Our team has collectively many years’ experience working alongside businesses that operate in the automotive sector. As well as our expertise as lawyers which you would expect, we have an understanding of the regulatory issues and concerns affecting the industry. A number of the team are motor enthusiasts and we have built a good rapport with clients, particularly in the motor sport arena.
Our experience is drawn from a number of segments in the automotive sector as follows:
Dealerships
We have advised numerous dealerships and dealership councils of both volume manufacturers and niche and sports marques on issues arising including:
- Negotiating franchise agreements
- Negotiating remuneration packages for sales staff
- Customer terms and conditions
- Resolving warranty disputes with manufacturers and customers
- Advising on stock financing arrangements, following the collapse of high profile manufacturer
- Employment issues
- IP issues
Manufacturers
We have been retained by the manufacturer of a luxury sports car brand for over 7 years, advising on all areas relating to the business including:
- Manufacturing and licensing agreements in Europe, North America and Asia.
- After sales Parts Logistics Agreement
- Franchise, dealership and distribution agreements
- Customer terms and conditions
- Employment issues
- IP issues
- Finance and loan agreements
We have also been involved in a number of share/business acquisitions in this sector and can advise on all aspects of law, including mergers, sale and purchases of businesses, MBOs and MBIs.
Motor Sport
On behalf of a motor sports organisation:
- Negotiating a range of commercial agreements for hosting and promoting a British Championship, including with Forestry Commission and various media outlets
- License of rights for a computer game
- Defending various claims brought by competing teams
- Numerous issues surrounding the regulation of UK motor sport, including on the concord agreement with world bodies
Regulatory
We advised on the issues arising out of the 2013 Motor Vehicle Block Exemption, which related to the application of EU competition law rules to this sector.
Contact us
Please feel free to contact one of our team for a discussion, if you think we might be able to help. We like to get know people before we start working with them and always undertake this at our own time and expense.
