Automotive

Womble Carlyle lawyers are engaged as national, regional, and local counsel to defend complex automobile and heavy machinery claims based on the design, manufacture, and distribution of component products. The team represents a wide variety of clients including domestic and foreign automobile manufacturers, school bus manufacturers, NASCAR race teams, industrial equipment manufacturers, and forklift retailers. Members of the team have served as national and regional coordinating and budget counsel in complex product liability matters and as defense liaison counsel in federal Multidistrict litigation. The defense of product liability claims on behalf of product manufacturers and distributors within the automobile parts supply chain, in particular, has been a significant emphasis for the team for several years. In addition to the team’s experience as counsel in defending litigation arising out of the manufacture or sale of automobile and heavy machinery products, the team also assists clients in improving risk management and minimizing product design liability throughout the product life cycle.

The team is active in bar and industry organizations including the Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC), Defense Research Institute (DRI), and North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. Team members have obtained professional leadership positions in these organizations and frequently present at bar association and continuing education seminars on product liability issues.