Overview

We’re THE Automotive Supplier’s Law Firm.

Butzel’s clients rely on our global Automotive Industry Team for virtually every type of legal service required by automotive suppliers. We’re proud that Butzel is widely recognized across the automotive industry as the supplier’s firm and that’s because we won’t represent OEMs adverse to a supplier. What differentiates us from many of our competitors is that we’ve served a portfolio of thousands of automotive supplier clients—experience which informs our overall competitive advantage. Our attorneys are accustomed to providing no holds barred advice to suppliers. They are veterans of the industry and represent the entire supplier community—from global Tier 1 suppliers to Tier 2 and 3 suppliers locally, nationally, and worldwide.

Butzel has always been headquartered in Detroit. Throughout our over 170-year history, our attorneys have counseled the industry leaders that transformed Michigan from the home of the Motor City into the epicenter of the global automotive industry it is today. Our work involves important matters across the world—in North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia. With offices located throughout Michigan, in Washington, DC, and with global alliance offices throughout the world through our affiliation with Lex Mundi, our clients know they can depend on the depth and breadth of our firm to navigate nearly every type of legal service an automotive supplier requires—whether pertinent to day-to-day operational matters or global issues affecting the entire industry.

We’re proud to be one of the first firms in the US to form a Connected and Autonomous Mobility Team. And when it comes to managing risk for our clients in automotive safety, compliance, product liability, and recall and warranty matters, our attorneys comprise one of the most sophisticated and experienced teams in the nation. We understand the challenges presented in managing critical supply chain relationships and accordingly, we stay ahead of ever-changing industry standards that affect the day-to-day business of our clients. Our lawyers study the rapid changes and developments in the automotive industry every day so that they can provide advice and guidance based on up-to-the-minute industry data.

In addition to the legal acumen our clients can depend on, they also benefit from the counsel of attorneys that have multifaceted industry experience. Several Butzel attorneys have degrees in engineering, technology, and other areas pertinent to the automotive industry in addition to their law degrees. Before joining Butzel, these attorneys were employed at OEMs, Tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers, and other entities associated with the sector.

Since the inception of the industry in the early part of the 20th century, we’ve been honored that our attorneys have played an integral part in advising automotive leaders. We’ve had a presence for decades and continue to be a leading force today, shaping how the industry’s disputes are resolved and transactions are accomplished. From our origins in the mid-1800s representing entities in the Great Lakes and international shipping trades, we’ve evolved to partnering with today’s manufacturing innovators. We continue to be profoundly involved in restructuring the automotive industry, including its most significant acquisitions and divestitures, workouts and bankruptcies, technological developments, and general commercial transactions.

We are delighted to be recognized among the nation's premier law firms within the American automotive industry. Our firm and our attorneys have been acknowledged year-after-year by a variety of top legal industry publications, regionally and nationally, in numerous practice areas that encompass our global Automotive practice. Dozens of the firm’s attorneys are exclusively dedicated to providing consultation and representation in automotive matters. The Automotive Industry Team is comprised of seasoned veterans, each recognized as a front-running professional in their field. Our attorneys study, analyze, and frequently write about and speak on the automotive sector. Consequently, their viewpoints are regularly sought by the national and international media that cover the automotive industry.

Our clients can rely on us to remain innovative, and we’ve done just that. We’re constantly adapting to meet the needs of our clients and the demands inherent to this ever-evolving industry. We are recognized nationally for our experience and offer legal representation and counseling in a variety of segments pertinent to the automotive industry.

Supply Chain Management

Managing critical supply chain relationships is challenging—we understand that suppliers are constantly faced with the demands inherent to operating as systems integrators and embracing flexible and lean manufacturing concepts. At Butzel, our lawyers study the rapid changes and developments in the automotive industry every day so that they can provide advice and guidance based on up-to-the-minute industry data. We relentlessly focus on improving efficiencies and remaining abreast of ever-changing industry standards that affect the routine business of our clients. Our clients benefit from advisors who understand their industry, help shape the legal and regulatory environment within which they operate, and who are accustomed to quickly assembling an experienced cross-disciplinary team that will develop workable strategies to achieve demonstrable results all in a cost-effective and efficient manner.

