Automotive Law
Butzel Long 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 Long 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.
Experience
- 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
- Represented Tier I auto supplier in parallel proceedings conducted by US Attorney’s Office
- Lead counsel in negotiating and developing extended OEM warranties and back-up insurance policies
- Principal author, in partnership with OESA, of OESA N.A. OEM Production P.O. Terms and Conditions Comparative Analysis, since the publication’s inception
- Negotiation of complex Settlement Agreement with an OEM of claims arising under long-term Supply Agreement
- Asserted claims on behalf of over 50 suppliers against large automotive debtor
- Represented a wide variety of suppliers and purchasers in multiple industries with respect to contractual issues arising in connection with commercial supply agreements
- Obtained a summary disposition for a tire failure case
- Obtained a $7.25 million settlement for German automotive corporation in dispute relating to the acquisition of a piston manufacturing company.
- 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.
- Counseled and advised numerous Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers
- Represented the American subsidiary of China's third largest privately held company in an automotive supplier breach of contract dispute
- Represented a Tier 1 supplier in over 100 supplier disputes arising from OEM program cancellation
- Negotiations of series of sales representative agreements with multi-national entities
- Represented automotive inspection company in copyright lawsuit related to car inspection software
- Successfully represented Tier 1 Automotive Supplier in breach of contract action in the United States District Court, North District of Illinois.
- 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
- Represented numerous Tier I auto suppliers in federal Antitrust investigations
- 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
- Prosecution of $1.5 billion avoidance action on behalf of official creditors committee in chapter 11 proceedings of major automotive manufacturer
- Obtained favorable case evaluation settlement on behalf automotive supplier in employment whistleblower action.
- Commercial counsel for automotive companies
- Obtained summary judgment in favor of automotive supplier, dismissing lower tier supplier’s breach of contract claims
- Automotive Company Litigation
- Created loan/financing structure for capital acquisition and industrial expansion for Canadian and U.S. structure and operations
- National and Regional counsel for leading tire manufacturers in tread separation and other catastrophic personal injury cases.
- Lead counsel in negotiating and developing extended OEM warranties and back-up insurance policies.
- 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
- Represented an automotive fasteners company in a disposition merger
- Negotiated settlement for a Tier 1 supplier with OEM resulting in sizeable financial payment to supplier and long-term future business commitment
- Lead supplier counsel on several bet the farm OEM/Tier I warranty and recall disputes with demands ranging from $25 to $125 million.
- 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
- Served as court-appointed Commercial & Litigation Counsel for major automotive supplier
- Negotiation of Complex Supply Agreements for major Tier 1 automotive suppliers with OEMs
- Engaged by the agent for a lending syndicate which extended more than $50 million in pre-bankruptcy loans to a Tier 2 auto supplier
- Counsel to the OESA Chief Purchasing Officers' Council.
- Counsel to the OESA Chief Executive Officers' Council; Member of OESA Legal Counsel
- Lead supplier counsel on several bet-the-farm OEM/Tier 1 warranty and recall disputes with demands ranging from $25 to $125 million
- Drafted Terms and Conditions for numerous leading Tier 1 and other automotive suppliers
- Lead counsel on hundreds of supply chain disputes between OEMs and Tiered Suppliers.
- 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
- Negotiation of a Complex Supply Agreement for major Tier I Automotive Supplier with an OEM; included subsidies and exit provisions
- National counsel for the defense of ABS and Rollover Protection System cases for several leading suppliers.
- Counsel to numerous clients during the bankruptcy proceedings of Chrysler and General Motors
- Successfully obtained temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions for Tier 1 and Tier 2 supplier to avoid supply disruptions
- Successful representation of automotive suppliers in numerous breach of contract disputes
- Successfully represented Tier 1 Automotive Supplier in breach of contract disputes with its supply base.
- 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
- Lead counsel for all commercial matters of international automotive OEM
News
- January 21, 2021
- January 11, 2021
- December 2, 2020
- November 17, 2020
- November 2, 2020
- September 9, 2020
- August 31, 2020
- April 16, 2020
- Automotive News, March 28, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 20, 2020
- March 19, 2020
- The Detroit News, February 28, 2020
- February 4, 2020
- Detroit Free Press, December 11, 2019
- November 12, 2019
- October 11, 2019
- The Wall Street Journal, September 19, 2019
