Contracts, Risk & Resilience: Legal Strategies for Michigan's Automotive, Construction & Manufacturing Industries

About the Workshop

In today's rapidly shifting business environment, Michigan companies in the automotive, construction, and manufacturing sectors face an unprecedented combination of challenges — from tariff volatility and global supply chain disruptions to pandemic aftershocks and geopolitical instability. The contracts your business signs today must be built to withstand the pressures of tomorrow.
The Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Troutman Pepper Locke — one of the nation's largest law firms, with more than 1,600 attorneys across 30+ offices and nationally recognized practices in automotive, construction, and commercial litigation — to bring MHCC members a focused, practical legal workshop designed to strengthen how your business structures, negotiates, and manages its most critical contracts.
Whether you are a Tier I or Tier II automotive supplier, a construction company navigating complex project delivery, or a manufacturer managing cross-border supply agreements, this workshop will equip you with the legal knowledge and risk management strategies you need to protect your bottom line and keep your operations running.
 

Operative Contract Structures That Work
How to structure supply agreements, construction contracts, and commercial arrangements with provisions that clearly define performance obligations, payment terms, and dispute resolution mechanisms — giving your business a stronger legal foundation from day one.

Risk Allocation & Management Strategies
Proven approaches for allocating risk among contracting parties — including indemnification, limitation of liability, insurance requirements, warranty provisions, and critically, quantity commitments and ongoing delivery obligations. Learn how to structure volume requirements, minimum purchase commitments, and delivery schedules that protect your business from both shortfalls and excess exposure — so that when something goes wrong, your company is not left holding the bag.

Supply Chain Continuity & Protection — Upstream and Downstream
Practical strategies for managing supply chain risk in both directions. On the upstream side — where your suppliers are selling to you — learn how to use dual-sourcing provisions, inventory requirements, early-warning mechanisms, and contractual remedies to maintain continuity when suppliers fail to perform. On the downstream side — where your company is selling to its own customers — learn how to structure your customer-facing contracts to manage delivery commitments, protect against liability for delays beyond your control, and preserve key commercial relationships when disruptions cascade through the supply chain.

Managing Projects to Schedule & Budget
Key contract provisions and project management best practices that help keep commercial and industrial construction projects on time and on budget — and what to do when they're not.

Quality Non-Performance & Remedies
How to structure contracts that set clear quality standards and provide enforceable remedies — including rejection rights, cure periods, cost-of-cover provisions, and termination triggers — when a contracting party fails to deliver on quality commitments.

Force Majeure, Tariffs & Unforeseen Events
How recent real-world disruptions — COVID-19, shifting U.S. tariff policies (including Section 232 auto tariffs and reciprocal tariffs), and geopolitical conflicts — have reshaped the legal landscape around force majeure, commercial impracticability, and frustration of purpose. Learn what these clauses should say, what courts have ruled, and how to future-proof your contracts.

Key Legal Cases & Emerging Trends
A review of significant recent case law and legal developments affecting contractual risk in the automotive, construction, and manufacturing sectors — so you can stay ahead of the curve rather than react after the fact.

• A deeper understanding of the contract provisions that matter most to your business
• Actionable risk management strategies you can implement immediately
• Insight into how recent legal and geopolitical developments are changing the rules of the game
• Direct access to nationally recognized attorneys who advise companies facing these exact challenges every day

Sean P. McNally | Partner — Detroit, MI
Sean McNally is a partner in Troutman Pepper Locke's Detroit office and serves as the Detroit Office Managing Partner and a member of the firm's Policy Committee. Sean's national practice focuses on high-exposure supply chain disputes, product liability and recall matters, construction contract litigation, and real estate litigation across the automotive, mobility, energy, and manufacturing sectors.
Sean is not only a seasoned trial lawyer — he also serves as a strategic business advisor to his clients, proactively developing risk management and regulatory compliance models that help companies materially reduce their litigation exposure. His experience includes representing automotive OEMs and tiered suppliers in complex supply chain and tooling disputes, advising on the construction of multimillion-dollar industrial facilities, and counseling clients through the rapidly evolving landscape of U.S. tariff policy, including Section 232 auto tariffs and reciprocal tariff developments.
Sean has been recognized by Chambers USA (Band 2, General Commercial Litigation — Michigan, 2024–2025) and named a Michigan Super Lawyer (2019–2026). He received his J.D., cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law and his B.S. from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

Robert A. Gallagher | Partner — Pittsburgh, PA
Bob Gallagher is a partner in Troutman Pepper Locke's Construction Practice Group and serves as the Pittsburgh Office Managing Partner. Bob is a nationally recognized construction attorney who represents technology companies, contractors, and project owners across the water, energy, transportation, and waste sectors — on critical infrastructure projects across the United States and six continents. Clients value Bob as a trusted advisor throughout a project's full life cycle — from risk assessment and contract negotiation to project delivery and dispute resolution.
Bob is the editor-in-chief of ConstructLaw®, a widely followed blog on construction law trends, and has served on Law360's Construction Editorial Advisory Board. Bob has been recognized bers USA, Best Lawyers in America®, The Legal 500 United States, Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyers, and Super Lawyers “Rising Star.” Bob earned his J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law.

Miranda M. Boulahanis | Associate — Detroit, MI
Miranda Boulahanis is an associate in Troutman Pepper Locke's Detroit office who brings substantial experience in general commercial litigation spanning civil, commercial, real estate, and complex dispute matters. Miranda has successfully drafted and argued numerous dispositive motions, taken and defended depositions in class action proceedings, and presented opening statements and cross-examinations at evidentiary hearings. She is known for her thorough preparation and excellent client communication.
Prior to joining Troutman Pepper Locke, Miranda gained experience at Clark Hill and held judicial externships in the Eastern District of Michigan and Wayne County Circuit Court. She earned her J.D. from Wayne State University Law School and her B.S. from James Madison College at Michigan State University.