Farrers gets a bite of Green & Black's sale

Farrer & Co has scooped a role advising organic chocolatier Green & Black's on its first major corporate for almost six years.

The Lincoln's Inn- based law firm, which has a longstanding relationship with Green & Black's, advised the company on its sale to Cadbury Sch-weppes for approximately £22m.

Farrers was first instructed by Green & Black's chief executive officer William Kendall in 1999, when he and Nick Beart bought 80 per cent of the company from its co-founders Craig Sams and his wife Josephine Fairley, who launched Green & Black's in 1991.

Since then Farrers has advised Green & Black's principally on IP work, although in 2002 the firm acted for the chocolate producer when Cadburys bought a 5 per cent stake in the company.

Farrers head of corporate James Thorne, who led on the deal, commented: "Having advised on the purchase of this leading organic chocolate brand, it's rewarding to have acted on the sale, especially when its turnover has increased so dramatically."

Cadburys was advised by the company's usual corporate counsel Slaughter and May.CONTACTS