John C. Norling
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Automotive Dealerships

Known nationally as one of the leading retail automotive industry lawyers in Arizona, John advises dealer clients on all legal and practical aspects of their operations, including the acquisition or sale of a dealership, the commencement of dealership operations through an add-point or newly acquired dealership, manufacturer and lending relationships, operational and consumer issues, ownership succession, and state and federal law compliance with regards to advertising regulations, franchise statutes, the Red Flags Rule, Safeguards Rule, Privacy Rule, and other state and federal regulatory and statutory schemes.

His experience includes:

• Lead counsel in transactions involving the sale or acquisition of automobile dealerships and related real estate, ranging from $1 million to well over $100 million.
• Former branch counsel for one of the country’s largest captive automobile finance companies, handling the documentation of lending relationships and enforcing loan documents.
• Advising dealers with consumer issues relating to after-market and after-sales services and disputes.
• Reviewing and drafting legislation designed to protect the interests of franchised new motor vehicle dealers throughout the State of Arizona.
• Serving as outside general counsel to dealer clients assisting in all aspects of their operations.
• Advising new motor vehicle dealers on compliance matters, including Federal and State regulatory matters involving advertising, the Red Flag Rule, the Safeguards Rule, the Privacy Rule, the CARS Rule/Vehicle Shopping Rule, and other Federal and State regulatory promulgations.

As part of his practice, John serves as general counsel to the Arizona Automobile Dealers’ Association, Valley Chevrolet Dealers Advertising Association, Valley Honda Dealers Marketing Association, Tucson Chevy Dealers Local Marketing Association, and several other industry-related associations.

Corporate Counsel

In addition to his work with auto dealers, John serves as a trusted outside general counsel for a variety of companies and entrepreneurial clients on various issues, including new business opportunities, strategic and succession planning, business contract negotiation and preparation, and risk analysis and avoidance. John spends a significant amount of his time on preventative legal counseling assisting clients in avoiding costly legal disputes through proper documentation of business relationships and a pragmatic approach to such issues.

For example:

• Served as outside general counsel to one of the largest family-owned landscaping material production and sales companies in the Western United States, advising on matters ranging from the negotiation and preparation of vendor contracts to the acquisition and divestiture of real estate and culminating in the sale of the multi-state operation to a private equity group.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to businesses who knows and understands the clients’ businesses to better advise clients with regard to their particular situations.

Business Transactions & Real Estate

John utilized a pragmatic and business-minded approach in handling business and real estate transactions ranging from the $1,000,000 range to exceeding $200,000,000. John handles each transaction with the same level of diligence and attention to detail understanding that a transaction involving a client is of vital importance to the client and is often the end product of a client’s life work, deserving the utmost attention and focus.