Erik B. Wulff Partner EDUCATION Indiana University (1976) J.D. cum laude Indiana University (1973) B.S. Member, Beta Gamma Sigma with distinction ADMISSIONS District of Columbia 500 Eighth Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 T: +1 202 799 4271 F: +1 202 799 5271 erik.wulff@dlapiper.com SUMMARY PROFILE Erik B. Wulff has a broad-based practice in global brand expansion for consumer products and services companies. He has extensive experience in all aspects of representing clients in expanding their brands internationally and domestically through various collaborative forms, such as franchising, licensing, distribution, acquisition and joint venture arrangements. Mr. Wulff is a former member of the board of directors of a New York stock exchange-listed company and, as president of its international division, was instrumental in developing its business abroad. REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE Represented a multi-brand retailer of apparel and personal care products in establishing retail sales and distribution systems throughout the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Latin America Represented a manufacturer of unmanned ground vehicles to structure a governmental and industrial sales and distribution system, including distribution for military and law enforcement purposes in the Middle East Represented multi-brand global hotel company in connection with worldwide exclusive development ventures for several hotel brands Represented multi-brand global hotel company in acquiring a hotel system operating in Europe and South America, coupled with long term codevelopment rights Represented a PE company in structuring high-technology based multi-brand food delivery service system in the US Represented a global coffee company in structuring distribution and service systems in the US
Represented a luxury apparel and accessories company in establishing a global distribution system, including retail sales and distribution arrangements in various countries in Asia (Japan, Korea, Philippines) Represented major real estate company in structuring master franchise arrangements in Brazil, India, China, Malaysia and Indonesia Represented multi-brand global hotel company in establishing a joint venture to develop and manage multiple hotel brands in countries throughout the Mediterranean, North Africa and Eastern Europe Represented multi-brand global hotel company in establishing operations in China through various means, including master franchise, joint venture, management license and direct cross-border franchise arrangements Structured numerous domestic franchise and product distribution systems, including area development, area representation and single unit franchise and distribution arrangements Counseled franchise, distribution and software companies on systemic changes and market withdrawals, including protracted negotiations with franchisee associations in connection with restructuring of franchise systems and attendant litigation Represented franchise companies in connection with acquisitions and divestitures of franchise systems and integration of acquired systems Represented international franchise and product distribution companies in connection with direct franchising, transnational franchising, joint venture, master franchise, multi-unit development and exclusive distribution transactions throughout the world, including Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East Advised domestic and international franchising companies with respect to US and foreign franchise disclosure obligations and related legal compliance matters A frequent speaker on legal and business issues relating to brand expansion, franchising and distribution, Mr. Wulff has made numerous presentations at programs sponsored by the American Bar Association, the International Franchise Association, the International Bar Association, the Inter-American Bar Association, the Union Internationale des Avocats and various continuing legal education programs. He has authored numerous articles on franchising matters in a number of different legal and business periodicals. Mr. Wulff is named in Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business, which has listed him as a leading lawyer in international franchising. The publication has noted that he "has significant experience in assisting expanding international brands, and is praised by clients for his commercial awareness." Clients, Chambers says, praise him as "super smart, capable of great things and a
