business creation, bringing products to market, diversifying operations, managing supply chain pressures, and navigating the various issues and opportunities industry participants experience.
“The addition of the Agriculture and Food Processing Practice Group reinforces Barnes & Thornburg as a full-service law firm,” said Alan Levin, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg. “Enhancing our service offerings by focusing on practice areas allows us to provide greater value to our corporate clients.”
Co-chair William Wales, a member of Barnes & Thornburg’s Corporate Department, played an instrumental role in the formation of the new group. A partner in the firm’s Indianapolis office, he is a veteran to the agribusiness and food industries.
“Having counseled major agribusiness clients in the heartland and across the country, the opportunity to expand Barnes & Thornburg’s focus on these ever-evolving and high growth industries is an exciting one for our corporate practice,” said Wales.
Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Wales enjoyed an extensive career at Dow Chemical, in various commercial and legal management roles since joining in 1980. From 1999 through 2012, he served as Dow AgroSciences' vice president, general counsel and secretary. During this time, he was also chairman of the Dow AgroSciences Ethics and Compliance Committee.
At Barnes & Thornburg, Wales focuses his practice on management of complex product liability and commercial litigation matters; commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions; and compliance issues. He also works with high-technology growth companies on a variety of legal issues.
About Barnes & Thornburg LLP
With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from its offices in Atlanta, Delaware, Chicago, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio and Washington, D.C. For more information visit us online at www.btlaw.com.
Despite coming online as a new practice group in 2013, Barnes & Thornburg has years of experience working with ag producers, agribusinesses including seed and biotech companies, processors, manufacturers, distributors/wholesalers, cooperatives, retailers and suppliers on everything from corporate counsel to regulatory affairs, intellectual property and labor and employment matters.
More than 50 attorneys belong to the group that assists clients in new business creation, bringing products to market, diversifying operations, managing supply chain pressures, and navigating the various issues and opportunities industry participants experience.
“The addition of the Agriculture and Food Processing Practice Group reinforces Barnes & Thornburg as a full-service law firm,” said Alan Levin, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg. “Enhancing our service offerings by focusing on practice areas allows us to provide greater value to our corporate clients.”
Co-chair William Wales, a member of Barnes & Thornburg’s Corporate Department, played an instrumental role in the formation of the new group. A partner in the firm’s Indianapolis office, he is a veteran to the agribusiness and food industries.
“Having counseled major agribusiness clients in the heartland and across the country, the opportunity to expand Barnes & Thornburg’s focus on these ever-evolving and high growth industries is an exciting one for our corporate practice,” said Wales.
Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Wales enjoyed an extensive career at Dow Chemical, in various commercial and legal management roles since joining in 1980. From 1999 through 2012, he served as Dow AgroSciences' vice president, general counsel and secretary. During this time, he was also chairman of the Dow AgroSciences Ethics and Compliance Committee.
At Barnes & Thornburg, Wales focuses his practice on management of complex product liability and commercial litigation matters; commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions; and compliance issues. He also works with high-technology growth companies on a variety of legal issues.
About Barnes & Thornburg LLP
With more than 600 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from its offices in Atlanta, Delaware, Chicago, Indiana, Los Angeles, Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio and Washington, D.C. For more information visit us online at www.btlaw.com.
