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MoFo Advises Paine Schwartz on its Structured Minority Investment in AMFRESH and its Subsidiary BLOOM FRESH

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Morrison Foerster (“MoFo”) has advised Paine Schwartz Partners (“Paine Schwartz”) in relation to its structured minority...

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Morrison Foerster (“MoFo”) has advised Paine Schwartz Partners (“Paine Schwartz”) in relation to its structured minority investment by Paine Schwartz Food Chain Fund VI in AMFRESH Group (“AMFRESH”) and its subsidiary BLOOM FRESH International (“BLOOM”).Paine Schwartz is the largest private equity firm dedicated to sustainable food chain investing, with ~$6.5 billion of assets under management, and over 20 years of experience. BLOOM is one of the world’s largest premium fruit-breeding companies and a global leader in fruit innovation. AMFRESH is a global agrifood innovation company shaping the future of fresh food through innovation, science, and technology, operating in over 60 countries and employs more than 12,000 people worldwide.A global, cross-practice team from MoFo advised Paine Schwartz throughout the transaction. The deal team was led by private equity partners Omar Pringle (New York) and David D’Souza (London), supported by corporate associates Nikesh Arya (London) and Shams Haidari (Washington D.C.). The wider deal team included private equity partner Mitchell Presser (New York), tax partner Freddie Schwier (London) partner and chair of MoFo’s biotechnology group Meghan Poon (Palo Alto), patent group partner Anita Choi (Palo Alto), corporate associates Jacob Robart (Boston) and Katherine Qiu (London), and technology transactions associate Hannah Koo (San Francisco).

MoFo Advises Paine Schwartz on its Structured Minority Investment in AMFRESH and its Subsidiary BLOOM FRESH

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Omar Pringle is a seasoned dealmaker and trusted advisor known for guiding clients through their most complex, high-stakes transactions with precision and insight.Omar has extensive experience advising on the full range of complex domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions for and across from financial sponsors, corporates and family-owned businesses. He couples a creative, solution-oriented approach with deep sector expertise.In addition to his knowledge of the private equity industry, Omar has extensive experience in the food and agriculture, consumer goods, technology and life sciences sectors, and acting for and across from the businesses that are driving and disrupting those verticals.Commended by Legal 500 US 2022-2025 as a Next Generation Partner for Corporate / M&A and Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts, he has played a critical role in the growth of the firm’s private equity offering in New York.Omar is an adjunct professor at Columbia Law School, where he teaches a course on cross-border mergers and acquisitions. He is also a member of the firm’s global Food & Agriculture and Life Sciences steering committees.﻿He speaks fluent French and Spanish and is conversant in Arabic.

Omar Pringle

Partner

David D’Souza is a corporate partner with a particular focus on private equity transactions.He advises private equity houses, financial sponsors and their portfolio companies and management teams on a wide range of matters, including leveraged buyouts, acquisitions and disposals, growth equity transactions, shareholder and management incentive arrangements, joint ventures, restructurings and refinancings.David has over 18 years’ experience as a private equity M&A specialist with a focus on the financial services, business services, tech and infrastructure sectors.Clients note that "David's client service and general level of service, level of sophistication and commercial vision are very strong. David is very responsive, highly knowledgeable, pragmatic, and a genuine private equity expert" (Chambers and Partners, 2024). They also say, "David D'Souza stands out as a savvy professional and able to go toe to toe with even the most technical practitioners in the City" (Legal 500 UK, 2025).