Terms and Conditions

Counseling our clients year-after-year pertinent to purchasing and sales terms and conditions has led to our attorneys building an enviable level of experience. Butzel is proud to be an active member of MEMA, for more than 20 years now. We strongly align with MEMA’s core values—particularly in our mutual desire to advance the vehicle supplier industry. Members of this group serve as the principal editor and as the co-author of the MEMA OE Suppliers OEM Light Vehicle North American Production Purchase Order Contract Terms and Conditions Comparative Analysis, the standard industry reference that our firm has prepared since 2008. They also serve as legal counsel to MEMA OE Councils including the Chief Purchasing Council and the Heavy Duty Advanced Technology Council, and as a co-drafter of the North American Die Casting Association’s (NADCA) Model Terms and Conditions.

Environmental, Sustainability and Governance

Determining which Environmental, Sustainability and Governance (ESG) regulations are in place at the local, state, national, and global level can be daunting. As a large firm, we’re able to lean on the experience of attorneys from each of our office locations to analyze processes and systems to identify and manage growth opportunities. We offer counsel to mitigate the risks that are often realized when entities are in a growth phase or are navigating the impact their organization has on the world, their customers, staff, and communities. We understand that sustainability is a particular focus for suppliers when it comes to environmental matters and we’re prepared to help entities of all sizes from small businesses to major corporations. We offer experience on matters including development issues, such as obtaining wetlands and sewer construction permits, to regulatory matters, including compliance with permits and emission limits. Our practice includes state and federal regulatory compliance permitting for water discharge and air emissions, brownfield cost recovery, control of toxic substances such as pesticides, PCBs, and asbestos, mold, and other indoor air issues, spill reporting requirements, labeling and marketing of consumer chemical products, management of underground storage tanks, insurance coverage for environmental claims, environmental aspects of real estate and business acquisitions, environmental litigation, counsel on tax incentives, and commentary on proposed rules and legislation. Butzel attorneys have been involved in many Superfund cases, have extensive experience with environmental litigation, and have significant know-how in the development and production of natural resources.

Product Liability/Recall & Warranty

We advise clients on risk management, prosecution and defense of complex commercial litigation, and other matters involving product liability and recall and warranty. We have experience developing risk identification and mitigation programs and developing systems for monitoring compliance with Tread Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act reporting, and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations. We have performed national defense counsel work for suppliers of sophisticated automotive components including anti-lock brake systems, rollover protection systems, tires, and an array of safety components. Clients benefit from our cost-effective representation through active litigation management and prudent use of information technology to control the scope and cost of discovery.

Real Estate

Real estate developments and transactions continue to grow in variety and complexity and often require the creation of sophisticated financial instruments and leases. Transactions can include navigating intricate zoning, condemnation, and tax issues, mineral rights concerns, environmental assessments, and permitting requirements. The attorneys in our real estate practice work hand-in-hand with our automotive attorneys in areas that include acquisition and disposition, condemnation/eminent domain, land development, leasing, lending, property taxes, litigation, title insurance, and other real estate needs pertinent to our supplier clients.

Labor and Employment

The Labor and Employment group at Butzel is accustomed to providing counsel to our supplier clients in traditional labor matters, such as collective bargaining, representational campaigns and elections, unfair labor practice charges, strikes including injunction proceedings in state and federal courts designed to end unlawful strikes or picketing, wage and hour matters, and arbitrations. We represent our supplier clients in all aspects of labor and employment issues, including litigation, administrative agency charges, benefits, non-competes, counseling, advising, and training.

Immigration

Whether doing business in the US or abroad, our supplier clients receive exceptional representation and personalized attention from our attorneys when immigration issues arise. Clients of all sizes and individuals and families throughout the country and around the world benefit from the relationships our attorneys have established with members of the local and international immigration communities. Our services include counsel pertinent to citizenship, permanent residence, employer compliance, Green Cards, temporary visas, and more.

