A new year brings fresh questions and new considerations for the automotive industry. It also marks a milestone for Dykema, as we celebrate our centennial this year. As we look toward the future, this Winter Edition of At the Wheel: An Automotive Roundup offers a sneak peek at our Automotive Legal Trends Survey with results evolving as the survey closes later this month and a preview of what’s ahead.

Sneak Peek: Dykema’s Automotive Legal Trends Survey

The survey is open, and early responses are already highlighting key trends for 2026. Among the 10 areas covered, a few stand out: In litigation, risks focus on supply chain disputes, including pricing, tariffs, and warranty/recall issues, and Autonomous/ADAS product liability. On the policy side, tariff policies and USMCA renegotiations are top of mind. In M&A, companies are prioritizing supply chain resiliency and tariff-driven adjustments.

These insights will continue to develop as more responses come in. Share your perspective today by taking the survey, and watch for the full report in March with complete results and analysis.

Take the Survey

What’s Ahead

  • Dykema’s Automotive, Mobility & Transportation group will hit the road in the months ahead, attending and sponsoring key industry events and sharing insights at select sessions. We’ll be at all of the events below, with team members speaking at several:
    • DRI 2026 Product Liability Conference | February 18–20 | San Antonio, TX
    • ACI Automotive Litigation, Regulation & Innovation Summit | March 10–11 | Chicago, IL
      Speakers: Laura Baucus and Jay Logel
    • ACI EV Battery and Advanced Technology Supply Chain and Compliance Summit | March 12 | Chicago, IL
      Speaker: Connor Walby
    • ABA TIPS Motor Vehicle Product Liability Conference | April 15–17 | Scottsdale, AZ
      Speakers: Lyndsey Jackson and Mike Carey
    • IAM Live: Auto IP USA | April 16 | Detroit, MI

      If you’re attending any of these events, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect.
  • Dykema Drives Webinar Series | Launching March 2026
    Our annual webinar series returns to explore critical issues facing the automotive community, including advanced mobility, AI, government investigations, labor and employment, and more. Watch for dates and registration details.

    Sign Up and Stay in the Know
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Photo of Laura C. Baucus Laura C. Baucus

Laura Baucus is a results-oriented litigator and business attorney with experience delivering consistent results to clients in the automotive, aerospace, manufacturing and financial services industries. Ms. Baucus has worked both as outside counsel and as seconded in-house counsel. She is the Director of…

Laura Baucus is a results-oriented litigator and business attorney with experience delivering consistent results to clients in the automotive, aerospace, manufacturing and financial services industries. Ms. Baucus has worked both as outside counsel and as seconded in-house counsel. She is the Director of Dykema’s 140+ attorney Automotive Industry Group, the immediate past Leader of the firm’s Financial Services Litigation Practice, a Leader in Dykema’s COVID-19 Task-Force, the originator of the firm’s Supply Chain Group, the Manager of a firm OEM client-service team, and the immediate past Manager of the firm’s largest Michigan office.

Ms. Baucus regularly counsels clients on force majeure and related contract performance options. Her litigation practice focuses on procurement and supply chain, recalls, warranty and cost recovery, contract termination, tooling recovery, Uniform Commercial Code issues, and financial services.  Her contract practice includes negotiating and drafting supply contracts and other commercial agreements for automotive and other manufacturing companies, including terms and conditions. Ms. Baucus also manages national portfolios of lawsuits for some of the nation’s largest residential mortgage servicers.

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Photo of Michael R. Carey Michael R. Carey

Michael Carey is trial lawyer with experience in complex commercial litigation and products liability defense. With his creative and authentic approach to jury presentation, Mr. Carey has taken numerous cases to successful verdict in state and federal courts across the country. In addition…

Michael Carey is trial lawyer with experience in complex commercial litigation and products liability defense. With his creative and authentic approach to jury presentation, Mr. Carey has taken numerous cases to successful verdict in state and federal courts across the country. In addition to his trial work, Mr. Carey has defended and prosecuted appeals before the Minnesota Appellate Courts and the Eighth and Ninth Circuits.

In addition to his trial and appellate practice, Mr. Carey serves as co-leader of the Firm’s Mobility and Advanced Transportation Team. He counsels mobility industry clients on proactive risk mitigation strategies relating to Automated Driving Systems (ADS) and other advanced automotive safety technologies. He is also frequently called on to publish and present on legal issues and advances in this emerging field.

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