Online grocer hires specialist Yorkshire law firm

Retail specialist law firm Gordons has been hired by Ocado Retail, the joint venture between Ocado Group and Marks & Spencer, to advise on a range of legal requirements.

Leeds and Bradford-based Gordons now acts for seven of the UK’s top 14 grocery businesses including B&M, Iceland and Morrisons.

Ocado Retail’s stated ambition is to be the biggest online grocer in the UK and Gordons has been appointed to help the business achieve that objective.

The law firm’s scope of work has increased over time and includes advising on supply chain relationships and commercial contracts.

Ocado Retail’s general counsel and chief people officer, Jonathan Wiseman, said: “We regard Gordons as one of the leading retail and grocery law firms in the UK. They understand Ocado Retail, where we want to be and how to help us get there.

“Our relationship is evolving and growing as we work together, and we are very pleased to have the firm as an adviser as we continue on our growth journey.”

Ocado Retail is responsible for ocado.com and Ocado Zoom, the group’s fast-growing, same-day grocery service.

Gordons partner and head of food and drink, Mark Jones, said: “Ocado Retail is an exciting business with a clear growth strategy.

“We are looking forward to helping the business continue to outperform the market and offer an unrivalled online grocery buying experience.”