Distribution Law

The world revolves around the manufacturing and production of products. Inevitably, products must be distributed to end users in some fashion. Many companies use independent sales representatives to sell their products, while others use dealers or distributors to make sure products are delivered to the consumer in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

Briggs and Morgan has developed a Distribution Practice Group to address legal issues that arise from the manufacturing, production and distribution of products in today’s society. Members of this team primarily represent manufacturers, providing counsel regarding product distribution so as to avoid unnecessary litigation or arbitration.

Virtually every state has some version of a statute restricting how manufacturers interact with and treat dealers, distributors and sales representatives. Our attorneys have worked extensively with many of these statutes through client representation. In fact, we have researched and developed our own 50-state survey and summary regarding various laws addressing sales representatives, marine dealers, motor vehicles, snowmobiles, farm equipment, powersports equipment and warranties. This invaluable survey is updated as new laws or amendments to existing statutes are passed, allowing our attorneys to provide quick and accurate counseling advice to manufacturers.

Members of the Distribution Practice Group possess substantial experience and knowledge in evaluating dealer, distributor and sales representative agreements and provide critical counseling and legal advice to manufacturers for the drafting and continual development of language most appropriate for these agreements. We have also handled issues relating to antitrust counseling and litigation, trademark and patent counseling and litigation, compliance with state licensing and vehicle titling statutes, and compliance with vehicle emissions regulations.

In addition to counseling, Briggs attorneys have litigated and arbitrated cases under a number of statutes, including dealer acts regarding motor vehicles, powersports, marine products, sales representatives, and heavy and utility equipment. Our experienced team of trial litigators is skilled in representing manufacturers in litigation and arbitration proceedings that involve disgruntled dealers, distributors and sales representatives.