Connected Cars and Autonomous Vehicles

We’re one of the first firms in the US to form a Connected and Autonomous Mobility Team. Our attorneys are immersed in the legal issues and challenges presented by the many new technologies gaining traction in the automotive industry, including autonomous driving, connectivity, electrification, and shared mobility. Our experience includes advising clients on matters such as adapting to current and future safety standards and regulations, responding to potential safety defects, recalls and noncompliance, especially in the areas of software, hardware, and emerging technology, and recognizing and mitigating legal risk due to potential cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.

Advanced Battery Technologies

Butzel attorneys have been renowned—since before the advent of the first US internal combustion engines (ICEs)—for staying ahead of the curve pertaining to advances in technology. Our attorneys are particularly adept at guiding entities through the maze of governmental mandates and regulations imposed in the areas of advanced battery manufacturing and storage, including approved methods for recycling and disposal for hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in electric vehicles (PHEVs), and others, including charging infrastructure and additional emerging technologies in the electric and autonomous vehicle (E/AV) sector. We help clients to develop an evergreen business model so that they can seamlessly pivot and expand their footprint in the market as technological advances in the industry occur. We understand that for many of our clients—throughout the US and across the world—supply chain sustainability is always top of mind. Butzel’s Automotive Team is experienced in assisting clients to adapt and diversify. We’re proud to be an active member of NAATBatt International and to be deeply immersed in this ever-expanding segment of the automotive industry.

Compliance and Regulations

When compliance is at stake, comprehensive experience is a must. Butzel has significant experience in the automotive industry, including design engineers, program managers, testing engineers and quality and manufacturing leaders. Butzel is uniquely positioned to assist in an audit and review of compliance with regulations and industry standards across a tiered manufacturer’s supply chain.

