King & Spalding maintains a formidable reputation in the automotive sector, drawing on over 50 years of experience defending industry titans such as GM, Toyota, Ford, and Volkswagen. The firm is a go-to for high-exposure product liability and mass action litigation, frequently serving as national, strategic, and trial counsel in complex cross-jurisdictional matters. A key differentiator is the team’s deep technical proficiency in accident reconstruction, biomechanics, and human factors, which enables sophisticated defense of company witnesses and effective cross-examination of plaintiffs’ experts. The practice is led by Atlanta-based Andy T. Bayman, Geoffrey M. Drake, and Houston’s Tracie J. Renfroe. Geoffrey Drake and Susan Clare are currently serving as co-coordinating counsel for GM in a massive consumer litigation portfolio involving over 9,000 cases. In New York, John Hooper is noted for his strategic oversight of multi-state class actions and his successful track record in defending against punitive damages in high-stakes discovery and trial.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Key clients
- American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
- Ford Motor Company
- General Motors LLC
- Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.
- Volkswagen AG and Volkswagen Group of America
- Automobili Lamborghini America
- AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI AMERICA
Work highlights
Representing Toyota in product liability and class action litigation, including in most of the currently active class action cases pending in various courts nationwide. Also serving as national coordinating counsel in Toyota’s asbestos litigation.
Representing General Motors as lead counsel in various high-profile, high-exposure class action litigation matters nationwide. Also serving as GM’s strategic, coordinating, and trial counsel for consumer litigation in California, advising on strategy for managing a challenging, fast-paced docket of over 9,000+ breach of warranty and consumer fraud lawsuits.
Representing Volkswagen in high-profile multidistrict litigation, class actions, and product liability matters. Also serving as appellate counsel in several high-profile product liability and asbestos matters involving personal jurisdiction issues.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Andy Bayman; Geoffrey Drake; Tracie Renfroe
Other key lawyers
Susan Clare; John Hooper