Around the world, Cleary Gottlieb represents major automotive manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, as well as the financial institutions that work in the industry. We assist these companies in a full array of corporate matters, including global offerings of equity, debt and hybrid securities, as well as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, restructurings and outsourcing operations. Our internationally renowned antitrust and litigation lawyers advise automotive clients on applicable antitrust and trade laws in the United States, European Union and each of the other jurisdictions in which we practice. With an appreciation for the full scope of our clients’ needs, we also provide comprehensive expertise in environmental, labor and intellectual property law in key jurisdictions.
Practice highlights include:
- Counsel to the Fiat Group in a series of multi-billion dollar securities offerings, including the spin-off IPO of its subsidiary CNH Global N.V., its de-listing from the NYSE and SEC de-registration, as well as several major acquisitions, and divestitures and joint ventures in the United States and Europe.
- Counsel to TPG in its investment in China Grand Automotive’s automobile distribution and service network.
- Counsel to Daewoo Group in its $60 billion worldwide restructuring, the largest private restructuring in history, which included the $2.4 billion sale by Daewoo Motor Co., Ltd. of substantially all of its Korean automotive business to General Motors.
- Counsel to Chrysler Corporation in its business combination with Daimler-Benz.
- Counsel to Citigroup and Aozora Bank, as part of a consortium of investors led by Cerberus Capital Management, in their $14 billion acquisition of a 51% controlling interest in General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC) from General Motors.
- Counsel to Toyota in consumer class actions over Canadian imports.
- Counsel to the United Auto Workers (UAW) in negotiations with General Motors and Ford relating to restructuring of healthcare benefits. Also counsel to the UAW in the settlement of retiree medical claims with General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.