Manufacturing
In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing industry, where innovation meets regulation and every decision can impact the bottom line, having legal counsel who understand the risks and rewards is crucial. At Snell & Wilmer, we know the manufacturing industry and can deliver strategic legal services that empower manufacturers and those who operate within their sphere to thrive in a competitive global market.
Snell & Wilmer offers a multidisciplinary approach to servicing the manufacturing industry. By leveraging the firm’s strong bench of 500+ attorneys across sixteen locations and more than five dozen practice areas, our team of experienced attorneys are well-positioned to support and guide a company through its most pressing issues. Our services include, but are not limited to:
Litigation: Our commercial and product liability litigation attorneys combine extensive trial experience with state-of-the-art case management technology and handle complex cases involving consumer products and manufacturers.
Intellectual Property: Our intellectual property attorneys prepare and assess assignment, development, and licensing agreements relating to intellectual property, and evaluate registrability, patentability, validity, and infringement issues relating to intellectual properties for manufacturers.
Corporate and Securities: Our corporate attorneys represent manufacturing industry clients in import and export advice, trade regulation, customs duties and compliance, licensing, product development and supply agreements, joint ventures, and audits.
Real Estate and Construction: Our real estate and construction attorneys are adept at assisting manufacturing companies with site acquisition and development, design and construction issues, due diligence, zoning and land use matters, and lease negotiation and drafting.
Labor and Employment: Our labor and employment attorneys can advise on labor regulations, workplace safety and OSHA compliance, wage and hour issues, employee benefits and compensation, disputes, and other related employment areas.
Tax: Our tax attorneys regularly advise on issues related to state, local, and federal tax matters. Our services include tax planning and strategy, sales and use tax compliance, and international taxation and cross-border transactions, among other areas of tax law.
We represent and advise manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, and re-sellers involved in a wide variety of industries and products. Our industry reach spans to areas such as technology, chemical, semiconductor, medical, automotive, transportation, construction, hardware, machinery, communications, rubber products, aerospace, household appliances, oil and gas, glass, iron and steel mills, aviation, ships and boats, utilities, agriculture, and outdoor recreation, among many others.
Innovative and Invested: Snell & Wilmer attorneys use their experience and skills to deliver efficient and effective results. We are committed to understanding our clients’ businesses and strive to provide each with the best team available to help achieve desired outcomes at each stage of their company’s development.
Recognized Service: Our attorneys are frequently recognized for their contributions, achievements, and dedication to their clients. Several of our practices are ranked by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.” Chambers USA® lists many of our attorneys as leading lawyers in their respective fields. Several of our attorneys are also included in the lists for The Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers, and have been rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubble®.
Industry Involvement and Investment: Our attorneys are sought after authors, lecturers, and even law school adjunct professors, educating business and legal communities throughout the United States. Our team members maintain active roles within their local, regional, and national industry groups and related organizations, allowing them to stay abreast of the latest technologies, issues, and legal challenges that businesses face.
Snell & Wilmer has decades of experience representing clients in the manufacturing industry. Below is a sampling of that experience.
Litigation and Compliance
• Defended manufacturers and retailers of sporting goods in numerous tort actions arising from the criminal misuse of their products
• Defended a publicly traded supplier of oxygen, respiratory and home infusion products in breach of contract action arising out of its acquisition of assets of predecessor entity, as well as in commercial lease disputes, and contract action arising out of dispute over sales commissions
• Defended a worldwide manufacturer, distributor, and servicer of medical devices in breach of contract, express indemnity and declaratory relief action arising out of suppliers’ resolution of an independent underlying tort action
• Negotiated resolution of breach of contract action arising out of dispute over sales commissions on behalf of global industrial laser manufacturer
• Local counsel for pharmaceutical manufacturers in matters related to antidepressant drugs
• Lead counsel in complex chemical toxic exposure cases relating to agricultural chemical manufacturing
• Defended manufacturer of polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAs) in connection with personal injury claims associated with alleged exposure
• Represented hi-tech manufacturing clients in disputes regarding construction delays and defects.
• Represented a multinational motorcycle manufacturer and distributor involving claims related to a defective throttle
• Defended an American multinational automotive manufacturer against catastrophic injury and wrongful death claims related to rollover accidents, crashworthiness, airbag performance, seatbelts, seatback performance, inadvertent vehicle movement, and occupant protection systems
• Defended domestic and foreign personal watercraft manufacturer against claims of product liability and negligent design and warnings
• Defended a domestic and foreign golf cart manufacturer in actions involving claims related to products liability and negligent design and warnings
• Defended an American manufacturer of in-home tubs against personal injury claims related to allegations of design defects
• Defended an American multinational automotive manufacturer in state and federal court, including Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP) and Multidistrict Litigation (MDL), against allegations of breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, and Song-Beverly Act (California’s Lemon Law) violations
• Defended automotive manufacturers and boat manufacturers against allegations of breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, and Song-Beverly Act (California’s Lemon Law) violations
• Defended an American multinational automotive manufacturer in asbestos-related personal injury and wrongful death litigation
• Defended an American multinational manufacturer in litigation involving engine components equipped in large commercial construction equipment
• Defended an international manufacturer of water filtration systems in commercial dispute and significant property damage claim
• Defended an international manufacturer of heavy machinery in a multimillion-dollar commercial dispute and breach of contract claim
• Secured TAA authorizing manufacturer of printed circuit boards (PCBs) for defense applications to expand its supply chain to a multi-country operation
• Assisted golf equipment manufacturing company in establishing an export compliance program and negotiating international supplier agreements
• Assisted medical equipment manufacturer company in dual United States/Germany investigation of Russian sanctions violation
• Represented silicon wafer facility related to the situs and development of manufacturing facility
• Represented manufacturer of military, law enforcement and personal safety equipment in connection with lease obligations and compliance with local zoning and environmental requirements
Transactions
• Represented automobile manufacturer in procurement and contracting for design and construction of automobile manufacturing plant.
• Negotiated economic incentive and employment commitment agreements on client seeking to expand industrial, commercial, and manufacturing operations within Arizona.
• Served as counsel to several manufacturing industry entities involved in bank refinancing, workouts, and orderly liquidations
• Represented manufacturer of large-scale test equipment in its $40 million sale to a private equity fund
• Represented national developer in connection with its acquisition, development, and build-to-suit leasing of a nearly 100-acre site with $200+ million manufacturing facility
• Represented publicly traded company in connection with its acquisition of all the equity interests of a military and commercial vehicle truck and trailer manufacturer
• Represented publicly traded manufacturing company in the sale of its subsidiary which produced a broad range of drive axles, transfer cases and other specialty products for the commercial industry for approximately $35 million
• Represented publicly traded manufacturing company in connection with its approximate $22 million acquisition of a forged aluminum wheel manufacturing company located in South Carolina
• Represented private consumer products company in its sale of a bar soap manufacturing plant and negotiation of related contract manufacturing agreements
• Represented publicly traded manufacturing company in the sale of its farm equipment division which designed, manufactured, and sold assembled tillage, seeders, pulverizes, field cultivators, and other equipment used for field preparation and crop management for approximately $10 million
• Represented publicly traded holding company in its sale of various business units of a master planned resort community in the Florida panhandle for approximately $6 million
• Represented publicly traded manufacturing company in the sale of its subsidiary which manufactured and supplied commercial vehicle components for approximately $9 million
• Assisted private company providing forage products and related services in the sale of its assets for approximately $3 million