David D'Souza

Nikesh Arya is a corporate associate based in the London office of Morrison Foerster, with a particular focus on private equity, impact investment and growth capital transactions.Nikesh has a range of experience acting for financial sponsors, institutional investors, portfolio companies and management teams on a broad range of transactions, including acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, venture and growth capital investments, disposals and other corporate matters.Nikesh is a member of the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA)’s Impact Investing Taskforce; a regional board member of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers; and a coordinator for the London Impact Investing Network.Nikesh holds a M.Sci in Natural Sciences (first class) from University College London. He completed the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at BPP University. Nikesh spent six months seconded to a global asset manager in 2024. <h4>Representative Experience </h4><h5>Private Equity/M&A</h5><ul><li>Third Point Investors Limited on landmark proposed all-share combination with Malibu Life and re-IPO.</li><li>Aquiline Capital Partners on its investment in Isio Topco Limited.</li><li>Barnett Waddingham on its sale to Howden Group Holdings.</li><li>A strategic purchaser on its proposed bid for Zentiva.</li><li>EQT and Icon Group on its acquisition of the Pharmaxo Group from its existing management shareholders.</li><li>A financial sponsor on its proposed bid for Perspective Wealth.</li><li>A Certares-led consortium on its proposed investment in the FTI Group.</li><li>O.C.S. Group on the sale of its Facilities Services business to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.</li><li>Epiris on its acquisition of Sepura Limited.</li><li>The founders, Inflexion and shareholders on the sale of Medivet Group Holdings Limited to CVC Capital Partners VIII.</li></ul><h5>ECVC</h5><ul><li>Low Carbon Materials (an Earthshot Prize finalist) on the equity fundraising of its £3 million funding round led by Ada Ventures.</li><li>Standard Chartered Bank and SC Ventures on a number of investments, including in Elwood Holdings, United Fintech, Twinstake, and SC Ventures joint venture with Next176 combining 22seven Proprietary Limited and Autumn Life.</li><li>Goldman Sachs Asset Management on its investment in Form3's $160 million Series C funding round and subsequent participation in the Series C extension round.</li><li>Kalda Limited on its investment from the Growth Impact Fund, developed by Big Issue Invest and UnLtd.</li><li>Sustainable Development Capital in relation to its Series D investment in Turntide Technologies Inc.</li></ul>

Nikesh Arya

Associate

Shams Haidari is a corporate associate in the Washington D.C. office of Morrison Foerster.Shams advises public and private clients on a wide range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings, and financings.Prior to joining the firm, Shams was an associate at another international law firm, where she advised on transactions and tax matters.Shams received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she served as the Tax Chair for the Harvard Association for Law & Business, Executive Editor for the Harvard Business Law Review, and Submissions Reviewer for Harvard Environmental Law Review.Shams holds a B.A., summa cum laude, from University of Pennsylvania.Shams is fluent in Arabic.

Shams Haidari

Mitchell Presser advises on high-profile global public and private mergers and acquisitions, with a heavy concentration on private equity transactions. As co-chair of the firm’s Band 1 global Food + Agriculture Industry practice, and member of the firm’s global Sustainability + Corporate Responsibility steering committee, as well as the Private Equity Investments + Buyouts and M&A groups, Mitchell utilizes his vast experience in high-stakes M&A and private equity deals to drive successful outcomes for clients in diverse sectors, including food production, agribusiness, financial services, industrials, insurance, sports and entertainment, energy, retail, and more.As a founding partner of Paine Schwartz Partners, a premier U.S. private equity firm dedicated to sustainable food chain investing with $6.5 billion assets under management, Mitchell has his unique insights shaped by over eight years as an investor. Mitchell proficiently understands both the legal and business environments, positioning him as a trusted advisor for clients navigating the intricate world of mergers, acquisitions, and private equity transactions.Mitchell has been recognized as a top lawyer by Chambers USA and Legal 500 US. Mitchell is a faculty member and lecturer of law at Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School, where he teaches a class focused on international business sales and negotiations. He has served as board member for various privately-held and public companies.

