At the intersection of a stalwart bastion of American industry and cutting edge innovation, the automotive landscape is undergoing rapid change. With consistent growth in autonomous and electric vehicle technologies, a prevalence of integrated technology, and new datadriven innovations, the industry faces immense growth opportunities and new avenues of legal risk.
ACI invites you to join us as we return to Chicago for the premier automotive legal and regulatory event of the year.
With over 21 million vehicles recalled in 2024, and an unending stream of class action lawsuits in the last year, a constant stream of novel technologies, and a new administrative landscape on the horizon, we’ve revamped our program to focus on the emerging technologies that are impacting your practice, while maintaining our high-caliber discussions on MDLs, class actions, and the ever-changing state of automotive regulation and legislation.
Our distinguished faculty, representing regulators and policy-makers, in-house counsel from major industry leaders, and outside counsel with a wide range of automotive experience, will spend two days discussing the full spectrum of legal challenges. We’ll address autonomous vehicles, complex supply chain issues, technology integration, and class action concerns, equipping you with all the information you need to know.
Don’t let your practice fall flat! Rev up your legal strategies, reinforce your litigation skills, and cruise your way to success in tackling the most pressing automotive challenges head-on.
We look forward to hitting the road and meeting you this March in Chicago.
Michael Carroll Director, Associate General Counsel Subaru of America Inc
ACI's Automotive Advisory Board
Brian Kapatkin
Associate General Counsel, Automotive Product Regulatory & Litigation Volkswagen Group of America
Christopher Nalevanko General Counsel, VP & Corporate Secretary Zoox
Distinguished Faculty
CHAIRS
Rebecca Anzidei
Assistant General Corporate Counsel, Automotive Product Liability & Litigation Volkswagen Group of America
Nancy Bell Senior Legal Director Regulatory Affairs & Policy Rivian
Michael B. Gallub Partner Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
JUDICIARY
Hon. Karen L. Stevenson Chief Magistrate Judge, Central District of California United States District Court
ESTEEMED SPEAKERS
Cameron Azari Senior Vice President Epiq
Hilary Cain
Senior Vice President, Policy Alliance for Automotive Innovation
William A. Delgado Founding Partner DTO Law
Erinn DePorre Vice President and Legal Counsel – Auto, Data & Employment Legal Team Qualcomm
Robert DeWitte Managing Director Kroll, LLC
Brittany Wilson Corporate Counsel Mercedes-Benz USA
Nick Faenza Senior Managing Engineer Exponent
Stacie Fletcher Partner Gibson Dunn Crutcher
Elizabeth Gibson Deputy General Counsel Toyota North America
Rita Gitin Director Senior Legal Counsel Bosch USA
Ryan Harrington Principal Exponent
Matthew Marmolejo Partner Mayer Brown LLP
EARN CLE CREDITS
Accreditation will be sought in those jurisdictions requested by the registrants which have continuing education requirements. This course is identified as nontransitional for the purposes of CLE accreditation.
ACI certifies this activity has been approved for CLE credit by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board.
ACI certifies this activity has been approved for CLE credit by the State Bar of California.
ACI has a dedicated team which processes requests for state approval. Please note that event accreditation varies by state and ACI will make every effort to process your request.
For more information on ACI’s CLE process, visit: www.AmericanConference.com/Accreditation/CLE
March 17, 2025
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOP A
8:30 Driver’s Ed: Mastering MDLs and Class Actions in the Evolving Automotive Industry
As the automotive industry embraces new technologies, class action litigation is evolving at a rapid pace. Traditional high-stakes claims around rollover, crashworthiness, and airbags remain critical, but cutting-edge developments—like autonomous vehicle systems, EV chargers, and GPS trackers—are introducing new legal complexities.
This hands-on workshop offers invaluable insights from top-tier product liability and mass tort experts who have successfully defended major automotive companies. Learn how to stay ahead of these shifting trends, mitigate risk, and tackle high-exposure claims in today’s dynamic automotive litigation landscape.
