Biography: Franchise

W Barry Blum specialises in business litigation with an emphasis in franchise matters. He is on the American Arbitration Association commercial arbitration panel and a mediator. Before joining the firm, Mr Blum was a senior executive at Burger King Corporation in legal and franchising roles, where his responsibilities included managing the company's litigation matters worldwide. Prior to his corporate career, he spent 15 years in private law practice including as a founding partner of two firms, where he concentrated his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, franchise, distribution and licensing litigation, and securities litigation and arbitrations.

Mr Blum also has business experience. He has developed solutions for financially distressed franchisees, negotiated purchases and sales of franchise businesses, and overseen recapitalisations of franchise businesses. Mr Blum has also structured and implemented an international master franchise arrangement, managed supply and distribution relationships through critical periods, and directed key franchising functions, including approval of new franchisees, initiatives to increase minority franchisee ownership, and programs and incentives to increase franchise agreement renewal rates.

Mr Blum is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He has been named as a Legal Eagle by the Franchise Times magazine, a Top Lawyer by the South Florida Legal Guide, and a Legal Elite by the Florida Trend magazine. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the International Franchise Association supplier forum. Mr Blum is a frequent speaker and he has written several articles for franchise and legal publications.

Mr Blum received his JD from the University of Miami School of Law (magna cum laude) and earned his BA from Brown University, (magna cum laude).