Insights on Automotive & Transportation

Welcome to the December 2024 issue of “As the (Customs and Trade) World Turns,” our monthly newsletter where we compile essential updates from the customs and trade world over the past month. We bring you the most recent and significant insights in an accessible format, concluding with our main takeaways — aka “And the Fox Says…” — on what you need to know.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce the election of 15 new partners, effective January 1, 2025.

The United States awoke on November 6 to a changed and improbable political landscape. The nation has re-elected Donald J. Trump as President and has given him a US Senate Republican majority and potentially a US House of Representatives Republican majority as well. As fatigued and steadfast local and state election workers continue to sort through ballots, we continue to look to the finalization of tallies for some remaining Senate and House races to determine the nature and size of Congressional majorities.

Partner Marylee Jenkins will attend the Brand Strategy Summit USA on October 8, where she will lead an interview titled “Advancing the Trademark System: A Behind-the-Scenes Look.”

The consent order includes a $1.5 million fine and other non-monetary penalties.

ArentFox Schiff represented Keeler in its sale to Open Road Capital of a majority stake in Keeler’s business, which operates Mercedes-Benz, Honda, BMW, and Mini dealerships in Albany, NY and Ridgefield, CT.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that 135 attorneys have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America 2025, with two attorneys highlighted as “Lawyers of the Year” and 70 attorneys listed as “Ones to Watch.”

The nation’s car dealerships experienced total losses of more than $1 billion as the result of a nationwide hacking and ransomware attack on their software and systems last month.

Hyundai said it does not ‘condone any intentional falsification of sales reporting data and [has] launched an immediate investigation.’

A group of Hyundai Motor dealers has sued the South Korean automobile giant in Chicago federal court for allegedly inflating sales numbers for electric vehicles.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that 20 practices and 20 attorneys have been ranked by The Legal 500 United States 2024 guide, including two Tier 1 rankings in Intellectual Property – Patents: Prosecution and Finance – Restructuring: Municipal.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that 70 attorneys were recognized as leaders in their field and 23 practices spanning the firm’s litigation, regulatory, and transactional capabilities were ranked among the best in the country in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

Connected vehicles, and concerns about the data they collect, are making headlines.

Senator Doug Jones and Gene Magidenko will present at the FBA’s Corporate and Association Counsel Division webinar on May 16, 2024.

The Automotive Group sponsored and attended the National Association of Dealer Counsel conference in Napa Valley.

ArentFox Schiff represented Group 1 Automotive in its acquisition of Mercedes-Benz, Sprinter and Honda dealerships located in Hilton Head, South Carolina in March.

ArentFox Schiff represented Group 1 Automotive in its acquisition of Newport Lexus and Tustin Lexus in February.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce the expansion of its nationally recognized Automotive practice with the addition of Partners Paul Marshall Harris, Sara Decatur Judge, Gregory S. Paonessa, and Kelly Kirby Ballentine in the firm’s Boston office.

With 2024 underway, we highlight some of the most pressing legal issues facing the automotive industry this year, including a surprise Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rule, changes to manufacturer direct-to-consumer sales, and federal pressure on the electric vehicle (EV) industry.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce that Government Relations Practice Co-Chair and Senior Policy Advisor Senator Byron Dorgan has received the Martin Wachs Thought Leader Award from the Eno Center for Transportation.

Toyota, the world’s largest automaker, has been criticized for selling few electric vehicles, but its decision to focus on hybrids is paying off financially.

The German luxury carmaker is one of only a few established automakers that has been able to compete with top EV brands.

The Corporate Transparency Act will now require certain entities to register with FinCEN.

Jonathan Judge will present at the IADC 2024 Midyear Meeting on February 20, 2024.

National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) annual conference takeaways.