Our attorneys have developed a sophisticated understanding of all aspects of automotive dealership operations and recognize that the legal representation of the industry requires a multi-disciplinary approach. They have substantial experience advising clients from a legal and practical business perspective regarding the multitude of issues encountered by motor vehicle dealerships and their owners, including:
- Advertising Compliance
- Acquisitions, Expansions, and Sales
- Attorney General/State Investigations
- Automobile Trade Associations
- Consumer Complaints
- Consumer and Commercial Litigation
- Employment
- Factory Audits
- Financing
- Licensing
- Manufacturer and Vendor Relations
- Real Estate Issues
- Recalls
- Regulatory Compliance
- Structure and Succession Planning
Automobile dealerships are among the most highly regulated industries in the United States. To assist clients with their ever-expanding obligations, we conduct compliance audits, form reviews, and training sessions for personnel to ensure dealerships are compliant with the complex, and oftentimes confusing, federal and state regulations, such as the Red Flags Rule, Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Privacy Rule, Safeguards Rule, Truth-In-Lending Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the impact of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) on the lending aspect of the dealership’s operations.
Our goal is to provide preventative counseling to help dealership clients avoid disputes. However, when a dealership or owner faces consumer or class action complaints, state and federal regulatory investigations, manufacturer or vendor disputes, real estate, employment, or other litigation matters, our full-service team has the experience to assist either through alternative dispute resolution or an aggressive litigation strategy.
In addition to representing dealerships and owners, we often serve as outside general counsel to dealership groups and trade associations. Our Automotive lawyers are also actively involved in the National Association of Dealer Counsel, an organization designed to educate its membership on the legal issues affecting motor vehicle dealers while facilitating a forum for dealer attorneys to share best practices from across the country.