Susan Clare > King & Spalding LLP > Atlanta, United States > Lawyer Profile

Co-headed from New York and Atlanta by John Hooper and Susan Clare, respectively, and drawing upon significant resources across other key national offices, including Los Angeles, King & Spalding LLP‘s automotive and transport litigation team is well-positioned to defend clients in high-profile product liability and mass action disputes throughout the country. The team, which is noted for its deep subject matter knowledge, ‘technical excellence’ and ability to provide ‘class leading litigation strategy and execution’, regularly secures high-profile roles as national and trial counsel in big-ticket litigation. In addition, it often acts as strategic counsel to major automotive manufacturers in potential reputational threatening litigation, and has gained market acclaim for its ability to minimize any negative press attention and to effectively protect brand reputation. Hooper is leading the firm’s efforts for Toyota as strategic counsel across a myriad product liability and class action cases pending in various courts nationwide. Clare continues to grow her reputation in the market among domestic and foreign automotive manufacturers as a result of her ability to secure favorable outcomes in plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions in cases involving allegations of vehicle safety defects. As part of her impressive docket of work, alongside fellow Atlanta practitioner Geoffrey Drake, she leads the firm’s ongoing efforts for GM on the strategy for managing 3,000 plus breach of warranty and consumer fraud lawsuits.

King & Spalding LLP‘s recent track record includes advice on significant automotive industry diesel issues, as well as regulatory, enforcement and policy work. The firm also houses experts in transportation-related high-stakes disputes, government investigations, and corporate and finance work. On the litigation side, the group’s prowess covers both single-plaintiff catastrophic injury cases and multi-district litigation and class actions. As a former assistant administrator for the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance, Washington DC-based Granta Nakayama is go-to practitioner for automakers facing diesel-related issues, and Livia Kiser in Chicago represents automotive manufacturers, automotive technology companies, and distributors and suppliers in matters involving vehicle components. Other names to note are Los Angeles-based Alexander Calfo and Susan Vargas, whose product liability practices cover the automotive sector; DC-based environmental law specialist Ilana Saltzbart; and New York-based automotive industry expert Jacquie Seidel. Also in New York, John Hooper chairs the firm’s automotive and transportation litigation practice, which is co-chaired by Susan Clare in Atlanta, where class action and product liability litigator and newly promoted partner Adam Reinke is located.