Butzel's Automotive Terms & Conditions Resource Center

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Experience

  • Amended and restated 14 defined benefit pension plans of major tier one automotive supplier and filed them with the IRS.
  • Engaged by a Major Tier 1 Plan Administrator to oversee the implementation of Delphi corporation's confirmed chapter 11 plan.
  • Obtained dismissal by summary disposition and summary judgment of asbestos claims
  • 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
  • Trademark/patent litigation of an automotive service company
  • Represented a die casting and machining supplier filing for complex Chapter 11 relief
  • Engaged by a Major Tier 1 Plan Administrator to oversee the implementation of Delphi Corporation's confirmed chapter 11 plan
  • Robotics Company Litigation
  • Served as National Coordinating Counsel for a major product liability case; included submissions to Congressional Committees and NHTSA foreign governments
  • Successfully obtained temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions for Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier to avoid supply disruptions
  • 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
  • Engaged by agent for lending syndicate which extended more than $50 million in pre-bankruptcy loans to Tier 2 auto supplier
  • Commercial counsel for automotive companies
  • Represented corporations and executives under federal investigation
  • Counsel to numerous clients during the bankruptcy proceedings of Chrysler and General Motors
  • Represented an automotive fasteners company in a disposition merger
  • Represented individuals and companies subject to SEC subpoenas and investigations
  • Defended fiberglass manufacturer in patent/trade secret infringement action
  • Successfully represented a national joint venture training center operating a program assisting UAW members to obtain personal computers. We won a verdict of no cause in our client's favor in jury trial.
  • Principal author, in partnership with OESA, of OESA N.A. OEM Production P.O. Terms and Conditions Comparative Analysis, since the publication’s inception
  • Design and Engineering Company Litigation
  • Representation of Mexican Purchaser of Delphi's automotive exhaust business
  • Secured a judgment, automotive client
  • Defended party in contract dispute
  • Successfully defended automotive supplier in patent infringement action; validated 2 patents on summary judgment and another after trial.
  • Defended manufacturer in trade dress and patent infringement lawsuit
  • Automotive supplier dispute
  • Represented a Mexican corporation in the purchase of the exhaust system business from a major Tier 1 auto supplier in a Section 363 bankruptcy sale; facilities located throughout the world
  • Defended automotive supplier against patent infringement
  • Negotiation of Complex Supply Agreements for major Tier 1 automotive suppliers with OEMs
  • Represented a private equity investor in the lengthy and complicated effort to purchase all of Ford Motor Company's glass manufacturing operations in North America
  • Created loan/financing structure for capital acquisition and industrial expansion for Canadian and U.S. structure and operations
  • Overturned adverse decision by Board of Patent appeals and interferences in Federal Court; sustained on appeal
  • Trademark and Patent Filings
  • Received numerous dismissals of EEOC or state agency charges on behalf of a major automotive supplier
  • Represented German auto manufacturer in the U.S. Court of International Trade.
  • Represented a major bank on its behalf and as servicing agent to 5 other banks in a Chapter 11 case
  • Patent infringement 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
  • Represented automotive supplier in patent infringement case
  • Automotive Company Litigation
  • Advise Tier I suppliers on FMVSS and NHTSA regulations and rule making process.
  • Plan Amendments and IRS Approvals for Tier 1 Automotive Supplier
  • Interference proceeding against automotive supplier
  • National counsel for the defense of ABS and Rollover Protection System cases for several leading suppliers.
  • Lead counsel for global polymers manufacturer in multiple acquisition and disposition transactions, including complex, multi-continent acquisitions, numerous acquisitions of U.S. based distributors and disposition of operations in Canada and the U.S.
  • Trademark Prosecution: Prosecuted trademark applications for a major automotive company
  • Lead counsel for major auto supplier in numerous M&A transactions, both those based solely in the US and those with US and foreign components
  • Representation of major Tier One automotive suppliers in litigation of price disputes involving potential manufacturing plant shut downs.
  • Counsel to the OESA Chief Executive Officers' Council; Member of OESA Legal Counsel
  • Defended corporation in employment whistleblower action
  • Successfully defended manufacturing company in two different lawsuits filed by another automotive company
  • Defended injection molding equipment manufacturer in trademark infringement litigation
  • Represented battery supplier seeking to recover research and development costs
  • Defended Tier 1 automotive supplier in patent litigation involving universal garage door opener technology
  • Negotiated settlement for a Tier 1 supplier with OEM resulting in sizeable financial payment to supplier and long-term future business commitment
  • Represented global polymers manufacturer in acquisition of assets of Hydro Components Research and Development Corporation.
  • 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
  • Represented the American subsidiary of China's third largest privately held company in an automotive supplier breach of contract dispute
  • Patent Prosecution: Drafted, prepared, filed and prosecuted numerous patent applications for major automotive suppliers
  • Licensing/Transactions: Drafted license/transaction agreements for a major automotive supplier
  • Defended EEOC charges across the country for one of the world's largest business outsourcing companies.
  • Represented a Tier 1 supplier in over 115 supplier disputes involving financially troubled supplier
  • Trade secret lawsuits