Mitchell Presser

Freddie Schwier is a Tax partner based in the London office of Morrison Foerster, advising on UK tax issues, including in connection with M&A, employee option and incentive plans, finance, capital markets, and restructuring transactions.He advises on a wide range of UK tax issues across the firm’s practice, including corporate acquisitions and reorganizations, corporate finance, private equity, restructurings, capital markets transactions, and tax advisory matters.Freddie received his B.A. degree in French and Italian from the University of Oxford, and his Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course from BPP University Law School, London. He is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Clarivate plc in connection with a $500 million incremental term loan facility.</li><li>Barclays Bank PLC as sponsor to Harbour Energy plc in connection with its $11.2 billion acquisition of substantially all of Wintershall Dea AG’s upstream assets from BASF and LetterOne.</li><li>Royalty Pharma plc in connection with its SEC-registered offering of $1.5 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes.</li><li>Smith+Nephew in connection with its SEC-registered shelf takedown of $1 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes.</li><li>Roche on its $295 million acquisition of select parts of the LumiraDx group related to LumiraDx group’s innovative point of care technology platform.</li><li>The underwriters in connection with the Province of British Columbia’s $2 billion aggregate principal amount global bond offering.</li><li>MSCI Inc. on the acquisition of Trove Research, a specialist data, analysis, and advisory firm.</li><li>Roivant Sciences Ltd. in connection with a registered direct offering to certain institutional investors of its common shares, generating proceeds used to make a $170 million investment into its subsidiary Immunovant, Inc.</li><li>The underwriters in connection with the Province of British Columbia’s $2.25 billion global bond offering.</li><li>Lucid Group, Inc. in connection with its $232 million long-term strategic technology partnership in which Lucid will provide Aston Martin with powertrain and battery system technology for use in Aston Martin’s initial and certain future electric vehicles.</li><li>NatWest Group plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Scotland, in connection with its SEC-registered shelf takedown of $1.25 billion senior callable fixed-to-fixed reset rate notes.</li><li>Roivant Sciences Ltd. in connection with its debut $150 million SEC-registered equity offering.</li><li>Verisk on the $3.1 billion sale of its energy business, Wood Mackenzie, to an affiliate of Veritas Capital.</li><li>The sales agent in connection with a new $250 million SEC-registered at-the-marketing offering program by Immunocore Holdings plc.</li><li>NatWest Group plc and NatWest Markets N.V. in connection with their $7.34 billion cash tender offers for any and all of certain series of their respective outstanding U.S. dollar–denominated securities.</li><li>The joint book-running managers in connection with a $1 billion Rule 144A / Regulation S offering by Imperial Brands Finance PLC.</li><li>The joint global coordinators and the joint bookrunners in connection with the £150 million initial public offering of Financials Acquisition Corp.</li><li>Viva Wallet in connection with the acquisition by J.P. Morgan of an ownership stake of approximately 49% in the company, subject to regulatory approvals.</li><li>Ding and its founder, Mark Roden, in connection with the sale of a majority stake in the company to Pollen Street Capital and, in partnership with Pollen Street Capital, a substantial investment from Mark Roden.</li><li>Comcast on its partnership with ViacomCBS to launch a new subscription video on demand streaming service called “SkyShowtime.”</li><li>The joint sponsors, bookrunners, and global co-ordinators to Esken on its £55 million capital raising and the joint sponsors to Esken on the proposed £125 million investment by Carlyle Global Infrastructure Opportunity Fund.</li><li>Lightyear Capital on its acquisition of UK wealth management firm Wren Sterling from Palatine Private Equity and others.</li><li>The initial purchasers in connection with a $400 million Rule 144A / Regulation S offering by Paysafe Finance PLC and Paysafe Holdings (US) Corp., wholly owned, indirect subsidiaries of Paysafe Limited.</li><li>A Ferrero-related company on its acquisition of Burton’s Biscuit Company from Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board.</li></ul>

