Litigation

• Represented a car rental company in a putative nationwide class action concerning administrative and other fees charged to customers.
• Represented a national rental car company in defending against multiple representative and class actions alleging violations of various consumer statutes.
• Represented a retailer in a class action in California alleging a violation of a consumer protection statute in connection with the sale of automotive products.
• Represented a national rental car company in the defense of various tort claims, including negligent entrustment.
• Represented a rental car company in the revision of its rental agreement.
• Represented North America’s largest intercity bus transportation provider in $200 million defective design and breach of contract lawsuit brought in Illinois Circuit Court.
• Represented automotive companies in defending consumer class actions at the state and federal levels arising out of allegations of fraud and warranty breaches related to engine and other vehicular components and systems.
• Represented national automotive retailer in suit seeking millions in damages. Jury awarded plaintiffs a nominal amount.
• Co-lead counsel in successful defense of automobile maker in product liability asbestos/mesothelioma litigation.  Jury verdict for automaker at the end of a ten-week jury trial.
• Lead counsel in successful defense of major international automotive manufacturer in race-based employment discrimination case after seven trial days and two days of deliberation.
• Obtained a no-dollar dismissal from a multi-party $80 million dollar environmental CERCLA contribution lawsuit for a leading global automotive systems supplier.

Intellectual Property Counseling & Litigation

• Award in favor of tier-one automotive supplier in arbitration of ownership/inventorship of patents relating to airbag cover technology.
• Represented tier-one automotive supplier of thermoplastic products in multi-patent infringement lawsuit brought by competitor in U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, relating to airbag cover technologies.
• Led investigations and efforts related to counterfeit oil filters on behalf of a major manufacturer or luxury vehicles.
• Successfully defended a major automotive producer when one of their key patents related to drive technology was challenged.
• Undertook significant patent filings and managed strategies in advance tech areas for a major manufacturer of luxury vehicles. Maintained foreign offices in conjunction with these efforts for over a dozen years.
• Successfully defended an automotive manufacturer in a multi-patent litigation involving telematics, including the preparation of post grant proceedings against five patents. As a result, the matter resolved for less than three percent of the demand.
• Served as outside general counsel and were seconded to a manufacturer of environmentally friendly automotive / automotive systems company for three years. Managed their Intellectual Property strategy and coordinated with the automotive industry’s advanced battery initiative.
• Representation of plaintiff in copyright infringement matter relating to software utilized to facilitate transactions between automotive finance companies and automobile purchasers.

Corporate & Transactional

• Represented a car sharing company in the development of its business and provided risk analysis.
• Determined tariff classifications and countries of origin of automotive products imported into the United States
• Represented a private equity portfolio client in the sale of its automotive business unit to a private equity buyer.
• Designed and implemented technology development and commercialization strategies and policies for clients in the automotive industry.