Overview

Butzel is the nation's premier law firm within the American automotive industry.

Dozens of our attorneys focus on automotive matters. Our Global Automotive Team is relied upon for virtually every type of legal service required by automotive suppliers, and their work involves important matters in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Butzel was centrally involved in establishing the American automotive industry at the beginning of the 20th Century. Today, our Global Automotive Team is shaping the manner in which the industry's disputes are resolved and transactions are accomplished. And we are profoundly involved in restructuring the industry, including its most significant acquisitions and divestitures, workouts and bankruptcies, technological developments and general commercial transactions.

Our Global Automotive Team includes seasoned veterans of the industry, and each member is a front-running expert in his or her field. They study, analyze, write about, and speak on the automotive industry, and their viewpoints are frequently sought by the national and international media that covers the industry.

Butzel's Automotive Terms & Conditions Resource Center

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Experience

  • Engaged by a Major Tier 1 Plan Administrator to oversee the implementation of Delphi corporation's confirmed chapter 11 plan.
  • Engaged by a leading insurance company to analyze the direct and indirect impact of the bankruptcies of GM, Chrysler and major Tier 1 and Tier 2 auto suppliers on its insured bond portfolio
  • Obtained dismissal by summary disposition and summary judgment of asbestos claims
  • Lead counsel in negotiating and developing extended OEM warranties and back-up insurance policies.
  • Successful representation of automotive suppliers in numerous breach of contract disputes
  • National and Regional counsel for leading tire manufacturers in tread separation and other catastrophic personal injury cases.
  • Represented Tier I auto supplier in parallel proceedings conducted by US Attorney’s Office
  • Negotiated settlement for a Tier 1 supplier with OEM resulting in sizeable financial payment to supplier and long-term future business commitment
  • Lead counsel in negotiating and developing extended OEM warranties and back-up insurance policies
  • Lead supplier counsel on several bet the farm OEM/Tier I warranty and recall disputes with demands ranging from $25 to $125 million.
  • Represented a wide variety of suppliers and purchasers in multiple industries with respect to contractual issues arising in connection with commercial supply agreements
  • Negotiation of Complex Supply Agreements for major Tier 1 automotive suppliers with OEMs
  • Obtained a summary disposition for a tire failure case
  • Engaged by the agent for a lending syndicate which extended more than $50 million in pre-bankruptcy loans to a Tier 2 auto supplier
  • Drafted Terms and Conditions for numerous leading Tier 1 and other automotive suppliers
  • Counseled and advised numerous Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers
  • Negotiations of series of sales representative agreements with multi-national entities
  • National counsel for the defense of ABS and Rollover Protection System cases for several leading suppliers.
  • Represented automotive inspection company in copyright lawsuit related to car inspection software
  • Counsel to numerous clients during the bankruptcy proceedings of Chrysler and General Motors
  • Represented numerous Tier I auto suppliers in federal Antitrust investigations
  • Automotive Company Litigation
  • Negotiated a settlement agreement for a major auto supplier with an OEM resulting in $40,000,000 in payments to the supplier, deal also included commitment by OEM to provide significant additional future business to supplier
  • Represented an automotive parts supplier in a contentious termination of the supply relationship with the supplier based on an accommodation agreement and access and security agreement
  • Lead counsel for all commercial matters of international automotive OEM
  • Represented an automotive fasteners company in a disposition merger
  • Negotiation of complex Settlement Agreement with an OEM of claims arising under long-term Supply Agreement
  • Created loan/financing structure for capital acquisition and industrial expansion for Canadian and U.S. structure and operations
  • Asserted claims on behalf of over 50 suppliers against large automotive debtor
  • Served as court-appointed Commercial & Litigation Counsel for major automotive supplier
  • Representation of multiple major Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers in litigation of price disputes involving potential emergency manufacturing plant shut downs
  • Advise Tier I suppliers on FMVSS and NHTSA regulations and rule making process.
  • Lead supplier counsel on several bet-the-farm OEM/Tier 1 warranty and recall disputes with demands ranging from $25 to $125 million
  • Represented a Tier 1 supplier in over 100 supplier disputes arising from OEM program cancellation
  • Negotiation of a Complex Supply Agreement for major Tier I Automotive Supplier with an OEM; included subsidies and exit provisions
  • Lead counsel in over 150 litigation actions on behalf of major tier 1 automotive supplier.
  • Engaged by a Major Tier 1 Plan Administrator to oversee the implementation of Delphi Corporation's confirmed chapter 11 plan
  • Successfully represented Tier 1 Automotive Supplier in breach of contract disputes with its supply base.
  • Commercial counsel for automotive companies
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of automotive supplier, dismissing lower tier supplier’s breach of contract claims
  • Principal author, in partnership with OESA, of OESA N.A. OEM Production P.O. Terms and Conditions Comparative Analysis, since the publication’s inception
  • Obtained a $7.25 million settlement for German automotive corporation in connection with acquisition of a piston manufacturing company
  • Represented a Tier 1 supplier in over 115 supplier disputes involving financially troubled supplier
  • Obtained a $7.25 million settlement for German automotive corporation in dispute relating to the acquisition of a piston manufacturing company.
  • Lead counsel in negotiating and developing extended OEM warranties and back-up insurance policies
  • Engaged by agent for lending syndicate which extended more than $50 million in pre-bankruptcy loans to Tier 2 auto supplier
  • Represented the American subsidiary of China's third largest privately held company in an automotive supplier breach of contract dispute
  • Counsel to the OESA Chief Purchasing Officers' Council.
  • Counsel to the OESA Chief Executive Officers' Council; Member of OESA Legal Counsel
  • Successfully represented Tier 1 Automotive Supplier in breach of contract action in the United States District Court, North District of Illinois.
  • Lead counsel on hundreds of supply chain disputes between OEMs and Tiered Suppliers.
  • Obtained favorable case evaluation settlement on behalf automotive supplier in employment whistleblower action.
  • Represented an automotive supplier against a casting supplier which filed for Chapter 11 relief in a motion to reject the supply contracts with our client and several other key customers
  • Prosecution of $1.5 billion avoidance action on behalf of official creditors committee in chapter 11 proceedings of major automotive manufacturer
  • Successfully obtained temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions for Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier to avoid supply disruptions
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