Consumer & manufacturing

Consumer businesses, particularly retailers, face similar challenges. These include pressure on costs and changes to how both individuals and businesses source and purchase products and services, leaving traditional business models to be rethought to remain competitive in the global marketplace. 

Consumer and manufacturing businesses are also facing the fourth industrial revolution - Industry 4.0. The latest phase of the manufacturing industry’s digital transformation through the integration of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and 3D printing, further reshaping the industry. 

We advise a range of consumer and manufacturing clients, including fast-moving consumer goods companies such as  supermarket retailers, as well as medical equipment suppliers, metal and plastics manufacturers, furniture and household goods manufacturers, and machine and heavy equipment manufacturers. 

Every part of Colin Biggers & Paisley provides services to organisations in these industries. Our banking and finance, corporate and commercial, construction, property, planning and environment, technology and AI, employment and safety, intellectual property and restructuring and insolvency teams all provide specialised services to meet the diverse needs of consumer and manufacturing clients. 

We also work with these clients to navigate a range of matters critical to their operations and strategic success. This includes securing finance, acquiring and divesting assets, building facilities, managing workforce issues, keeping workplaces safe, restructuring businesses, dealing with insolvency issues, protecting customer data, and resolving disputes.  

Our expertise also extends to advising on competition and consumer law: cartel issues, joint venture and teaming arrangements, distribution and franchising structures, unfair contract issues, consumer rights, abuse of market power and pricing and promotions. 

We also understand that competitive advantage in these industries often arises from intellectual property, and we work closely with our clients to safeguard their assets. Our services cover intellectual property protection, copy clearance, packaging and product labelling, price display obligations, licensing, marketing disputes, competitions and promotions, and privacy matters. 

Our clients also value our knowledge of supply chain management and ESG, and use our expertise in environmental law and reporting, corporate advisory and governance to help our clients to comply with evolving legislation and sustainability goals.

Few legal practices have our depth of knowledge about insurance and risk management. Our knowledge of liability insurances and specific insurances of relevance to the consumer and manufacturing industry is second to none. 

The various expert groups that advise the consumer and manufacturing sectors are ranked among the best in Australia in respected guides, Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and Best Lawyers in Australia.