Foley Partners Author Automotive and Manufacturing Supply Chain Handbook

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Vanessa Miller and retired partner John Trentacosta authored a book titled Law of the Automotive and Manufacturing Supply Chain: A Handbook for Success, released today, which explores the supply chain as the foundation of globalization.

“Globalization has brought dramatic changes in the automotive and manufacturing supply chain. We want to help companies bring their supply chain practices into this new era with its new challenges,” said co-author Miller. “The supply chain in the automotive and manufacturing industries has grown in complexity, and a company’s supply chain can be, and should be, an important asset of the company. But the supply chain can also be a source of risk at a company, so risk management must be a significant part of the focus in supply chain planning as well. Understanding the issues and developing the strategies for a world-class supply chain will benefit buyers, sellers, and companies at large.”

The handbook, which is divided into five sections, examines issues and strategies inherent in the automotive and manufacturing supply chain. Each section identifies and discusses the challenges faced by both the buyers procuring the components and materials necessary to make a company’s products and the sellers who promote and sell their products in the marketplace. These sections include:

• Basic Principles of Contract Law
• Pre-Negotiation Considerations
• Negotiating Supply Chain Contracts: Specific Clauses
• Contract Performance
• Litigation Strategy

“The manufacturing and automotive industries are cornerstones to the global economy, demanding sophisticated legal advice and strategic guidance. Vanessa and John’s handbook not only lays out the legal issues in understandable terms but also provides tips and takeaways for companies navigating this challenging area,” said Jim McKeown, chair of Foley’s Manufacturing Sector. “Our Manufacturing Sector Team assists clients across the entire spectrum of manufacturing — from the birth of a new idea to the distribution, delivery, and consumer use of the final product. This handbook is yet another example of that experience, reflecting the learning and practical advice gained from years of working with automotive suppliers and manufacturers as they execute their commercial, supply chain, and distribution strategies.”

To request a copy of the handbook, please click here.

Auteurs

Vanessa Miller

Miller leads Foley’s national Automotive Industry Team, where she has worked on automotive and manufacturing supply chain disputes for nearly two decades. In addition to litigating cases in state and federal court across the country and her international arbitration experience, she counsels manufacturers on various commercial contracts and supply chain agreements and supports related negotiations. She regularly publishes and speaks regarding legal and practical considerations facing manufacturers in the supply chain.

John Trentacosta

Trentacosta has been involved in drafting and litigating contracts commonly used in the manufacturing and automotive industries for more than 40 years. He wrote the leading treatise on commercial law in the state of Michigan titled “Michigan Contract Law” (Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education). He also authored the book “Michigan Legal Forms-Uniform Commercial Code” (Lawyers Cooperative Publishing). He is an experienced trial lawyer with multiple trials involving multimillion-dollar disputes. Trentacosta also is a regular guest lecturer at national and international universities on the topic of legal issues in the manufacturing supply chain.

Over Foley & Lardner LLP

Foley & Lardner LLP is a preeminent law firm that stands at the nexus of the Energy, Health Care & Life Sciences, Innovative Technology, and Manufacturing Sectors. We look beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and act as trusted business advisors to deliver creative, practical, and effective solutions. Our 1,100 lawyers across 25 offices worldwide partner on the full range of engagements from corporate counsel to intellectual property work and litigation support, providing our clients with a one-team solution to all their needs. For nearly two centuries, Foley has maintained its commitment to the highest level of innovative legal services and to the stewardship of our people, firm, clients, and the communities we serve.