Eric H. Karp - a Boston, Massachusetts (MA) Family Law and Probate Litigation Lawyer

Boston Family Law and Probate Litigation Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Family Law and Probate Litigation
Business and Franchise Law

Attorney Information

Overview

ERIC H. KARP is a partner in the Boston law firm of Witmer, Karp, Warner & Ryan LLP where his practice concentrated in franchise and business law. He was one of only 173 lawyers from 49 countries selected for inclusion in The International Who's Who of Franchise Lawyers 2004-2005, published by Law Business Research.

Mr. Karp serves as counsel to numerous franchisee associations in such chains as McDonald's, Pearle Vision, Domino's Pizza, Denny's, TCBY Yogurt, Jackson Hewitt, Woodcraft, Portable On Demand Storage, and Colors on Parade. He has represented franchisees throughout the country in a myriad of franchise issues including sales, purchases, relocations, remodels, transfers, defaults and terminations and lease issues.

He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Franchisee Association (AFA). Mr. Karp also served as Chair of the AFA Model Responsible Franchise Practices Act Committee, was the principal author of the Model Act and served as the Program Chair of the 1999 AFA Franchisee Legal Symposium.

In June, 1994 Mr. Karp testified before the U.S. House Small Business Committee on "Self Regulation of Franchising: The IFA Code of Ethics." An elected delegate to the 1995 White House Conference on Small Business, Mr. Karp has twice testified before the Joint Committee on Commerce and Labor of the Massachusetts Legislature on franchise issues. Mr. Karp has also provided advice and assistance to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and its staff on proposed federal legislation on franchising.

Since 1996 Mr. Karp has served on the Franchise Project Group of the Franchise and Business Opportunities Committee of the North American Securities Administrators Association. He has been a presenter for the American Bar Association Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise Association Legal Symposium and an active participant in the debate over the revision of the Federal Trade CommissionÕs Franchise Disclosure Rule.

Mr. Karp has been a regular guest lecturer at Babson College in its MBA program on franchising.

Mr. Karp is a graduate of Boston University (B.A. Political Science 1974) and Boston University School of Law (J.D. 1977).

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Eric H Karp included in a Super Lawyers® list

Other Sources of Feedback About Eric H. Karp

Included on the 2026 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2024 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2023 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2022 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2021 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2019 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2017 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2016 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2014 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2013 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2012 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2011 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2010 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2009 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2008 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2007 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list
2006 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- Boston University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts, 1977
  J.D
Non Legal Education
- Boston University, 1974
  B.A
  Major: Political Science

Classes and Seminars

Presenter, Franchising, American Bar Association
Presenter, Franchise Association Legal Symposium
Guest Lecturer, Babson College

Published Works

Articles

Discriminatory Treatment of Franchisees, American Bar Association Annual Forum, 2004
Franchise Affiliation: Eyes Wide Open, Realtor Magazine, August, 2004
"Franchising: Once You Start, Can You Stop", Leader's Franchising and Business Law Alert, 2003
Mediation: Is Everyone on the Same Page?, Franchise Times, 2001
The Case for Federal Pre-emption, Leader's Franchising & Business Law Alert, 2000
Franchise Agreement Enforcement and State Relationship Laws, International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, 2000
Franchisee Rights to Freely Associate Bolstered, Legislation and Courts Leader's Franchising & Business Law Alert, 2000
How, When and Why to Form an Independent Franchisee Association, AFA Legal Symposium, 1999
Marketplace Monopoly - How, Pizza Franchisers Play the Game, AFA Legal Symposium, 1999
Mediation, An In Depth Analysis, Franchising, American Bar Association Annual Forum, 1998
The Use of Little FTC Acts in Franchise Relationship Litigation, International Franchise Association Legal Symposium, 1998
The Formation of a Franchisee Association, AFA Legal Symposium, 1998
Franchise Terminations, Transfers and Renewals, AFA Legal Symposium, 1998
Franchising, A Business Alternative, Boston Minority Business Development Center, 1995
Leasing and Operational Issues in Franchising, American Franchisee Association Convention, 1995

Bar Admissions

Massachusetts, 1978

Other Affiliations

Boston Bar Association, Family Law Section (Member)
Massachusetts Bar Association, Family Law Section (Member)
American Franchisee Association (Board of Director)
American Franchisee Association (Chair, Model Responsible Franchise Practices Act Committee)
North American Securities Administrators Association, Business Opportunities Committee
North American Securities Administrators Association, Franchise Project Group of the Franchise
AFA Franchisee Legal Symposium, 1999 (Program Chair)

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Contact

Boston, MA

30 Federal Street
6th Floor
Boston, MA 02110

Directions

Phone: 617-286-5052

Fax: (617) 423-7251

Email: Send a message

Website: https://wfrllp.com/

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Eric H Karp - Boston, MA