Seminar Opportunities

We at Bass Sox Mercer strongly believe that it is critical for motor vehicle dealers and their Association Directors to be educated on the varying issues affecting the retail motor vehicle industry. To this end, the partners of Bass Sox Mercer regularly speak at National/International dealer conventions, State/Metro Association Conventions, 20 Group meetings, and other dealer seminars. The firm’s law practice is focused solely on motor vehicle franchise law, and the representation of automobile, truck, recreational vehicle and motorcycle dealers throughout the country.

The partners of Bass Sox Mercer have spoken at the Automotive World Congress, the NADA Annual Convention, the JD Power Blue-Ribbon Roundtable, the E-Automotive Conference, the AICPA Convention, numerous State automobile, truck and motorcycle dealer association meetings and 20 groups. Because we represent motor vehicle dealers in all aspects of their franchises, including disputes with manufacturers and plaintiff’s attorneys, our partners are uniquely suited to bring real-time examples to bear upon their seminar topics. A listing of the seminars we provide to motor vehicles dealers and their Associations are listed below. Please feel free to contact us to schedule one of these seminars for your organization or to discuss modifying a seminar to suit your organization’s specific interests.

Franchise Law Issues

1. Major Topic Review – In this seminar, which generally runs 2 to 3 hours, we review the major issues which regularly impact your franchises including additional points of sale, terminations, ownership transfers, management changes, incentive programs, warranty audits, incentive audits, dealership succession, and dealership mergers and acquisitions.
2. Franchise by Franchise Review – This seminar, which can run from 1 to 2 hours, covers in detail the latest trends by franchise. Most of the issues which are covered in our “Major Topics Review” are addressed as they apply to a particular linemake(s). This presentation is most commonly given to 20 Group meetings.
3. Legislative Review – This seminar, which can run from 1 to 2 hours, reviews a specific State’s motor vehicle franchise law provisions. This presentation covers both the important provisions which should be taken advantage of by the motor vehicle dealers within the State as well as areas in which the franchise laws could be updated. Our most common audience for this seminar includes Motor Vehicle Dealer Association directors and their Board members.
4. State of the Industry – In this seminar, which typically last from 1.5 to 2.5 hours, we cover the latest trends in the industry – topic by topic. Instead of focusing on particular manufacturers, this presentation reviews issues such as the latest trends in sales incentive programs, facility/image programs and dealer body consolidation programs – to name a few – which impact dealers of various linemakes. This presentation, like all of our seminars, includes recommendations on ways that dealers may be able to avoid participation in unreasonable programs and otherwise protect the dealer’s investment in the franchise which may be threatened by such programs.

Dealership Mergers & Acquisitions/ Succession Issues

1. Dealership Mergers and Acquisitions/Succession – In this seminar, which generally takes from 1.5 to 2.5 hours, Robert Bass, the transactional partner in the Firm, discusses the issues surrounding Letters of Intent, Asset Purchase Agreements, Stock Purchase Agreements, the manufacturer franchise application process, the impact of and uses for trusts in mergers and acquisitions, and proper succession planning.
2. A Walk Through the Manufacturer Franchise Application Process – This seminar, which takes approximately 1 hour, provides a detailed, step-by- step, walk through the manufacturer application process involved in buying and selling a dealership. This presentation includes examples of various manufacturer applications and the particular items we have found certain manufacturers look for in those applications.

Finance and Insurance Issues

1. Introduction to Key F&I Concepts – In this seminar, which generally runs 1 to 2 hours, we provide an overview of current industry developments and legal compliance requirements facing dealership F&I departments. Question and answer is an integral part of this presentation.
2. Continuing Education for F&I – In this seminar, which can run 2 to 3 hours, we provide a more in-depth analysis of F&I issues, including an overview of key elements of dealership forms. This intermediate/advanced presentation contains a detailed discussion of state and federal laws covering F&I dealership operations and also includes suggestions on how dealers can improve F&I performance while reducing liability in today’s environment of individual complaints, government intervention and class action lawsuits.