Perspectives on Transportation & Mobility

For the second consecutive year, International Trade partner David Hamill and Canada-US.Cross Border Business Affairs director Birgit Matthiesen contributed their insights to Lead, Reach and Connect, the must-read magazine for the Automotive Parts Manufactures Association.

Arent Fox LLP is pleased to announce that the firm negotiated an exceptional carve-out on behalf of Volkswagen dealer Palisades Volkswagen in a nationwide VW dealer diesel scandal class action settlement – the largest ever of its kind.

From large corporations to small nonprofits, from urban centers to rural communities, the 2016 elections will have an impact across all sectors of the economy and globally as well.

While autonomous car technology currently dominates privacy and security headlines in the automotive sector, cybersecurity should be top of mind for all players in our industry, including retail automotive dealerships.

Automotive practice group chair Aaron Jacoby recently spoke with the Daily Journal about how the future of the industry has arrived, leaving courts and regulators even further behind than expected.

Last week, Volkswagen reached a deal with VW retailers over losses ensuing from the diesel emissions scandal and allegedly defrauding retailers by cheating on emissions tests.

The size - $14.7 billion – and speed of the Volkswagen emissions scandal settlement announced this week sent waves through the automotive industry, with the environmental case edging out recent consumer harm cases as the largest-ever consumer automotive settlement.

On Monday, the US Supreme Court ordered the Ninth Circuit to reconsider whether Service Advisors are exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

From automated cars, syncing software, to wearable devices that interact with a vehicle, it is clear that our time in the car is under an era of rapid change.

On Wednesday, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) released its economic assessment of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, predicting small rises in US employment, GDP, and exports as a result of the agreement over the next 15 years.

On May 3, Arent Fox LLP won a precedent setting decision with national implications on behalf of Beck Chevrolet Co., Inc. before the New York Court of Appeals on certified questions from the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Autonomous driving, hybrids, and electric vehicles are now squarely part of our generation’s lexicon.

International trade events continue to occur at break neck speed. The Toronto International Auto Show takes place later this week, on the heels of the signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) in New Zealand.

On January 15, 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and 18 automakers pledged to work together to enhance safety and improve recalls. In addition, the automakers agreed to voluntarily work with the government to identify cybersecurity threats to cars and light trucks.

On January 16, 2016, the US Department of State and US Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took two actions that impact the auto industry.

Detroit business leaders understand the value of product innovation and market expansion. For many of these executives, the official release of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement in November signaled a new opportunity of export growth in a region quickly becoming a consumer powerhouse.

Arent Fox LLP is pleased to announce the appointment of partner Aaron H. Jacoby as Los Angeles Managing Partner.

There has been no let-up in the push for a final Trans-Pacific Partnership since the accord was signed by the 12-member countries on October 5th. This is especially true in the US, where US Trade Representative Michael Froman said that the agreement will be the template for future trade pacts.

Over the weekend, negotiators from the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and eight Pacific Rim countries agreed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the largest regional trade accord in history, accounting for more than 40 percent of the global economy.  

Despite the setbacks in Maui last month during the last ministerial meeting of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)[1] many still believe that the negotiators will resolve all outstanding items so that an agreement can be signed by the end of 2015 and implemented in the Spring 2016.

Partner Aaron Jacoby was quoted in a recent Law360 article, “GM Plaintiffs’ King & Spalding Claims Face High Bar.”

Partner Aaron Jacoby was quoted in a recent Automotive News article, “California court case reworks technician pay plans.”

Automotive chair Aaron Jacoby authored a Daily Journal article titled “CFPB activity should be a lesson for auto lending industry.”

Automotive leader Aaron H. Jacoby talked with Law360 following congressional testimony by General Motors’ CEO Mary Barra in which she refused to rule out using the company’s bankruptcy to shield itself from liability for pre-2009 accidents.