While much has been made of manufacturing’s decline in the U.S. over the past 50 years, the industry remains an important part of the overall economy, contributing almost $2 trillion to the country’s gross domestic product annually. A diverse, far-flung, and in some cases highly regulated industry, manufacturing faces a wide range of legal issues. Attorneys on LeClairRyan’s Manufacturing Industry team have the experience, knowledge, skill sets, and resources needed to help industry participants meet their legal challenges.
A major issue for companies in some sectors of manufacturing, particularly automotive, is dealing with alleged product defects, malfunctions, or failures. Engagements in this venue often are highly-charged emotional affairs, with plaintiff attorneys making overreaching promises and litigants seeking to mitigate loss through restitution. Prompt investigation, thorough research and analysis, and an overarching familiarity with all aspects of the case are the critical elements of a legal defense team in these cases, and those are exactly the areas in which veteran attorneys on our Manufacturing Industry team excel. We stay consistently focused on the best interests of our clients, working tirelessly to achieve an equitable, cost-efficient solution in every case. When settlement is warranted but resisted, our reputation of taking cases to trial and winning often provides the needed motivation to achieve an out-of-court resolution.
Consolidation has been a notable trend in the manufacturing industry for many years, and our attorneys have extensive legal and business experience helping clients buy, sell, and merge companies. We represent domestic and international buyers and sellers, both public and private, in a broad range of transactions, including mergers, stock or asset purchases, and leveraged buyouts. LeClairRyan has been recognized as one of the top corporate and mergers-and-acquisitions law firms by two leading business law publications. Additionally, our Manufacturing Industry team includes seasoned business attorneys with broad, deep, and practical experience serving as value-added strategic partners to emerging companies in all phases of the business lifecycle, from formation and initial capitalization through growth and, ultimately, exit strategy.