Venable is the go-to firm for companies in the autonomous and connected mobility space, recognized for its unmatched regulatory and policy experience and firsthand industry knowledge. This combination allows us to help clients overcome complex challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve their business objectives in this rapidly evolving industry.
As a leader in policy and regulatory matters, Venable’s Autonomous and Connected Mobility team guides clients through the intricacies of compliance, regulatory development, and government engagement. We don’t just monitor policy shifts—we help shape them, assisting with advocacy efforts, regulatory strategy, and the formation of trade associations to influence industry standards and advance clients’ public policy goals.
With attorneys who previously served in senior political and legal counsel roles at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and its constituent agencies, our team is a trusted advisor to clients facing investigations and enforcement actions related to trucking and passenger vehicle violations, among others. Whether we are called on to advise on product recalls or other regulatory liabilities, our team oversees preliminary response and engagement, data and document review and production, advocacy and negotiations, public relations, and crisis management.
Members of our team have also worked inside major Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), informing our transactional capabilities with firsthand knowledge of their business practices, approval structures, and risk allocation strategies. Whether we are performing due diligence related to M&As, or advising OEMs, startups, and technology providers on IP transactions, licensing agreements, or commercial contracts, we draw on our industry experience to help clients anticipate procedural hurdles, pace negotiations, and structure transactions effectively. We also assist with a wide range of business agreements related to advertising, promotions, marketing disclosures, SaaS providers, and other outsourced services.
Whatever the issue, our team provides holistic, forward-looking counsel that drives success in this dynamic space.
Structuring Technology Integration and R&D Collaborations
Venable advises on complex agreements governing the co-development and integration of vehicles, in-vehicle software, and IT infrastructure with connected and autonomous vehicle technology and other emergent technologies, ensuring that collaborations are structured for both innovation and compliance. With deep experience in automotive procurement processes, we also help companies align R&D agreements with industry contracting standards, incorporating OEM-preferred structures for licensing and development milestones. Our team helps clients define clear intellectual property ownership and governance frameworks, distinguishing between pre-existing technologies, modifications, and new inventions. We structure licensing and cross-licensing arrangements for critical assets, including software, branding, patents, and trade secrets, while addressing data integration challenges such as privacy compliance and security obligations. Whether we are negotiating technology alliances, software integration, or early-stage R&D collaborations, we ensure that agreements support long-term business objectives while mitigating regulatory and operational risks.
Managing Risk and Regulatory Liabilities in Transactions
Venable provides strategic counsel on the commercial terms governing product recalls and regulatory liabilities, ensuring that clients are protected in an increasingly complex compliance landscape. Our team drafts and negotiates contract provisions that address both discretionary and mandatory recalls, allocating risk and costs based on each party’s legal and operational responsibilities. We help companies establish clear protocols for recall notification, oversight, and execution, defining timelines and cooperative obligations to minimize disruption. Our experience extends to structuring contractual safeguards for trade secrets and confidential information that may be subject to audits or government inquiries. Given the rapidly evolving regulatory framework surrounding autonomous and connected mobility, we advise on provisions that allow for contract modifications in response to legal changes.
