Vanessa Miller

Commercial Litigation, Consumer Law, Finance & Class Action Group, International Arbitration, Litigation, Product Liability

Vanessa Miller is a litigation partner with Foley & Lardner LLP and Chair of the firm’s national Automotive Team, as well as on the advisory committee of the firm’s Manufacturing Sector. She served as a former chair of the Detroit office’s Litigation Department. Vanessa’s practice focuses on a wide array of supply chain disputes, including breach of contract and warranty claims, automotive supply chain issues and maintaining continuity of supply, defending manufacturers against class actions, trade secret misappropriation claims and business torts. Recognized as a nationally ranked top lawyer by Chambers for Transportation: Road (Automotive) for the past two years, showcasing her deep expertise and leadership in the field.

Vanessa has successfully managed, litigated and tried cases in state and federal courts, as well as handled appellate proceedings. She has significant experience handling complex international arbitrations in various venues, including the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services Inc. (JAMS) and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). Vanessa also has represented clients in commercial mediations, resulting in early resolution of legal disputes and creative business solutions for parties continuing to do business together.

In addition to her litigation, international arbitration and mediation experience, Vanessa regularly counsels clients on various commercial contracts, supply chain agreements, supply chain shortages, force majeure issues, pricing disputes and related negotiations.

Vanessa Miller authored "Law of the Automotive and Manufacturing Supply Chain: A Handbook for Success." Divided into six sections, the handbook examines issues and strategies inherent in the automotive and manufacturing supply chain. Additionally, she is an author and editor of “Michigan Contract Law, Third Edition” (2025 update), which the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) describes as the “most authoritative source on Michigan contract principles.”

Prior to joining Foley, Vanessa was a law clerk to the Honorable Patrick J. Duggan, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Representative Experience

-Served as the Interim General Counsel for approximately one year for Tier 1 supplier with annual sales of $1 billion, handling all aspects of in-house legal duties and commercial counseling.

-Obtained dismissal of high-profile Jeep cyber-hacking class action lawsuit after five years of discovery and motion practice where class plaintiffs were claiming hundreds of millions of dollars in damages against vehicle and infotainment system manufacturers.

-Obtained favorable resolution of Department of Justice (DOJ) False Claims Act investigation for automotive supplier.

-Daily supply chain and commercial transactional counseling to U.S. motorcycle manufacturer.

-Regularly litigates and arbitrates global supply chain warranty/recall disputes spanning complex discovery and technical issues across Asia, Europe and North America.

-Routinely involved in obtaining or defending against temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions for manufacturers (over 60 cases).

-Arbitrating complex breach of contract claim and misappropriation of trade secrets claim against Korean supplier before the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), resulting in award of millions of dollars in damages and future royalties.

-Arbitrating massive warranty claim against Japanese supplier and leading international discovery that involved over 150 employees across three continents.

-Prevailing on motion for summary judgment and obtaining dismissal of tens of millions of dollars in breach of warranty claims brought by original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for allegedly defective parts supplied by Tier 1 supplier.

-Prevailing on motion for summary judgment and winning appeal on novel issues of law in six million dollar consignee liability and breach of contract claim brought against supplier by shipping company.

-Obtaining summary judgment and award of costs for engine manufacturer in breach of warranty dispute; handling appeal before the Sixth Circuit, which affirmed the dismissal and award of costs.

-Managing international electronic discovery and translation efforts in large-scale complex litigations and arbitrations involving over one million documents.

University of Denver College of Law

JD

University of Michigan

BA