Mission Statement
Charapp & Weiss, LLP has spent over 25 years providing exceptional services to the automotive industry, transportation industry, and complex commercial and corporate transactions and trial work. Our goal is drive the success of our clients while minimizing legal issues and complex matters with the best results for our clients.
Motor Vehicle Industry
The firm has represented dealers for over 25 years in manufacturer-dealer matters including:
- Buy-Sell representation and counseling on maximizing value
- Terminations
- New Point Protests
- Labor Rate issues
- Warranty rates and audits
General representation as outside counsel to dealers for corporate, commercial, employment and internal investigations
Represent dealers before state and federal agencies and investigations.
The firm also represents RV dealers, boat dealers, truck dealers, Ev and self-driving issues. The firm also handles the purchase and sale of franchises along with planes and helicopter purchases, sales and maintenance issues.
BREAKING NEWS!
Recently, a Texas federal court ordered that the FTC’s federal ban on non-competes be set aside and thus not go into effect on September 4th as originally planned, but such ban does not affect any state laws on non-competes. Even though the FTC’s rule banning non-competes is not going into effect on September 4, 2024, for best practices, dealers should still comply with any state law requirements and carefully craft agreements to prevent the actions that they are most concerned about (i.e., recoupment of training costs, confidentiality, trade secrets, or solicitation of customers) when an employee departs, and the agreement should not function as preventing that employee from seeking work in his or her trade. Seek counsel’s advice for carefully crafted agreements and what is permissible under state law.
Service Highlights
Charapp & Weiss is a distinguished law firm known for its unwavering commitment to excellence and client advocacy. With a rich legacy of legal expertise, they specialize in providing comprehensive counsel and innovative solutions across various legal domains.
Comprehensive Legal Expertise for Auto Dealers
Representing auto dealers in all aspects of their businesses has been at the core of Charapp & Weiss for three decades.
Decades of experience with dealership franchises
Attorneys at Charapp & Weiss understand the interplay between franchise agreements, state and federal statutes and corresponding case law.
Leading lawyers in auto dealership transactions
Charapp & Weiss represents dealerships in acquisition of dealerships, financing for operations and improvements, and in the sale of dealerships to third parties, managers or family members. Clients benefit from the firm’s decades of experience in purchasing and selling dealerships.
Skilled attorneys handling dealership real estate
Real estate is a valuable and critical investment for dealerships. Charapp & Weiss has substantial experience representing dealers with real estate matters for auto dealers.
Commercial and Corporate Matters
Charapp & Weiss has provided advice, counseling and representation in complex commercial and corporate transactions from small business transactions up to over $2 billion dollar transactions.
- Represents clients in corporate and shareholder matters including drafting documents and representation in internal disputes.
- Provides corporate internal investigations.
- Represents medical and dental practices.
- Assists in complex financing transactions
Complex Commercial and Corporate Transactions and Trial Work
C & W represents clients in small to large corporate transactions from negotiations to closing and trial work when necessary.
We provide counseling on internal corporate investigations
We also provide representation, counseling and everything in between when it relates to employment matters, practices and trial work.
We also counsel and represent clients in shareholder disputes including counseling, representation and trial work.
Trial Work
Our firm specializes in handling a wide spectrum of legal proceedings, ranging from simple to complex administrative tasks, trials, and appeals.
We adhere to a robust policy of formulating cohesive themes, theories, and strategies for trials when necessary.
Additionally, we excel in mediation, arbitration, and settlement negotiations for clients seeking to resolve matters outside of the courtroom.
Over the years, we have successfully litigated cases to completion across various forums, including arbitration, bench trials, jury trials, and appeals.
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Corporate Investigations
The firm also provides corporate internal investigations.
Medical & Dental
The firm represents medical and dental practices.
Complex Financing
The firm assists in complex financing transactions.
Meet Our Team
Our team of accomplished attorneys brings together a wealth of experience, expertise, and unwavering commitment to deliver exceptional legal services. United by a passion for justice and a client-centric approach, our diverse team is equipped to navigate the intricacies of the legal landscape.
In Honor of
Michael G. Charapp
Michael G. Charapp, who started Charapp & Weiss, LLP over 25 years ago with Brad Weiss, spent his life in the car business and fighting for dealers and dealers’ interests. He was the son of a Dodge dealer in western Pennsylvania where he spent his teenage years working in all departments of the family dealership. Following graduation from the University of Pittsburgh (B.A. 1971), Mr. Charapp enrolled in Georgetown University Law Center where he received his J.D. Degree in 1974. From 1984 to 1996, Mr. Charapp was the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Rosenthal Automotive Organization, then one of the ten largest auto dealer groups in the country.
Mr. Charapp was a member of the bars of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia, and he represented and advised business clients, including over 200 automobile dealers automobile dealer trade associations. He was a founding board member and past president of the National Association of Dealer Counsel and co-author of Auto Dealer Law: the Definitive Legal Guide to the Purchase, Sale and Operation of Vehicle Dealerships available at www.autodealerlaw.com.
Mr. Charapp passed in June 2023 leaving behind his wife, Charlotte, daughter Barrie, son Aaron and beautiful grandchildren, Bella, Tristan, Esme and Ayla.
For over 60 years in the automotive industry, Mike’s mission was to protect motor vehicle dealers and their businesses. His mission will continue to live on through his partners and Charapp & Weiss.
Contact Us
Information
Hours
- Monday - Friday
- 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
