Following a competitive RFP process, international law firm DLA Piper has announced that it has been appointed as preferred provider of legal services to Kraft Foods, the world’s second-largest food company. Effective January 1, 2010, DLA Piper will handle the day-to-day legal needs of Kraft Foods’ international business units, including in Asia, on a non–exclusive basis. The work includes advising on advertising, food law, litigation, IT/IS, contract/commercial, corporate, employment and real estate.

“Our primary objective in this process was to drive down costs for international day-to-day legal services without compromising on quality or service,” said Gerhard Pleuhs, senior vice president and deputy general counsel at Kraft Foods. “By building on our existing relationship with DLA Piper, we can consolidate the number of law firms we use, and thus obtain better value for Kraft Foods.”