Faegre & Benson Joins With Honigman to Form International Automotive Legal Team

Minneapolis-based Faegre & Benson LLP and Detroit-based  Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP (Honigman) have formed an International Automotive Legal Team spanning the U.S., U.K. and China. The collaboration is an outgrowth of the China-related work the firms have been doing together and reflects their focus on assisting automotive companies with strategic cross-border transactions involving these three critically important jurisdictions.

"Faegre & Benson and Honigman have a remarkably talented cross-functional team of attorneys dedicated to handling complex automotive deals involving these three countries. We share high standards for legal excellence, client service and value. This is a great fit for both firms," says Honigman Chairman and CEO David Foltyn.

Honigman brings more than 50 years of experience in the automotive industry, including acquisitions, purchasing, insolvency and troubled supplier legal services. Faegre & Benson supports clients in China-related transactions through a dedicated group of lawyers in Shanghai with more than 40 collective years of experience in China. These lawyers work in collaboration with the firm's lawyers in the U.S. and London.

Thomas G. Morgan, Chair of the Faegre & Benson Management Committee, observes that "Our combined industry experience, China market knowledge and collaborative working styles help our clients take full advantage of the significant automotive industry growth involving China."

The International Automotive Legal Team will be led by Robert B. Weiss, Commercial Law Department Chair for Honigman and George D. Martin, Head of Faegre & Benson's Corporate Group and Co-chair of its Greater China Practice, based in Minneapolis.

Other legal team members from Honigman:

• David Foltyn, Chairman and CEO
• John P. Kanan, Partner, Corporate and Securities Department
• Jonathan P. O'Brien, Intellectual Property Practice Group Chair
• Artis M. Noel, Of Counsel and former chief of export compliance for General Motors (joining Honigman on November 1, 2009)

Other legal team members from Faegre & Benson:

• John V. Grobowski, Co-chair of the firm's Greater China practice and Managing Partner of its Shanghai office
• Yiqiang Li (Lee), Partner, Corporate Practice, Shanghai
• Wendy Yan, Special Counsel, Shanghai
• Melanie Wadsworth, Partner, Corporate Practice, England
• William K. Weimer, Partner, Intellectual Property Practice

About Faegre & Benson

Faegre & Benson LLP offers a full complement of legal services to clients ranging from emerging enterprises to multinational companies. Its 500 lawyers handle complex transactions and litigation matters throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Established in Minneapolis in 1886, the firm is one of the 100 largest law firms in the United States. From its offices in Minnesota, Colorado, Iowa, London and Shanghai, Faegre & Benson has served clients in nearly 100 countries. 

About Honigman

Celebrating its 60th year, Honigman is a leading Michigan-based business law firm with an international practice. Headquartered in Detroit with offices in Lansing, Oakland County, Ann Arbor and Kalamazoo, the firm has attorneys practicing in more than 40 different areas of concentration. Honigman's highly credentialed attorneys and staff, along with its customer-service focus, provide clients in a wide variety of industries timely and cost-effective counsel.