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Unpredictable trade policies, a patchwork of PFAS regulations, the explosive growth of generative artificial intelligence and other rapidly evolving legal and regulatory changes are shaping the manufacturing landscape. To get a handle on what lawyers in the industry need to know, many of them flocked to the NAM’s fourth-annual Manufacturing Legal Summit last week.
 
What’s going on: The event—the only legal conference designed exclusively for manufacturers—debriefed industry attorneys on the state of tariffs, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, labor and employment policy, autonomous vehicles and more. The event took place Nov. 12–14 at NAM headquarters and the Marriott Metro Center.

• Approximately 150 manufacturing attorneys from 26 states, Washington, D.C., and Canada convened for two days of continuing legal education-accredited panels, meet-and-greets, fireside chats and more.

What they heard: The group heard from subject-matter experts and legal industry leaders, including:

• Sarah Isgur, ABC News legal analyst, SCOTUSblog editor and co-host of the “Advisory Opinions” podcast, who provided a candid and unique perspective on the U.S. Supreme Court;
• International trade and supply chain attorneys from Foley & Lardner LLP, along with experienced in-house counsel, on coping with trade uncertainty in the age of tariffs;
• Expert M&A attorneys from Meritas’ global network of law firms on cross-border transactions;
• Leaders in labor and employment law from Fisher & Phillips LLP, who discussed major regulatory and legislative developments affecting the employer–employee relationship;
• Attorneys from Ballard Spahr and regulatory and engineering experts on product liability risks in the age of AI;
• Seasoned litigators from Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP, along with oil and gas industry representatives and toxicology experts, on the emerging threat of microplastics litigation;
• Antitrust specialists from Freshfields on Federal Trade Commission and Justice Department priorities under the second Trump administration; and
• Judges Robert Cindrich, Allyson Duncan and Paul Michel, retired federal judges from the Article III Coalition, on the importance of judicial independence to democracy and the economy.

Why they came: “Though they represent an incredibly diverse cross-section of industrial sectors, the attendees have a lot in common—they’re all guiding their companies through a rapidly evolving legal and regulatory landscape,” said NAM Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Litigation Erica Klenicki.

What they’re saying: “The Legal Summit was engaging and inspiring, with timely information that will help us navigate today’s business challenges,” said attendee Steve Borgsdorf, senior legal counsel for North America at Robert Bosch LLC. “Kudos to the NAM for organizing a great event!”

• “The panelists—industry leaders and subject-matter experts—were both impressive and engaging, offering practical insights and forward-looking perspectives. I came away with several actionable takeaways that I’ve been able to share with our organization. It was also a great opportunity to connect with other legal professionals in the manufacturing sector, and I look forward to attending the next NAM Manufacturing Legal Summit in 2026,” said Rosalind Curtin, associate general counsel for strategic sourcing and sustainability at Regal Rexnord Corporation.

Next up: The fifth-annual NAM Manufacturing Legal Summit will be held Nov. 12–13, 2026, at the Marriott Metro Center.