guy to look out for," cite his "wealth of experience in the sector and highlight his in-depth knowledge of both international franchising issues and 'the specific issues that will come up in a given country.'" Chambers USA has also repeatedly recognized him for his practice in the US. In 2010, Chambers USA commented that clients regard him as "one of the leading international franchise lawyers in the country;" in 2011 it stated, "Peers note his highly developed corporate and tax practice, and one remarks: 'He's a go-to person for companies expanding internationally; he's talented with great insights from working in-house.'" Mr. Wulff also has been listed in Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers and as a Franchise Times Legal Eagle for many years, and he is listed in Washington, DC's Best Lawyers 2011 for franchise law. Mr. Wulff is a citizen of the Netherlands, was born in Calcutta, India, and has traveled abroad extensively. PUBLICATIONS Co-author, "DLA Piper Weighs In on Latest 'Relationship' Legislation," BlueMauMau.org, (November 18, 2013) Author, "Franchising in India: A Brave New Frontier," ABA Franchise Law Journal (Spring 2010) Co-author, chapter on Franchising in the Retail Grocery Sector in "International Franchising," published by Global Law and Business Co-author, "Business in Beijing," ABA Franchise Law Journal (Summer 2007) Author, "Understanding China's New Franchise Regulations," Franchise & Business Law Alert (Summer 2007) Co-author, "Franchise Regulation In China: the Dawn of a New Day," ABA Franchise Law Journal (Summer 2005) Co-author, "Fundamentals of International Franchising," ABA Franchise Law Journal (2001) Co-author, "The New Commission Block Exemption: A Blurry Roadmap for Franchising In Europe," Franchise Law Journal, Vol. 20, No. 2 (Fall 2000) PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS Moderator, "Vetting Partners for International Business Alliances," DLA Piper Webinar (December 2012) Presenter, "Improving Client Communications," IFA Legal Symposium, Washington, DC (May 2012)
Presenter, "International Arbitration of Franchising Disputes: What You Need to Know and How to Draft Effective Dispute Resolution Clauses,"DLA Piper Webinar (April 2012) Co-Chair of ABA Section of International Law conference "US and India: Key Legal Aspects of Cross Border Business" Mumbai, India (2012) Presenter, "International Franchise Expansion: Commercial, Tax and Other Complex Issues," DLA Piper Webinar (September 2011) Moderator, "Doing Business in India," 2011 Spring Meeting of ABA Section of International Law, Washington, DC (2011) Presenter, "Demystifying Doing Business in Emerging Economies," and, "Control vs. Freedom: Negotiating International Franchise Agreements," 2010 Fall Meeting of the ABA Section of International Law, Paris (2010) Presenter, "Franchising in Latin America," 33rd Annual ABA Forum on Franchising, San Diego (2010) "Current Challenges in Brazil for Foreign Transaction Partners," InterAmerican Bar Association Annual Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2010) "Evaluation of Legal Risks of Sales Representations in International Franchise Transactions," International Franchise Association and International Bar Association's 26th Annual Joint Conference and 43rd Annual Legal Symposium, Washington, DC (2010) "Hot Transborder Law Practice and Legal Ethics Issues: India-US" ABA International Section Spring Meeting, New York, NY (2010) "Enforcement Challenges in Emerging Markets (Brazil, Russia, India and China)," International Franchise Association and International Bar Association's 25th Annual Joint Conference and 42nd Annual Legal Symposium, Washington, DC (2009) "Effects of an Uncertain Economy on Transnational Business," CESA Conference, Sao Paulo, Brazil (2009) "Drafting and Negotiating International Agreements: War Stories," ABA International Section Spring Meeting, Washington, DC (2009) "Hot Topics in Franchising and Hospitality," 2009 Hospitality Law Conference, Houston, Texas (2009) "Branding Across the World: International Master Franchising," ABA International Section Spring Meeting, Washington, DC (2007) "The Quagmire of Ending Distribution Arrangements in Latin and South America," ABA International Section Fall Meeting, Miami, FL (2006)
"The Intersection of Franchise and Securities Laws," ABA Forum on Franchising, Annual Meeting, Hollywood, Florida (October 2003) "System Standards Enforcement," IFA Legal Symposium, Washington, DC (May 2003) "Antitrust Counseling for the Transactional Lawyer," ABA Forum on Franchising Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California (2001) PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS Mr. Wulff is active in the ABA's Section of International Law, currently serving as a member of the ABA Task Force on International Trade in Legal Services. He has served as Chair of the Public International Law Division, co-chair of the India committee, chair of the International Commercial Transactions, Franchising and Distribution Committee, chair of the ILEX committee (including ILEX India, ILEX South America and ILEX New Zealand/Australia), and member of the Task Force on the International Criminal Court. He also is active in the ABA Forum on Franchising and is a former member of its Governing Committee (1988-1991) and a former associate editor of the ABA Franchise Law Journal.