Increasingly active on behalf of automotive manufacturer clients, Winston & Strawn LLP formed a separate automotive industry group during 2023, which includes both litigation and transactional attorneys. In addition to its longstanding representation of Toyota, the group acts for several electric vehicle manufacturers, as well as vehicle rental, trucking and transportation logistics companies. The firm has also traditionally acted for railroads and rail equipment suppliers. The track record of Chicago-based Bill O’Neil includes several major cases for Hertz Corporation; Troy Yoshino (a February 2023 hire from Squire Patton Boggs) in San Francisco routinely defends class actions; and Brett Johnson heads up the firm’s Dallas litigation practice. Over in DC, Andrew Tauber’s railroad sector experience includes litigating cases under the Federal Railroad Safety Act, the ICC Termination Act, the Federal Employer’s Liability Act, the Locomotive Inspection Act, and the Safety Appliances Act.
Key clients
- Toyota Motor Corporation
- Hertz Global Holdings
- Honda Motor Co
- General Motors Company
- Lordstown Motors Corp
- Patriot Rail Company LLC
- FreightCar America
- CSX Transportation
- Pasha Automotive Services
Work highlights
- Represented Versata Software in post-trial motions, further to its successful jury verdict against Ford Motor company for breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Assisted Hertz with the efficient resolution of 95% of claims by plaintiffs, who alleged they were falsely arrested or detained for not returning their overdue rental cars on time.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Troy Yoshino