Freddie Schwier

As chair of the biotechnology group and a member of the firm’s food and agriculture steering committee, Dr. Meghan Poon counsels clients on patent preparation and prosecution, portfolio strategy, and IP due diligence in the areas of life science and agriculture. Meghan is passionate about working with cutting edge technologies at the frontier or science that impacts human health and global food security. She has significant experience in diverse technologies including antibodies, cell and gene therapies, diagnostics, and gene edited plants. Meghan manages a cross-technology team to service clients developing technology at the interface of life science and AI.Meghan represents clients ranging from large international pharmaceutical companies to midsized companies, startups, and universities. She has filed numerous Patent Term Extension applications to secure additional term for her clients’ patents which cover FDA approved products. In addition, Meghan has extensive experience addressing complex obviousness-double patenting and subject matter eligibility issues impacting her clients’ patent portfolios. Meghan also represents clients in both investor side and target side due diligence in deals from seed funding to initial public offerings.Meghan is a thought leader on intellectual property issues facing pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and agriculture companies and is sought after to speak at events and publish on these issues. Meghan has written numerous articles on the topics of patents vs. trade secrets, subject matter edibility, written description and enablement in life sciences. Meghan is editor of the MoFo Life Sciences Blog, where she directs content.Prior to law school, Meghan earned her PhD in biological chemistry based at the University of California, Los Angeles. Meghan’s Ph.D. work focused on analysis of protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions of site-specific recombinases. Meghan is the author of several scientific publications and has presented her research at international conferences.Meghan received her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School and spent a year as a visiting student at Santa Clara University, where she focused on intellectual property.

Meghan Poon

Anita Choi has decades of experience providing strategic advice to companies and investors in the <a href="/capabilities/life-sciences-healthcare" target="_self" dir="ltr">Life Sciences</a> and <a href="/capabilities/food-agriculture" target="_self">Food + Agriculture</a> industries. She has helped start-up companies build IP portfolios around their core technologies, and counseled them on issues related to patents versus trade secrets. She has worked with larger, more established companies to manage global patent portfolios in a way that integrates IP with their business models. Combining her legal and business expertise enables her to navigate complex challenges that require complex solutions hence why she is so often called upon by clients to help with assessing, building and strengthening patent portfolios.  She has also counseled investors in IP due diligence, identifying critical issues that may affect valuation and risk assessment in deals.Anita is part of the <a href="/life-sciences-healthcare-leadership" target="_self">Life Sciences + Healthcare Leadership Team</a>, as well as the Food + Agriculture Leadership Team within the firm. She co-leads the firm’s Chemistry Subgroup within the patent practice, which covers both the Pharmaceuticals and Materials sector within the chemistry space. She also co-leads the firm’s Food + Agriculture patent practice. Anita’s clients praise her ability to quickly gain a deep understanding of their technology and business, which allows her to think critically, creatively and practically in patent portfolio management.Anita is recognized as a key lawyer by The Legal 500 US for patent prosecution. She received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Chemistry and was named to the Order of the Coif. During law school, Anita also completed her M.B.A. at the Wharton School of Business.Anita is co-editor of our <a href="https://lifesciences.mofo.com/" target="_blank" dir="ltr">MoFo Life Sciences Blog</a>.Life SciencesAnita gained a solid technical background across disciplines during her time studying at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), where she received her Bachelor of Science with honors. She spent several years working at Pfizer, developing small molecule compounds for use in oncology therapies. She has performed research at CalTech involving unnatural amino acids, and at MIT involving fluorescent zinc sensors, both for use in developing neuroscience applications.Anita has counseled clients in a wide variety of life science technologies, including small-molecule pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids, nutraceuticals, pharmaceutical and cosmetic uses, pharmaceutical formulations, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health.Food and AgTechAnita has advised businesses in developing IP strategies for soil and crop technologies, sustainable farming, alternative protein sources, fermentation technologies, extraction technologies, new categories of food and beverage products, and food packaging.The breadth of technologies that Anita works with also enables her to provide IP advice at the intersection of multiple technical disciplines. For example, Anita’s practice is also well positioned at the convergence of data analytics in the Life Sciences and Agriculture industries.ChemistryAnita also has technical expertise in chemistry outside of Life Sciences, such as in the Materials space, including Cleantech. She has developed IP strategies for biobased materials, polymer chemistry, composite materials, catalyst-based technologies, industrial processing, batteries, and carbon capture technologies.IP Due DiligenceAnita is skillful with investor-side and company-side patent due diligence. She supports many of the firm’s corporate deals, advising on ownership and patent portfolio risks and conducting patentability and freedom-to-operate assessments. She also supports her own clients undergoing IP due diligence by investors.IP Litigation SupportAnita also works closely with the IP Litigation Group to formulate strategies for infringement contentions, validity/invalidity contentions, and claim construction positions. She actively supports the patent litigators in pre-litigation diligence matters to evaluate the strength of patents and patent portfolios.Pro BonoAnita has an active pro bono practice and has been awarded the State Bar of California's Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services for many consecutive years. She regularly represents families seeking legal guardianship. She also assists numerous non-profit organizations in developing and securing patent protection for their core technologies.

