As legal advisor to small and family-owned businesses statewide, Cox Smith assists retail automotive dealers with employment, labor and general business concerns. And having played an instrumental role in helping to locate the new Toyota North American assembly facility in the San Antonio region, our firm continues to advise several component manufacturers and suppliers that provide products ranging from tires to interior trim to Toyota’s operations.

Client Focus

• Retail automotive dealers
• Automotive component manufacturers and suppliers

Services to Automotive Dealers
Wage and Hour Matters. Auto dealers are subject to some of the most complex provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Texas state law regarding employee overtime exemptions. Our firm advises many dealers on such issues as:

• Exemptions for service writers, mechanics and other personnel involved in service shop operations
• Exemptions for salespersons and writers of insurance and financing agreements.
• Decisions on properly documenting job descriptions to confirm overtime exemption.
• Decisions on whether to litigate or settle claims for back payment of overtime.

Labor Relations. When our auto dealer clients seek to maintain a workplace free of third-party involvement, we offer low-profile but effective labor relations counsel that helps maintain a competitive workplace while minimizing conflict and maximizing management flexibility. If unionization tactics include workplace disruptions, we help clients develop a plan and anticipate problems, taking all necessary steps to halt illegal interference with normal operations. And we keep our clients informed how to deal with potential new legislation aimed at making union organizing efforts easier.

Business Operations. As a full-service counselor to small businesses, Cox Smith advises auto dealers on a full range of everyday business issues: buying or selling their operations, preparing manufacturing, distribution, marketing and other service contracts, handling real estate and tax concerns, securing proper financing, and resolving business disputes.

Services to Automotive Component Suppliers
Labor Relations. As with auto dealer clients, we help component manufacturers maintain a workplace free from third-party interference by helping develop and implement a sound workplace policies and procedures that will identify potential problems before they become disputes. When specific problems arise, such as providing required notification under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, we assist our clients in being in full compliance with the law.

International. Our firm works with a Toyota component supplier based in Mexico, using our experience in cross-border business relationships and knowledge of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to advise this client on trade and corporate matters.

Business Operations. As for other manufacturing clients, lawyers from virtually all of our major practice areas can help component manufacturers deal with the financial, operational, technology and regulatory issues that directly affect their business success. In addition to labor relations and international trade issues, that includes environmental, intellectual property, real estate, financial and tax matters.