Topics of discussion will include:
• Dissecting the anatomy of automotive class action litigation
» Identifying types of claims
» Navigating personal jurisdiction challenges
» Addressing the manifestation of alleged defects
» Leveraging affirmative defenses at every stage of litigation
• Developing risk management strategies to mitigate future claims
» Learning from the experiences of litigators who have successfully defended leading auto companies
» Managing damages and counterarguments
» Implementing strategies for class certification
» Winning strategies for settlement negotiations
» Identifying winning strategies and applying these approaches to your cases
• Anticipating legal pressure points borne from emerging technologies and evolving regulations
WORKSHOP B
Modern vehicles are effectively connected computers on wheels. They can collect a wealth of information via built in apps, sensors, and cameras, which can monitor people both inside and near the vehicle. This means that vehicle privacy consideration are critical.
Modern vehicles are equipped to automatically gather consumers’ locations, personal preferences and details about their daily lives. Regulators around the world have raised concerns about the volume of personal data collected. Join us at this workshop to understand all the privacy issues and safeguards you need to protect your consumer and their data and learn how the auto industry can safeguard data privacy.
This comprehensive workshop will equip you with the tools and strategies you’ll need to get ahead of the challenges we’ll discuss in the CyberData series taking place on day 2 of the main conference.
Topics to be addressed include:
• Reviewing the array of data vehicles collect
• Taking stock of the regulatory landscape
• Navigating the need for enhanced transparency and control of car owners
• Evaluating the willingness of car manufacturers to share data with government without a court order and understand the legal and civil liability concerns and potential infringement upon individuals’ rights
• How you uphold your commitment to privacy protection
• Developing transparent privacy policies
• Regular assessment of access controls
• Vigilant monitoring
March 18, 2025
MAIN CONFERENCE DAY 1
7:15 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:15 Introduction from the Conference Co-Chairs
Rebecca Anzidei Assistant General Corporate Counsel, Automotive Product Liability & Litigation Volkswagen Group of America
Nancy Bell Senior Legal Director Regulatory Affairs & Policy Rivian
8:30 Entering a New Era: An Interview with NHTSA on the Last Year and a Look Ahead at New Administrative Priorities
Following the inauguration of a new presidential administration this January, hear directly from NHTSA in a one-on-one discussion about current enforcement priorities, critical areas of concern, and the upcoming legislative initiatives shaping the automotive landscape. Gain first-hand insights into the key regulatory trends automakers and their counsel must consider, ensuring compliance and mitigating risk as the industry continues to evolve with new technologies and safety standards. This interview will provide actionable intelligence for overcoming regulatory burdens.
9:30
A recent survey conducted by J.D. Power has found that 12.8% of total new vehicle issues come from Automated Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). As ADAS and other autonomous vehicle technologies become more and more ubiquitous, new concerns will arise regarding liability, regulations, compliance, and consumer safety.
Topics of discussion will include:
• Assessing the current landscape of ADAS and automated technologies
• Addressing performance, messaging, and litigation issues regarding autonomous vehicles, features, and emerging litigation, plaintiffs’ theories of liability, and defense strategies
• Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard guidelines (FMVSS) and ADAS features
• Evaluating the impact of NHTSA’s consent order on AV regulation and related penalties following the Cruise pedestrian matter
• Anticipating new standards in the AV space coming from NHTSA and other regulatory agencies
• Multi-national emerging standards in distraction detection, drowsiness, and driver impairment from NHTSA and the EU
• Understanding contributory negligence in the context of AVs ADAS
Hilary Cain Senior Vice President, Policy Alliance for Automotive Innovation
Ryan Harrington Principal Exponent
Erinn DePorre
Vice President and Legal Counsel – Auto, Data & Employment Legal Team
Qualcomm
Matthew Marmolejo Partner Mayer Brown LLP
11:00 What’s New in Lemon Law Litigation: Emerging Trends, Recent Legislative Changes, and Proven Defense Strategies
Lemon Law litigation is a continuing significant issue for U.S. automakers, especially with evolving interpretations and potential liabilities and costs in states like California. This session will cover recent legal changes and offer strategies for compliance and defense.
