Scores of automotive suppliers look to Warner Norcross & Judd for timely and cutting-edge advice. From multinational Fortune 500 companies to family-owned tier-two suppliers and small start-ups, we understand the complicated relationships between parts suppliers and vehicle manufacturers. That’s why we stay on top of the regulations, sourcing issues, disputes and environmental concerns that shape these relationships.
We provide counsel on highly specialized issues such as product liability, supplier contracts, automotive recalls and labor disputes. We also offer broad experience in litigation, M&A and in general business areas, such as real estate and construction, intellectual property, bankruptcy, environmental law and others.
Located in the heart of the U.S. automotive industry, Warner works with companies throughout Michigan and around the globe. We have extensive experience in China, Mexico, Europe and Japan — both in locating American companies there and in helping transplants establish operations here.
Here is a sampling of what we do:
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Principal outside counsel for several global automotive suppliers on all supply-related issues
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Litigation counsel for automotive finance company and responsible for all commercial litigation in the Eastern United States
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National litigation counsel for large automotive and aerospace parts supplier, successfully prosecuting and defending suits throughout the United States
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Represented automotive suppliers in several major automotive bankruptcy cases in the U.S.
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Served as debtor's counsel in automotive supplier Chapter 11 case, resulting in the sale of supplier’s operating assets for $45 million
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Represented U.S. piston ring business in a Chapter 11 proceeding and Section 363 sale
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Represented U.S. coatings company in its expansion into Canada, Taiwan and China
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Assisted in Tier II supplier's acquisition of Tier I supplier's plants
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Represented Japanese company in sale of automotive parts stamping facilities in Alabama
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Facilitated stock purchase between automotive seat component manufacturers
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Oversaw wind down and liquidation of CAD/CAM supplier to OEMs and Tier I suppliers
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Represented U.S. company in its sale of hydraulic systems and fluid power business to European company
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Assisted in real estate and equipment asset purchase between automotive supplier businesses
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Facilitated U.S. company's asset purchase of a metal automotive parts manufacturing facility located in Mexico
- Assisted in sale of plastic injection mold factory by Tier I supplier following a major acquisition
- Assisted in a series of multiple acquisitions and divestitures by affiliated plastic automotive parts suppliers
- Represented management buyers of a publicly traded robotics business in a going private transaction
Areas Of Focus
Our automotive attorneys offer a full range of legal services in areas such as:
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
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Representing secured creditors, debtors and creditors committees in bankruptcy cases and workout transactions
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Structuring business transactions designed to anticipate bankruptcy problems
Related Attorneys: Michael G. Cruse
Robert H. Skilton III
Commercial Litigation
- Supply chain terms and conditions negotiations, dispute resolution and litigation
- Standard terms of purchase and sale
- Dealer and distributor agreements
- Sales representative agreements
- Requirements and exclusive dealing contracts
- Tooling contracts, recovery and lien disputes
- Consignments
- Review and negotiation of loan documents
- Buyer financing of custom production lines and equipment
- Seller financing arrangements, such as purchase money security interests and letters of credit
- Supplier litigation including breach of contract, supplier resourcing, purchase order conflicts, raw materials surcharge recovery and general commercial litigation
Related Attorneys: Douglas E. Wagner
Douglas A. Dozeman
Thomas J. Manganello
Fredric A. Smith
Michael G. Brady
Construction and Real Estate
- Real estate acquisition, financing, development, leasing and disposition
- Zoning
- Condemnation
- Tax abatement and property tax appeals
- Litigation
- Contract drafting and preparation
- Construction liens, filing and enforcement
- Dispute resolution including mediation, arbitration and litigation
Related Attorneys: Melissa N. Collar
Contract Drafting, Review and Negotiation Advice
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Represent suppliers in drafting, reviewing, interpreting and negotiating automotive supply and commercial contracts
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Assist both large publicly traded companies and small privately owned companies with lease, purchase, sale and distribution of goods and services
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Negotiate and document development, supply and manufacturing agreements, software licensing agreements, equipment purchase and/or leasing agreements, nondisclosure agreements and terms and conditions of sale and purchase
Related Attorneys: William R. Jansen
Fredric A. Smith
John E. Young
Employment litigation
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Wrongful discharge litigation
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Discrimination litigation
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Harassment litigation
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Covenants not to compete
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Public accommodation litigation
Related Attorneys: Paul T. Sorensen
Andrea J. Bernard
Environmental
- Acquisitions, divestitures and development
- Air quality issues, including NSR, PSD, NSPS, NESHAPs
- Brownfield redevelopment
- Enforcement proceedings and litigation
- Environmental audits
- Solid and hazardous waste management
- Superfund negotiation and litigation
- Water quality issues
Related Attorneys: John V. Byl
Steven C. Kohl
Scott D. Hubbard
John D. Dunn
Daniel K. DeWitt
Human Resources
- Union election campaigns and collective bargaining
- Grievance and arbitration procedures
- Decertifications
- Strikes and picket line activity
- Wage and hour issues
- Employee benefits
- Contract drafting and preparation
- Workplace violence and harassment
- Discrimination
- Workers’ compensation
Related Attorneys: Sue O. Conway
Anthony J. Kolenic, Jr.
Louis C. Rabaut
Immigration
- Critical immigration issues in mergers and acquisitions
- Visas for executives and managers of multinational companies
- Visas for high-tech workers
- Special issues relating to Canadian workers under NAFTA
Related Attorney: Kathleen M. Hanenburg
Intellectual Property
- Patents
- Trademarks
- Copyrights
- Litigation of infringement actions, licensing agreements, and unfair competition and antitrust issues
Related Attorneys: Charles E. Burpee
William P. Dani
Douglas A. Dozeman
International Business Transactions
- Foreign acquisitions
- Export and import sales
- Doing business in China
- Licensing and distributor agreements
- International tax
- Legal issues of foreign subsidiaries of domestic corporations
Related Attorneys: Charles E. McCallum
Craig N. Meurlin
Jeffrey A. Ott
John E. Young
IT Procurement
- Quality procurement processes
- Software audits, including an inventory of all IT contracts
- Form software contracts
- Contract processes, including serving as part of the negotiating team
Related Attorney: Janet P. Knaus
Mergers and Acquisitions
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Divestitures
- Reorganizations
- Joint ventures
Related Attorneys: Jeffrey S. Battershall
James E. Romzek
Gregory E. Schmidt
Stephen C. Waterbury
Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations
- TREAD Act
- Vehicle Safety Act
- NHTSA reporting requirements
- Defect and noncompliance investigations
- Recall requirements
- Rulemaking Activities
Related Attorney: Christopher J. Predko
Nonroutine Securities Matters
- Domestic and foreign securities offerings, public and private, including equity and debt
- Financing and development of financial products
- No action letters and interpretive advice
- Proxy contests and solicitations
- Compliance and regulatory issues involving Sarbanes-Oxley Act
- Securities litigation including class-action defense
Related attorneys: Hugh H. Makens
Craig N. Meurlin
Jeffrey A. Ott
Product Liability Litigation
- Automotive product liability
- Class-action defense
- Breach of warranty and lemon law
- Automotive supplier issues, including breach of contract, supplier resourcing, purchase order conflicts and bankruptcy
- Risk management
Related attorneys: Douglas E. Wagner
Douglas A. Dozeman
Thomas J. Manganello
Kevin G. Dougherty
Edward J. Bardelli
Real Estate Tax Appeals
- Appeals concerning assessed value, taxable value and tax exemptions
Related Attorney: Christian E. Meyer