Anita Choi

Jacob is a corporate associate in Morrison Foerster’s Boston office.Prior to joining the firm, Jacob was a summer associate in the Boston office in the summer of 2022.Jacob earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law. He also holds a B.A. from Michigan State University.

Jacob Robart

Katherine Qiu is an associate based in Morrison Foerster’s London office and is a member of the firm’s Corporate Group.Katherine advises on a wide range of corporate matters, including cross-border mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, joint ventures and general corporate advisory matters. She has experience advising clients across a number of industry sectors, including technology, commodities, energy and oil and gas, with a focus on private M&A.Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Katherine trained and qualified at another top tier international law firm, where she undertook secondments with global consumer goods companies for six months in 2021 and five months in 2025/2026.Katherine is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales. <h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Countryside Partnerships PLC in connection with the £1.25 billion recommended cash and shares combination with Vistry Group PLC.</li><li>Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners on its acquisition of 249MW BESS project.</li><li>Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners on its joint venture with E.ON to construct 230MW solar and BESS project.</li><li>TotalEnergies on the acquisition of an African hydropower portfolio, including a 28.3% interest in an operational hydropower plant in Uganda and minority stakes in two renewable hydropower projects under development in Rwanda and Malawi.</li><li>Greencoat UK Wind plc and other funds managed by Schroders Greencoat LLP on their £717 million acquisition of a 25% stake in London Array offshore wind farm from Ørsted.</li><li>Schroders Greencoat LLP on its acquisition of a stake in Kype Muir Extension Wind Farm (Project) from OnPath Energy Limited, and its subsequent acquisition of the remaining stake in the Project.</li><li>Schroders Greencoat LLP managed funds on the acquisition of a 24.5% stake in West of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm.</li><li>Resource Capital Funds, a mining-focused alternative investments firm, on its acquisition of Cobre Las Cruces, owner of the Las Cruces copper mine in Spain.</li><li>Development Partners International on its acquisition of Solevo Group from Africa-focused investment firm Helios Investment Partners.</li><li>Sonangol Group on its $600 million sale of shares in Puma to Trafigura.</li><li>Nomad Foods on multiple transactions, including its €110 million acquisition of Findus Switzerland from Froneri International Ltd and its €615 million purchase of Fortenova Group's frozen food business.</li></ul>

Katherine Qiu

Hannah Koo is an associate in Morrison Foerster’s Technology Transactions Group.Hannah’s practice is focused on transactions and counseling involving the acquisition, development, licensing and transfer of intellectual property and technology. She advises clients across a wide range of industries, including software and cloud services, hardware, artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and clean technology.Her experience includes structuring and negotiating complex intellectual property and commercial agreements, including patent, software and technology licenses, strategic partnerships and collaborations, data-related agreements, research and development agreements, services agreements, and distribution agreements. Hannah also advises on the intellectual property components of mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions.In addition to her practice, Hannah is an active member of the firm’s pro bono efforts and diversity and inclusion initiatives.Hannah earned her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a James Kent Scholar and an articles editor for the Columbia Business Law Review. She received a B.A. from Duke University.