Kraft Foods Group, Inc./Mondelēz International, Inc.
v.
Starbucks Coffee Company

From 1998 to 2010, Kraft Foods Group, Inc. (now Mondelēz International), distributed Starbucks roasted and ground coffee in grocery and convenience stores across the country Kraft grew the business from $50 million to $500 million in sales during this time. Then Starbucks ended the distributor agreement. The Ciresi Conlin partners, including Mike, Katie, Melissa and Mat, acted as lead trial counsel for Kraft in a three-year arbitration regarding a breach of contract after Starbucks unilaterally terminated its agreement, cutting off Kraft’s exclusive rights to sell, market and distribute Starbucks roast and ground coffee in grocery and other retail outlets. The arbitration resulted in a $2.7 billion cash award to Kraft. The trial team received Minnesota Lawyer’s 2013 Attorneys of the Year for their work on the arbitration.