Automotive Dealerships

The automotive dealership industry is exceedingly competitive and unpredictable. Jennings Strouss understands that dealerships and owners have more on their plate to worry about than just selling vehicles. They are presented with unique daily challenges related to the ownership and operation of a motor vehicle dealership, such as the collaboration of its various departments, relationships with manufacturers and vendors, consumer disputes, economic pressures, recalls, and ever-increasing federal and state regulation.

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 with 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
• Recalls
• Regulatory Compliance
• Structure and Succession Planning

Automobile dealerships are among the most highly regulated industries in the United States. To assist its clients with their continually growing obligations, Jennings Strouss conducts compliance audits, form reviews, and training sessions for personnel to ensure dealerships are compliant with the complex, and often times 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, in the event a dealership or owner faces consumer or class action complaints, manufacturer or vendor disputes, real estate, employment, or other litigation matters, our attorneys have the experience to assist either through alternative dispute resolution or by providing an aggressive litigation strategy.

In addition to representing dealerships and owners, Jennings Strouss attorneys often serve as general counsel to dealership groups and trade associations. They 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.