Welcome to Wisconsin Dealer Law!
Attorney Eric Baker founded Wisconsin Dealer Law to focus on the unique legal issues of franchise and independent dealerships, and other local independent businesses. Eric has represented businesses and their owners during his entire legal career, and over the past dozen years Eric has increasingly focused on representing a variety of dealerships, including:
motor vehicle dealers (automobile, motorcycle, medium/heavy truck);
farm implement, outdoor power, and other equipment dealers; and
other small business franchisees.
All of these dealerships share operations and legal issues that are distinct from other businesses.
Contact
➤ LOCATION
30 West Mifflin Street, Suite 1001
Madison, WI 53703
☎ CONTACT
eric@widealerlaw.com
(608) 285-9200
Services + Areas of Practice
Legal compliance
Dealerships are subject to a wide array of state and federal regulation relating to their advertising and customer sales. Special consumer regulations apply to certain categories of sales, such as motor vehicle sales, as well as offering consumer financing. Wisconsin laws vary from other states in critical ways. Dealers can limit their risk of costly litigation or legal compliance violations by implementing effective compliance practices and regularly consulting with experienced attorneys.
Check out our monthly flat-fee legal services programs: Essentials, Standard, or Full-Size/Digital.
Wisconsin Dealer Law is committed to developing the right legal services solutions at the right price for your organization.
employment + Human resources
Dealerships are often significant employers in their communities, and are subject to a variety of federal, state, and local laws, including laws directed specifically at certain industries or dealership employees. Periodic reviews of employment practices and a robust compliance program are important in managing dealership human resources.
buying + Selling DEALERSHIPS + Succession planning
The lifecycle of every dealership progresses from business acquisition to eventual owner succession, sale, or wind down. In addition to advising on legal issues connected with these various life stages of the dealership, consultation on appropriate additional professionals to engage is important in effectively navigating from stage to stage.
corporate governance + vendor relationships
Dealership ownership is structured in a variety of ways, often influenced by generational family and other business relationships, as well as provisions of the dealer agreement and applicable dealership laws. Dealerships also negotiate and maintain many vendor contract relationships, including special attention to inventory financing, or floor planning.
Franchise relations
Dealer or franchise agreements are the lifeblood of dealerships. It is critical to understand the rights and obligations of these agreements, as well as state law protections limiting overreach by manufacturers and other dealership grantors. Knowing these rights and obligations is central to mutually productive dealership relationships, as well as protecting your rights through litigation, when needed.
Regulatory enforcement + Licensing
Most dealerships are governed by some form of state licensing and subject to agency audits or investigations. Understanding and period review of licensing requirements, and periodic review of business practices, can help avoid costly compliance violations and enforcement actions, and are key to effectively responding to agency inquiries or actions.
CUSTOMER DISPUTES
Quality customer service and relationships are a hallmark of dealership operations. Assessing customer disputes and effectively managing customer dissatisfaction and possible litigation is a critical risk management task.
Litigation + risk management
Despite every effort to manage the variety of business relationships touching a dealership, managing potential litigation and active litigation is a fact of life for all businesses. Many disputes involving dealerships implicate state or federal laws, and legal theories and strategies, unique to dealerships. Familiarity with applicable laws and the variety of litigation dealerships face is key to assessing litigation risks and properly managing active litigation.
“Eric is a very experienced dealership attorney, who has worked with many Wisconsin automobile dealerships over the years. He has assisted dealers with Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles investigations, other compliance issues, transactional matters, and in a variety of litigation and dispute resolution. He continues to be a great resource for ADAMM and its member-dealers on a variety of legal issues!”
“Eric was a lifesaver in coming in at the last minute and defending me against a franchisor’s termination of my franchise and money damages claims against me! Eric helped me resolve my association with the franchisor amicably, and I was able to continue on with my business. Thanks, Eric!”
“Eric and his former colleague Gary Antoniewicz (retired) handled my dealership termination matter with Case IH, expertly, and saved our three-generation dealership from termination! Eric continues to advise our dealership on a wide variety of franchise and business issues. He has always been very responsive to our needs, and I highly recommend him for all of your dealership legal needs.”
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