AUTOMOTIVE

Reinvent, rebuild, revitalize. These are the automotive industry’s 21st century challenges in the wake of the transformational economy of 2008. Our attorneys can use the institutional knowledge they have gained serving auto industry clients to help them tackle new legal issues as they work to build a modern, competitive industry on a century-old foundation.

Our services to the auto industry are wide-ranging and include significant representation of auto manufacturers and automakers’ financing companies. We have developed particular strengths in counseling auto manufacturers on transportation regulatory matters, handling their labor and employment issues, and defending them in class actions and in products liability and warranty litigation. We also represent the companies that supply the auto industry with essential components, such as seat belts and brake pads, in products liability litigation.

Thompson Coburn represents automotive dealerships as well. In guiding our dealer clients, we offer services including, but not limited to, consumer class action defense, labor and employment counseling and litigation defense, regulatory compliance, auditing, advertising review, and corporate/transactional services. Our broad-based industry knowledge and experience help us craft creative, reasonable and seasoned approaches to difficult situations.

We have successfully defended auto manufacturers and suppliers in class actions, attorney general investigations, multidistrict litigation and other complex litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country. We serve as national class action counsel and products liability counsel for Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA.

We have extensive experience in representing lenders in connection with dealer floor plan financing arrangements as well as loan facilities for dealership acquisitions, real estate construction and tenant improvements. Our experience in representing lenders to motor vehicle dealers also covers replevin actions and self-help repossessions, as well as Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. Several of our attorneys have supervised and conducted the repossession and foreclosure of vehicles from single-location dealers and multiple-location megadealers.

We also have deep experience in the acquisition, leasing and finance of large fleets of vehicles. We represent major transportation companies, such as Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental, in connection with the purchase, sale, financing, lease and rental of vehicles worldwide. We also handle intellectual property issues, including trademark registrations, on a global basis for these companies.