Benjamin Fan Wu is a Senior Attorney practicing in Butzel Long’s Detroit office. He concentrates his practice on corporate matters and international business law, with an emphasis on Chinese businesses.
Mr. Wu has been the principal counsel to many domestic and foreign manufacturers for mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. He represents small- to mid-sized enterprises and has helped new entrepreneurs understand and prioritize their legal needs in a cost-effective manner. Mr. Wu’s clients also include counties and schools (both at the k-12 and at the university level). He has worked closely with various economic development groups and county representatives to attract investment in Michigan. Mr. Wu currently represents a number of Chinese enterprises that conduct business in the United States, and he also advises multiple U.S. companies on expanding their business interests in China.
Mr. Wu is a frequent lecturer and presenter on China-related matters. These presentations include topics such as negotiating with the Chinese, Chinese business practices, Chinese culture, protecting intellectual property rights in China, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in China. He has often been called upon to resolve conflicts arising out of the cross-cultural dissonance to preserve existing and future working relationships. Mr. Wu represents a number of culturally diverse clients and believes that any dispute resolution and consensus must include a necessary level of cultural competency for all parties. Mr. Wu was a consultant for the National Center for Dispute Resolution (NCDR) regarding its China projects, where he coordinated recruitment and training plans for mediators and arbitrators in Sino-American disputes.
Mr. Wu is the Past President of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association (MAPABA) and current Treasurer. He is a member of the Detroit Chinese Business Association (DCBA), the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce (APACC), and the Chinese Americans of Greater Detroit (CAGD). In May 2010, Mr. Wu was invited by President Obama to attend the White House Reception Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Mr. Wu is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section; the State Bar of Michigan’s Legal Outreach and Education Committee; and the State Bar of Michigan’s Legal Milestones Committee. He has received his Civil Mediation Certificate from the State Bar of Michigan. Mr. Wu is a mediator with the Dispute Resolution Center of Central Michigan, and he has served as a judge during the American Bar Association’s Regional Mediation Competitions. He is also accredited by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and represents veterans on a pro bono basis through the University of Detroit Mercy Law School’s Project Salute. Prior to attending law school, Mr. Wu was a Researcher for nearly a decade at the University of Michigan; he worked on surveys such as a Panel Study of Income Dynamics and a Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Behaviors.
Mr. Wu is a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor (B.A., 1994), where he studied cellular molecular biology, political science, and economics. He also graduated from Michigan State University College of Law (J.D., 2007). During his time in law school, Mr. Wu was a semi-finalist in the American Bar Association’s Arbitration Regional Competition, and he placed in the top ten in its National Competition. He was also a Senior Associate for the Michigan State University College of Law’s Journal of International Law.
Mr. Wu has a native’s fluency in both Mandarin Chinese and English.