- July 23, 2019
- Wall Street Journal, June 13, 2019
- DBusiness, June 13, 2019
- May 15, 2019
- April 18, 2019
- Marketplace.org, March 21, 2019
- March 1, 2019
- October 9, 2018
- October 7, 2018
- September 19, 2018
- July 30, 2018
- July 19, 2018
- July 12, 2018
- June 11, 2018
- June 5, 2018
- June 4, 2018
- May 31, 2018
- April 2, 2018
- March 20, 2018
- February 28, 2018
- February 20, 2018
- January 22, 2018
- China Auto News, January 17, 2018
- January 4, 2018
- December 4, 2017
- November 17, 2017
- October 8, 2017
- September 7, 2017
- September 5, 2017
- August 25, 2017
- August 9, 2017
- August 7, 2017
- October 18, 2016
- October 2, 2016
- August 21, 2016
- August 3, 2016
- May 1, 2016
- April 12, 2016
- April 4, 2016
- February 19, 2016
- February 15, 2016
- February 9, 2016
- May 19, 2015
- April 4, 2015
- July 16, 2013
- Butzel Long attorney Thomas B. Radom quoted in Law360 article titled “Saab’s U.S. Unit Gets Nod For Ch. 11 Liquidation Plan”July 15, 2013
- Butzel Long attorney Jennifer Dukarski quoted in Crain's Detroit Business article titled "Cure for common codes: Devil is in details for open-source auto technology"June 23, 2013
- Butzel Long attorney Max J. Newman quoted in the article "Stuck in reverse, Detroit edges closer to bankruptcy"January 28, 2013
- December 27, 2012
- Butzel Long attorney Max J. Newman quoted in Dallas Business Journal regarding American Airlines contract negotiations with pilotsOctober 3, 2012
- Butzel Long attorney Max J. Newman quoted in Bloomberg article regarding possible US Airways mergerJuly 27, 2012
- Butzel Long attorney Max J. Newman quoted in Law 360 article about Ocala Funding's bankruptcy filingJuly 16, 2012
- Butzel Long attorney Max J. Newman comments on the American Airlines bankruptcyApril 9, 2012
- Butzel Long attorney Max J. Newman discusses AMR bankruptcy exit and possible suitorsJanuary 23, 2012
- October 28, 2011
- Butzel Long attorney George B. Donnini discusses federal government's probe into price-fixing in the U.S. auto supply chainOctober 26, 2011
- July 21, 2011
- June 14, 2011
- June 9, 2011
- April 28, 2011
- October 6, 2010
- September 22, 2010
- September 23, 2009
- August 17, 2009
- July 6, 2009
- April 30, 2009
- October 22, 2008
- September 8, 2008
Team Members
- Shareholder
- Shareholder
- Shareholder
- Shareholder
- Director
- Shareholder
- Shareholder
- Counsel
- Shareholder
- Chairman
- Shareholder
- Director
- Director
- Associate
- Associate
Publications
- February 25, 2021
- February 8, 2021
- February 1, 2021
- February 1, 2021
- January 28, 2021
- January 21, 2021
- January 19, 2021
- January 15, 2021
- January 7, 2021
- December 30, 2020
- December 30, 2020
- December 29, 2020
- December 22, 2020
- December 14, 2020
- November 17, 2020
- October 26, 2020
- October 19, 2020
- October 9, 2020
- September 16, 2020
- August 6, 2020
- July 17, 2020
- July 15, 2020
- June 25, 2020
- May 15, 2020
- May 14, 2020
- April 27, 2020
- April 20, 2020
- April 2, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- March 23, 2020
- March 20, 2020
- Auto Plants to Close Due to COVID-19 ConcernsMarch 18, 2020
- March 3, 2020
- March 2, 2020
- February 19, 2020
- February 17, 2020
- February 3, 2020
- January 29, 2020
- January 15, 2020
- January 7, 2020
- December 13, 2019
- December 11, 2019
- November 19, 2019
- August 26, 2019
- August 7, 2019
- August 2, 2019
- June 21, 2019
- June 7, 2019
- What Butzel Clients (and Others) Can Do Right Now about Tariffs – Write/Call Your Congressional RepsJune 5, 2019
- May 31, 2019
- May 17, 2019
- May 17, 2019
- May 14, 2019
- May 6, 2019
- May 1, 2019Autonomous Vehicle Engineering
- March 25, 2019
- March 1, 2019Autonomous Vehicle Engineering
- February 27, 2019
- February 25, 2019
- January 16, 2019
- January 10, 2019
- January 2, 2019
- January 1, 2019Autonomous Vehicle Engineering
- December 18, 2018
- December 10, 2018Wards Auto
- October 15, 2018
- October 8, 2018
- October 5, 2018
- September 18, 2018
- September 7, 2018
- August 31, 2018
- August 29, 2018
- August 9, 2018
- August 2, 2018
- August 1, 2018
- July 11, 2018
- July 9, 2018
- June 21, 2018
- June 21, 2018
- June 15, 2018
- June 6, 2018
- June 1, 2018
- May 30, 2018
- May 24, 2018
- May 22, 2018
- May 10, 2018
- April 4, 2018
- April 4, 2018
- March 26, 2018
- March 20, 2018
- March 12, 2018
- March 6, 2018
- March 1, 2018Autonomous Vehicle Engineering
- February 12, 2018
- November 21, 2017
- October 31, 2017
- September 18, 2017
- September 8, 2017
- September 1, 2017
- July 20, 2017
- July 17, 2017
- June 28, 2017
- June 16, 2017
- May 24, 2017
- May 22, 2017
- May 18, 2017
- May 10, 2017
- February 9, 2017
- January 10, 2017
- January 6, 2017
- January 5, 2017
- December 19, 2016
- December 16, 2016
- November 17, 2016
- November 1, 2016
- October 26, 2016
- September 20, 2016
- September 20, 2016
- August 11, 2016
- July 27, 2016
- July 14, 2016
- June 14, 2016
- June 6, 2016
- April 19, 2016
- August 24, 2015
- April 10, 2015
- February 10, 2015
- January 7, 2015
- November 21, 2014
- April 4, 2014
- March 17, 2014
- February 12, 2014
- February 11, 2014
- November 11, 2013
- July 2, 2013
- September 7, 2012
- August 22, 2012
- March 8, 2012
- January 3, 2012
- October 25, 2011
- October 19, 2011
- May 1, 2011
- March 28, 2011
- January 14, 2011
- November 7, 2008
- October 6, 2008
- October 6, 2008
- July 31, 2008