Topics of discussion will include:
• Assessing the impact of California’s recent lemon law developments, both legislative and judicial
• Understanding contractual implications on jurisdiction in litigation and arbitration
• Defending against overreaching and unduly burdensome discovery tactics and attempts to multiply the litigation proceedings to run up fees and costs
• Managing attorney’s fees and punitive damage claims
• Resolving OEM-supplier disputes on warranties and recalls
12:00 Lunch Break
1:00 Electric Vehicles: Litigation and Regulatory Issues with Adapting to a Shifting Climate
Consumer demand for electric vehicles has continued to grow over the last few decades. Companies continue to face state and federal requirements to electrify their fleets, however professionals anticipate adjustments to the existing tax credit, rebate, and regulatory landscape under the next administration. This panel will provide an update on emerging legislative, the litigation climate, and the issues and challenges in managing and defending litigation pertaining to EVs. Panelists will discuss methods for keeping up with new technological requirements to stay ahead of changing regulations, fleet requirements, and the emerging liabilities that come with electric vehicle technology.
2:00 Expert Opinion: How Fire and Accident Investigations are Evolving with Vehicle Technologies
New vehicle technologies from Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to electrification are changing both how accidents are analyzed and how root cause investigations are performed. In this session, experts in science and engineering will explore aspects of how these technological developments impact potential claims, the methods for investigating events, strategies for limiting liability, and the effect on litigation.
3:00 Afternoon Coffee Break
3:30 Recent Developments in Product Liability Litigation, Defense and Trial Strategies, and Avoiding Runaway Verdicts
Product liability remains a hot bed of activity in the automotive world, and rapidly evolving technologies have offered new avenues for litigation to emerge. Furthermore, as automobiles become more and more digital, there is an increased reliance on third-party equipment. From GPS systems to EV chargers to CarPlay radio systems, the failure of third-party equipment may result in additional liability for you and your company. This increase in exposure begs the question: How do you mitigate risk when the problem isn’t you?
Topics of discussion will include:
• Warranty durations, extensions in the field, and customer complaints
• The impact of product liability litigation on class action and lemon law litigation risk
• Challenges in representing suppliers
• Mitigating risk from third party technologies
4:30 Cocktail Reception
5:30 End of Day 1
Nick Faenza Senior Managing Engineer Exponent
March 19, 2025
MAIN CONFERENCE DAY 2
8:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 Co-Chairs Welcome Back
8:45 View from the Bench: A Unique Judicial Perspective on Automotive Litigation, Emerging Issues, and Effective Ways to Approach Complex Cases
This session will explore, from the panelists’ unique perspectives, the most pressing issues and challenges in automotive litigation including the management, adjudication, and potential resolution of complex automotive product liability actions, class actions and MDLs. Discover how courtroom strategies are shifting and learn what judges expect from both sides as they preside over high-stakes litigation involving the future of the automotive industry.
Chief Magistrate Judge, Central District of California United States District Court
MDL AND CLASS ACTIONS: Recent Developments in Defending and Managing Emerging Automotive Litigation Trends
This two-part series will explore the most pressing concerns in automotive class action and MDL litigation, offering practical strategies for defense. Together, these sessions will equip attendees with the insights needed to tackle complex litigation from every angle.
9:45 Part 1: Exploring the
Topics of discussion will include:
Latest Strategies in Automotive Class Action Defense
• Updates on recent legal developments including motions to dismiss, class discovery and class certification
• Identifying and developing mechanisms for internal recognition of problem trends and ways to avoid class actions before they begin
• Preventing suits rooted in hybrid vehicle fuel economy
• Reviewing the following cases from the Sixth Circuit:
» Speerly, et al. v. General Motors, LLC
» Andrei Fenner, et al v. General Motors, LLC, et al
10:45 Morning Coffee Break
William A. Delgado Founding Partner
Elizabeth Gibson Deputy General Counsel Toyota North America
11:00 Part 2 – Trials of Automotive Class Actions: Certifications, Trial Concerns, and Settlement Issues
Class actions are high-stakes cases, sometimes involving millions of vehicle purchasers. In this interactive session, leaders will discuss:
• Effective ways to try class actions
• Winning litigation and trial strategies
• The interplay between and strategies for trying “class” issues and “merits” issues
• The impact of data privacy settlements on the automotive industry
• Reliability of data
• Settlement class definition ambiguities, possibilities for decertification of the class(es) during or after trial, and challenges with claim validation
• Unique experiences and war stories
• How to overcome unique hurdles posed by anti-automotive biases in the courtroom
Cameron Azari
Senior Vice President Epiq
Robert DeWitte Managing Director Kroll, LLC
Hon. Karen L. Stevenson
12:00
1:00
CyberData Series: Safeguarding Consumer Privacy and Security in the Automotive Industry
As automotive technology evolves, and vehicles gather more user data, privacy and security concerns grow. This two-part series will focus on key areas of vulnerability and critical strategies to protect both customer data and your company’s reputation in the face of rising risks from connected vehicles.
