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Practice/Industry Group Overview
Akerman Senterfitt's attorneys represent domestic and foreign manufacturers, nationwide and local dealerships, and car rental companies.
In the past five years, we have been involved in more acquisitions and disposals of dealerships on behalf of dealers and manufacturers than probably any other firm nationally. The firm has also handled domestic and international mergers and acquisitions of public and private automobile manufacturers and car rental companies. AutoNation, the largest automotive dealer in the U.S., is a significant client in this area, and the firm has handled the purchase and sale of more than 300 dealerships on its behalf. Additionally, the firm has acted as regional counsel for General Motors Corporation in its Latin American operations and acquisitions in over 25 countries and territories. We also act as securities counsel in IPO's and secondary offerings of debt and equity securities and compliance for public companies in the automotive industry.
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Services Available
We provide business consulting in such areas as franchising, distribution arrangements, manufacturer relations, the preparation and restructuring of business plans, and the recruitment of and employment contracts for key executives and managers. The firm has particularly extensive experience in international distribution and franchise laws, including the regulatory, contractual, and financial issues involved in the structuring of distribution relationships. We advise manufacturers with respect to foreign agency and distribution laws, as well as foreign dealer termination matters. The firm has also negotiated framework agreements with manufacturers to allow the purchase of dealerships by public companies.
With respect to dealership financing matters, our corporate finance and real estate attorneys structure and negotiate vehicle floor plan lines of credit, dealership mortgages, and term loans.
Our litigation attorneys are involved in suits, arbitrations and mediations on behalf of manufacturers and dealers. These cases are often in relation to franchising disputes, day-to-day business, and acquisition and disposal disputes.
Our automotive attorneys, both in Miami and Tallahassee, are also involved in lobbying and regulatory efforts on behalf of automotive clients in connection with federal and state franchising laws and regulations, the establishment of new dealership locations, and Internet and retail sales.
Akerman Senterfitt's automotive attorneys remain at the forefront of developments in their industry by attending state and national dealer conventions and by lecturing and presenting seminars to various groups and associations within the industry. Our attorneys have close associations with the National and Florida Automotive Dealers Associations and with the South Florida Auto Trade Dealers Association. They also work with the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles in connection with licensing, ethics, and dealer conduct.
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Clients:
Harley-Davidson Motor Company, International Truck & Engine Corp., AutoNation, Inc., Warren Henry Automobiles, Inc., Aljomaih Automotive Company
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