Profile: Erik B Wulff

Franchise

Biography: Franchise

Erik B Wulff is a partner in the Washington, DC office of DLA Piper US LLP. He has a broad-based practice in franchising law, business law and international business transactions and has extensive experience in all aspects of representing franchising companies, including domestic and international expansion. He has represented franchisers and master franchisees in transactions throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. He formerly was a member of the board of directors of a New York stock exchange-listed franchise company, and as president of its international division was instrumental in developing its business abroad.

A frequent speaker on legal and business issues relating to franchising, Mr Wulff has made presentations at programmes sponsored by the American Bar Association, the International Franchise Association, the International Bar Association, the Union Internationale des Avocats, and various continuing legal education programmes. He has authored numerous articles on franchising and distribution matters in a number of different legal and business periodicals, including articles in the ABA Franchise Law Journal on franchising in China, federal legislation on franchising, franchise disclosure obligations in international transactions, antitrust aspects of franchisee association activities, post-sale disclosure obligations of franchisers and professional responsibilities of franchise lawyers.

Mr Wulff is chair of the international commercial transactions, franchising and distribution committee of the ABA Section on International Law. He is editor-in-chief of Leader's Franchising Business & Law Alert. He was a member of the governing committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising from 1988 to 1991 and is a former associate editor of the ABA Franchise Law Journal.

Mr Wulff received his JD, cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law in 1976 and his BS, with distinction, from Indiana University School of Business in 1973 where he was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma. He is a citizen of the Netherlands, was born in Calcutta, India and has travelled abroad extensively.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world, with more than 3,400 lawyers in 64 offices in 25 countries. The firm is a national and international leader in franchise and distribution law, with clients ranging from entrepreneurs and start-up companies to the world's largest franchisers and manufacturers.

DLA Piper is positioned to help companies with their legal needs anywhere in the world. We are a full-service legal organisation whose principal practices include commercial contracts; corporate; employment, pensions and benefits; finance and restructuring; franchise and distribution; intellectual property; litigation and arbitration; projects and infrastructure; real estate; regulatory and government affairs; tax; and technology and media.

Our unmatched global presence enables us to meet the ongoing needs of our clients in the world's key economic, technology and governmental centres, including: London, New York, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Moscow, Tokyo, Shanghai, Chicago, Singapore, Brussels, Beijing, and Washington, DC.

In the US, DLA Piper has 1,500 lawyers and offices in 23 cities, including top business and technology markets across the country, from Baltimore and Boston to Silicon Valley and San Diego. We are also located in strategic markets such as Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Northern Virginia, Philadelphia, Raleigh, Sacramento, Seattle and Tampa.