Automotive

Legal solutions for businesses, dealerships and manufacturers by expert automotive industry solicitors.

In this section

Automotive businesses need legal advisers who truly understand their challenges and can offer unique insights and guidance. As a specialist automotive industry law firm, our solicitors can help you to navigate the obstacles.

Amid falling used car values, the shift towards electric vehicles, rising overhead costs and the introduction of the agency model by some OEMs, the automotive sector is facing difficult headwinds.

A multi-award-winning law firm and certified B Corp, we provide the full range of legal services to automotive businesses across the UK — including car dealerships, car supermarkets and automotive manufacturers.

Our work includes all manner of corporate transactions, as well as real estate, property and construction, employment, planning, intellectual property and regulatory (health and safety) matters.

Deeply immersed in the automotive world, our clients trust us to take a commercial approach, focus on what matters most to them and cut through legal jargon to make their lives easier.

Meet the team

Expert automotive industry lawyers, on your side

We advise on transactions for some of the most recognisable businesses in the UK automotive industry.

Led by automotive specialist Caroline Litchfield — who's deeply experienced in car dealership acquisitions and disposals, including for multi-franchise groups — our team is immersed in the sector with a contextual understanding of its unique challenges, outlook and opportunities.

Caroline also leads our manufacturing and supply chain team. Her wide-ranging experience helps us to provide effective, practical and commercially-driven solutions with a high-quality service, helping you to make the most informed decisions possible.

Acknowledged in The Times Best Law Firms, The Legal 500 and recognised as the UK’s best law firm to work for, we bring together the most talented legal specialists for the automotive ecosystem.

Our services include

Case highlights

Arnold Clark

Acting on a number of site disposals and acquisitions, as well as providing ongoing employment advice.

Bridgestone Tyres

Advising on the sale of a subsidiary and various property instructions.

Brayleys Cars

Advising on its acquisitions of Thames Honda (a four-site Honda dealership), Orpington Honda, Grovebury Cars and Romford Honda.

Caterham Cars

Advising on contracts, intellectual property protections and its new manufacturing facility.

Codeweavers

Advising on its sale to Cox Automotive.

Pentagon Motor Holdings

Advising on the sale of its 21-site, multi-franchise group.

Skoda

Working with a sports marketing consultant to create a standard sponsorship agreement around professional road cycling events and teams, with regard to the rights that can be used by individual Skoda dealerships.

Specialist Cars

Advising on the sale of its three-site BMW and Mini dealership to Synter Group.

VT Holdings group

Advising on its acquisitions of Griffin Mill Garages and Wessex Garages.

Trusted by

International hiring & business immigration — addressing the skills gap

The skills gap facing the UK’s manufacturing industry continues to represent one of the most pressing economic challenges of our time.

With skilled workers in increasingly short supply, Ikram Malik — Partner and Head of Immigration — has highlighted how business immigration can help the automotive sector to develop a healthy talent pipeline and outlined the key legal considerations for employers.

Read the full article from our friends at the Northern Automotive Alliance and find out more about our immigration services.