For a deeper dive into maintaining cyber-security and data privacy, please join us for our pre-conference workshop Neighborhood Watch: A Deep Dive into Maintaining Cyber-Security and Data Privacy in a Technology-Centered World on March 17 at 1:00 pm.
1:15 Part 1: Protecting Privacy
Topics of discussion will include:
• Protecting the privacy of data gathered and used in automobiles, including:
» User biometrics
» Location data acquired from GPS systems
• Monitoring state laws including California Senate Bill No. 1394 restricting access to connected vehicle services
• Analyzing the FCC’s proposed rule to ensure car manufacturers are assisting abuse survivors by protecting data
• Observing the use of driving data by companies like LexisNexis in personalized insurance pricing
• Understanding bystander privacy implicated by monitoring and recording devices embedded in automotive technologies
2:00 Part 2: Staying Secure
Topics of discussion will include:
• Protecting against automotive cyberattacks and the liabilities therefrom
• Identifying wireless and wired entry points into vehicles
• Exploring intelligence and information sharing across the industry
• Reviewing current NHTSA efforts in shoring up cybersecurity
• Assessing the Chamber of Commerce’s proposed rule to secure connected vehicle supply chains from foreign adversary threats
2:45 Afternoon Networking Break
3:00 Traffic in the Supply Chain: Overcoming Challenges and Future-Proofing for Regulatory and Technological Disruptions
The automotive supply chain, heavily impacted by COVID-19, continues to face new challenges. This panel will address ongoing issues like global bottlenecks, evolving regulations, and strategies for mitigating future disruptions.
Topics of discussion include:
• Addressing international supply chain challenges:
» Limiting reliance on Chinese manufacturing
» Ensuring compliance with forced labor laws across the supply chain
» Securing cyber and data protection for technologies from countries of concern
• Assessing the impact of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the upcoming substance review thereof
• Understanding union activity and evolving labor and employment laws in the automotive industry
4:00 End of Day 2, Conference Concludes
Rita Gitin Director Senior Legal Counsel
Bosch USA
March 20, 2025 Chicago, IL
The EV battery industry is booming, driven by surging EV demand, stricter emissions rules, and investments in renewable energy. Automakers and manufacturers are rapidly innovating, but growth comes with challenges — evolving regulations, fragile supply chains, and rising sustainability expectations are reshaping how materials like lithium and cobalt are sourced.
The Battery Supply Chain and Compliance Summit 2025 is your opportunity to address these critical issues. This one-day event will bring together leaders from the automotive and battery industries, government agencies, and top law firms to explore compliance, supply chain resilience, and global policies. With expert panels and actionable strategies, this summit is your key to staying ahead in the EV battery revolution.
Whether you’re a battery innovator, supply chain leader, sustainability officer, or legal advisor, this is your chance to tackle challenges and seize opportunities in a rapidly evolving market.
Topics to Be Discussed at the Event:
• Sustainability and Compliance in Battery Manufacturing
• Regulatory and Liability Risks in EV Batteries
• Navigating Legal and Compliance Challenges in EV Battery Supply Chains
• Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience Amid Legal and Geopolitical Risks
• Interactive Workshop: Building Legal and Compliance Frameworks for EV Batteries
