ArentFox Schiff Legal Podcasts

In this episode, Aaron H. Jacoby, who leads AFS Automotive, and Franjo M. Dolenac explore challenges dealerships face with the onslaught of DMV investigations into late title and registration transfers and resulting administrative, civil, and criminal actions.

They discuss litigation strategies, best practices for dealerships during investigations and litigation, and the potential repercussions of settlement agreements.

Highlights of the conversation include:

•DMV responsibility for backlogs during pandemic shutdowns.

•Post-pandemic review of DMV backlogs leading to investigations of dealers for late title and registration transfers.

•Administrative, civil, and criminal claims asserted.

•The importance of cooperation within limits to protect dealers’ rights.

•Subpoena or search warrant requirements for dealer business records.

•Avoiding admissions of liability and probation in any resolution.

This podcast comes on the heels of a whirlwind weekend of tariff headlines from Washington, DC, and reactions around the globe. It begins with news of the tariff “reprieve” for imports from Canada and Mexico and quickly turns to the impact of such tariffs on the North American vehicle and vehicle parts industries.

President and CEO of Global Automakers Canada David Adams joins Birgit to take stock of what has been (officially) announced and what lies ahead from Ottawa, Washington, and Mexico City. Listeners are encouraged to check out ArentFox Schiff’s Trump Tariffs 2.0: The Tariff Tracker and our latest alert, Trump Tariff Headlines – From Talk to Action.

 

Takeaways

The recent tariff announcements have created significant uncertainty in the vehicle and parts sector and industry leaders should be in full contingency planning mode.

The automotive industry in North America is highly integrated, complicating the impact of tariffs and tariff retaliation.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement has historically benefited all three countries involved and its scheduled six-year “review” in 2026 looms over these tariff announcements. What do these tariffs portend?

Bottom line — executives are looking for options and they need to understand their tariff exposure. The month ahead gives executives and industry leaders time to self-assess and seek expert insight, well before the “11th hour.”

Welcome back to the AFS Fashion Insiders Executive Forum.

Consumer Products Industry Group Co-Leaders Katia Asche and Matthew R. Mills discuss the ballooning legislation across states and in the federal government regulating “greenwashing” and the use of PFAS or “forever chemicals” in products ranging from food to apparel to kitchenware. 

Katia and Matthew explain how mitigating exposure can help manufacturers get ahead of future claims and class actions. 

Partner Michelle Mancino Marsh moderates.

A quick glance on the Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA) homepage reveals an impressive list of well-known corporate icons of the electric vehicle (EV) world.

This special end-of-year installment of Five Questions, Five Answers comes on the heels of the November elections and the onslaught of headlines warning of new US tariffs affecting a wide range of the industry’s supply chain. The conversation was recorded at the end of 2024, but its focus was squarely on 2025 and beyond.

In this inaugural episode, hosts Jon S. Bouker and Dan H. Renberg build on ArentFox Schiff’s Election Analysis to explore the implications of the 2024 Presidential election results.

They are joined by former Congressman Philip S. English and Oliver Spurgeon III, distinguished members of ArentFox Schiff’s bipartisan Government Relations practice. Together, they discuss the Republican trifecta’s impact on federal policy, the challenges facing the Trump administration, and the dynamics of trade policy. The conversation also examines the Democratic response and the future direction of policy, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) innovation.

In the second and final part of this series, Chairman Anthony V. Lupo is joined by Diane von Furstenberg at the inaugural AFS Fashion Insiders Executive Forum, where Diane reflects on her journey from a young girl unsure of her path to a powerful woman, shaped by her iconic dress design.

She shares insights from the DVF documentary, discussing her fearless and authentic life, and emphasizes the importance of learning from life experiences, designing life with practicality and comfort, and embracing the philosophy that packing lightly equates to living lightly.

Across the fashion and retail markets, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing design, marketing, and customer engagement. The legal implications surrounding intellectual property (IP) issues and the unchartered regulatory landscape puts companies at a crossroads.

At last month’s AFS Fashion Insiders Executives Forum, our panel of industry insiders pulled back the curtain on how companies are navigating this new terrain and emphasized the transformative impact AI will have on the fashion industry.

Highlights include:

AI is revolutionizing fashion design by predicting trends and significantly reducing design time and costs through generative AI.

Nike is developing proprietary large language models for tailored designs, enhancing customer engagement through personalized marketing.

Legal risks include copyright and IP infringement issues, necessitating caution with AI-generated content rights.

In-house AI tools require careful evaluation and policies to ensure compliance with increasing disclosure requirements in the regulatory landscape.

Virtual influencers offer cost savings but come with legal risks, emphasizing the importance of compliance with AI regulations for businesses.

For questions on how your brand can take advantage of the opportunity AI presents, contact Chairman Anthony V. Lupo, AI, Metaverse & Blockchain Practice Co-Leader Dan Jasnow, or Associate Felicia A. Xu.

This episode of the Private Company Strategies podcast is the first of our series, From Start-Up to Stand-Out. Hosts Adam Diederich, Berin S. Romagnolo, and Sara Rosenberg discuss the essential legal considerations for starting a business in the United States.

They cover topics such as the importance of forming a legal entity, the various types of entities available, tax implications, the significance of ownership agreements, and the necessity of hiring professional support. The conversation also touches on the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) and its requirements for new businesses.

In the latest installment of Five Questions, Five Answers, host Birgit Matthiesen is joined by Mr. Colin Bird, Canada’s Consul General in Detroit, Michigan. Consul Bird serves as Canada’s top representative for a large portion of the Great Lakes region. Among his many responsibilities, his job description is clear: to highlight the importance of one of the world’s most dynamic cross-border manufacturing sector. In today’s podcast, they focus on the electric mobility sector — from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to the launch of the Binational Alternative Fuels Corridor.

Birgit and Consul Bird turn to the future, reminding listeners of the tremendous support from Washington, DC, and Ottawa, Canada, for the electric mobility ecosystem.

Highlights of the conversation include:

Canada’s public and private sector investments to increase the availability of electric vehicle (EV) critical minerals.

The importance of cross-border EV manufacturing and corporate partnerships.

The upcoming review of the USMCA.

Detroit, Michigan’s, announcement of the first Binational Alternative Fuels Corridor.

In the first installment of a two-part series, Chairman Anthony V. Lupo is joined by Diane von Furstenberg at the inaugural AFS Fashion Insiders Executive Forum, where Diane spoke about her career as a designer and how key moments shaped her into a top executive.