MEMA Original Equipment Suppliers and the Georgia Automotive Manufacturers Association are hosting their first joint meeting to engage automotive executives on a range of issues facing the industry.
Held at the University of Georgia College of Engineering, the Georgia Regional Supplier Meeting features two Warner Norcross + Judd LLP attorneys, Randall J. Peck and Katie D. Crysler, who will share their perspectives on complex issues facing supply chain manufacturers as the industry transitions to battery electric vehicles. Also presenting are Stuart Countess, president & CEO of Kia Georgia Inc., Joe McCabe, president of AutoForecast Solutions and Catherine Boland, MEMA’s vice president of legislative affairs.
Peck, a patent and transactional intellectual property attorney, will discuss how new electric vehicle technologies coming to market can be more difficult to protect under conventional IP frameworks and related best practices. He will also discuss changes in supplier contracts and terms and conditions that have far-reaching implications on ownership of contractually-borne IP developments. These agreements increasingly define IP very broadly to encompass even nominal modifications and improvements.
Crysler, a litigator who dedicates her practice to strategic counseling and complex commercial disputes, will offer best practices and strategies when entering into contracts with new entrants in the BEV market with an eye on navigating potential warranty and product liability issues. Since BEV technology is still in its infancy, suppliers need to be acutely aware of their exposure to potential long-term systems costs.
“The past few years have been incredibly challenging as the industry faced a number of unprecedented challenges,” said Peck. “However, it’s the evolution from ICE to BEV powertrains that will ultimately prove to be the industry’s defining moment. Protecting IP and entering into successful contracts will be key for suppliers that want to survive the transition.”
As the industry continues to evolve, suppliers need to review their contracts to manage risks and set longer-term strategies. Warner offers its clients flat fee or alternative fee contract review retainers to help suppliers assess their current contract portfolios to be better prepared to meet any eventuality.
Warner’s interdisciplinary Automotive Industry Group is one of the nation’s largest groups exclusively representing automotive suppliers in the supply chain space. The firm has more than 220 supplier clients across six continents ranging from small family-owned businesses to multinational Fortune 500 companies.
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