With more than 20 years’ experience, Renee has undertaken a considerable amount of work in a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, but her main focus has been mergers and acquisitions, large commercial contracts and Australian Commercial Law advice.
Whilst Renee has experience working across a variety of industries, Renee has a particular interest in advising clients in the food and beverage sector.
In recent years, a large proportion of Renee’s work has involved advising Bega Cheese Limited and The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) in relation to various corporate and commercial matters. Renee has nurtured the firm’s longstanding relationships with these clients and leveraged her in depth knowledge of their businesses to provide advice that is tailored to their specific business needs and risk profile, whilst always doing what is necessary legally to protect their valuable brand portfolios.
Clients’ appreciate that Renee will identify the red flags of a transaction and help them work through solutions in an efficient manner that will get the deal done smoothly.
Renee was admitted as a solicitor in 2003 and joined international firm Coudert Bros at that time. Renee joined Addisons in 2004 and was appointed as a Special Counsel in 2016.
led the team that advised Bega Cheese on its acquisition of the Betta Milk and Meander Valley Dairy brands from TasFoods Group.
was part of the team that advised Bega Cheese on its acquisition of the Lion Dairy & Drinks business for $534 million and played an integral role in the due diligence process of that transaction.
provided general commercial advice to Bega Cheese over a number of years, including advising Bega on its strategically important supply terms with farmers and compliance with the Dairy Industry Code of Conduct.
advised Bega Cheese on the sale of its juice processing facility at Leeton to Grove Juice and entry into a long-term supply agreement.
advised Bega Cheese in relation to the sale of its peanut butter processing facility in Kingaroy, along with a long-term supply agreement for roasting services following completion of the sale.
together with its local bottler, then known as Coca-Cola Amatil – of a 45% equity stake in the Made Group, an independent beverage manufacturer that owns popular brands Cocobella, Rokeby Farms, Impressed juices and NutrientWater in 2018. In 2021, we also advised TCCC on the sale of this interest back to the founders of this business.
advised TCCC in its acquisition of the Billson’s alcoholic ready-to-drink brands, which was a critical stepping stone for TCCC’s entry into the alcoholic beverages market in Australia.
part of the team that advised The Coca-Cola Company on its acquisition of various non-alcoholic drink brands in Australia, NZ and Fiji, including Mount Franklin, Deep Springs, L&P and Kirks, from its bottling partner, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
provided a range of general commercial contracts and/or Australian Consumer Law advice to a variety of clients, including NRMA, Mitsubishi-Electric, Catholic Cemetries & Crematoria, Australian Terminal Operations Management Pty Ltd and AG1 USA Inc..
advised the shareholders of Kingsbridge Pty Ltd, a boutique Australian mortgage brokerage business, on the sale of 100% of the shares to People & Partners Pty Ltd.
part of the team advising National Roads & Motorists’ Association Limited (NRMA) on the acquisition of Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania’s (RACT) tourism portfolio of hotels and marine tourism services, including Freycinet Lodge, Cradle Mountain Hotel and Gordon River Cruises.
- Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) /Bachelor of Laws (Honours), University of Wollongong