  • Counseling US and foreign based automotive suppliers regarding NHTSA compliance and recalls.
  • Prevailed at trial in a multi-million dollar patent case for an automotive manufacturing client, invalidating the last of three patents that had been asserted against client.
  • Defended semiconductor manufacturer in trademark infringement action. Summary judgment affirmed on appeal.
  • Represented party in their claim of fraudulent misrepresentation against seller of business
  • Counseled and advised numerous Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers
  • Negotiation of a Complex Supply Agreement for major Tier I Automotive Supplier with an OEM; included subsidies and exit provisions
  • Tire Company Litigation
  • Drafted Terms and Conditions for numerous leading Tier 1 and other automotive suppliers
  • Represented filtration management company in trade secrets lawsuit.
  • Lead supplier counsel on several bet the farm OEM/Tier I warranty and recall disputes with demands ranging from $25 to $125 million.
  • Served as court-appointed Commercial & Litigation Counsel for a major auto supplier; acted as lead attorney in over 115 matters involving financially troubled suppliers against our client
  • Negotiation of complex Settlement Agreement with an OEM of claims arising under long-term Supply Agreement
  • Representation of major Tier 1 automotive chassis component suppliers in defense of product liability litigation on regional and national basis
  • Served as court-appointed Commercial & Litigation Counsel for major automotive supplier
  • Lead counsel in negotiating and developing extended OEM warranties and back-up insurance policies
  • Sales commission case; obtain summary judgment for employer
  • RFP Preparation
  • Asserted claims on behalf of over 50 suppliers against large automotive debtor
  • Complex, multi-continent acquisitions of companies for an international polymers manufacturer
  • Represented a Tier 1 supplier in over 100 supplier disputes arising from OEM program cancellation
  • Represented automotive inspection company in copyright lawsuit related to car inspection software
  • Represented automotive supplier plaintiff in action for multiple breaches of contract in the U.S. District Court, E.D. Mich.
  • Lead counsel on hundreds of supply chain disputes between OEMs and Tiered Suppliers.
  • Regional counsel for tire manufacturer
  • Patent infringement action
  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of seller in claims arising out of acquisition of Tier II automotive supplier
  • Represented automotive supplier in patent infringement/antitrust case
  • Jury trial verdict in a negligence case
  • Negotiations of series of sales representative agreements with multi-national entities
  • Obtained a summary disposition for a tire failure case
  • Represented national tire manufacturing company in product liability litigation in several states
  • Patent Prosecution: Drafted, filed and prosecuted patent applications for a major automotive supplier
  • Defended web-based retailer in a trademark infringement action brought by a major OEM over domain name
  • Obtained a declination of prosecution for an accounting officer of an international automotive supplier after investigation by the DOJ and the SEC
  • Represented a major manufacturer in a 363 sale of substantially all of the operating assets of an automotive parts supplier and debtor in possession of Chapter 11 proceedings
  • Representation of major Tier One automotive suppliers in arbitration and litigation of eight figure warranty and recall disputes with automotive OEMs.
  • National and Regional counsel for leading tire manufacturers in tread separation and other catastrophic personal injury cases.
  • Engaged by the agent for a lending syndicate which extended more than $50 million in pre-bankruptcy loans to a Tier 2 auto supplier
  • Handled all legal planning and compliance work to spin-off $60 million portion of 401(k) plan to separate 401(k) plan
  • Obtained TRO and preliminary injunctions for Tier 1 automotive suppliers in commercial disputes.
  • Represented trademark owner (automotive supplier) in domain name dispute; client gained possession of infringing domain name
  • Represented auto supplier in securities fraud investigation in New York and California.
  • Obtained a $7.25 million settlement for German automotive corporation in connection with acquisition of a piston manufacturing company
  • Successful representation of automotive suppliers in numerous breach of contract disputes
  • Trade secret misappropriation action
  • Lead counsel for all commercial matters of international automotive OEM
  • Defended automotive manufacturer in trademark litigation
  • Represented Product liability litigation
  • Successfully concluded an internal investigation for automotive manufacturer
  • Represented foreign-based automotive supplier in case pricing, warranty, and contract termination issues
  • Counsel to the OESA Chief Purchasing Officers' Council.
  • Employee Benefits in Acquisitions
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of automotive supplier, dismissing lower tier supplier’s breach of contract claims
  • Negotiated investment manager contracts for pension plan assets
  • Representation of multiple major Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers in litigation of price disputes involving potential emergency manufacturing plant shut downs
  • Successful representation of automotive supply client against claims arising out of nickel price surcharges
  • Represented a major automotive supplier in a suit against a Texas aftermarket parts company for patent infringement
  • Lead counsel in negotiating and developing extended OEM warranties and back-up insurance policies
  • Lead supplier counsel on several bet-the-farm OEM/Tier 1 warranty and recall disputes with demands ranging from $25 to $125 million
  • False marking/advertising action
  • Prepared Investment Policy Statement for 401(k) plan for tier one automotive supplier
  • Represented a financially troubled supplier in negotiating a multi-party accommodation agreement, access and security agreement, together with extensions of each agreement
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