Gerald Wells focuses his practice in franchising, licensing, distribution, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate law.

Mr. Wells counsels start-up and established franchisors, licensors, and manufacturers across a diverse range of industries. He has structured and documented numerous franchise and distribution programs. His experience includes:

• negotiating and drafting franchise and license agreements, asset purchase agreements and related commercial contracts
• preparing domestic and international disclosure documents;
• counseling clients with respect to compliance with state and federal regulatory issues; and
• counseling franchisors regarding all aspects of the franchise relationship.

He has been involved in numerous corporate transactions related to the acquisition and sale of franchise systems.

Mr. Wells also represents and advises businesses on a wide variety of corporate and transactional matters, including corporate organization and compliance and negotiation and preparation of commercial, technology, and employment contracts.

Mr. Wells has worked in the legal departments of US Office Products Company and Hewlett-Packard Company. US Office Products, where he served as Senior Corporate Counsel, was the parent company for several companies, including the national and international franchisor Mail Boxes Etc. Mr. Wells' in-house experience involved a wide range of business matters and intellectual property transactions.

Admissions

• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Maryland

Memberships

• American Bar Association (Forum On Franchising’s Diversity Committee Member)
• National Bar Association
• State Bar of Georgia (Steering Committee Member of State Bar of Georgia Diversity Program, 2006- Present)
• Maryland State Bar Association (Secretary of the Committee on Franchising & Distribution Law of the Section on Business Law, 1999-2000)

Publications

• Co-Author, "A Road Map to the New FTC Franchise Rule," Franchise Law Journal, Fall 2007
• "The New Rule and Your Practice, The Top Ten Things You Need to Know," Franchise Law Journal, Spring 2007
• "Revenue Recognition Rules for Franchise Fees," The Franchise Lawyer, May 2006

Clerk Information

• Clerk to the Honorable Hart T. Mankin, US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims

Civic and Charitable

• Board Member for National Coalition Building Institute Atlanta, 2006-2007