a7
Fixing issues lawyers alone can’t solve.

Fixing issues lawyers alone can’t solve

a7 Relations is a specialised Berlin-based boutique advisory firm for high-stakes situations, led by Alexander Kulitz and Maximilian Hoffmann. We help organisations prevent or resolve complex issues in international markets.

a7 Relations is a specialised boutique advisory firm for high-stakes situations, based in Berlin and working worldwide. It was founded as a spin-off of the Foreign Council On Economic Relations and is led together with Partner & CEO Alexander Kulitz, a former Member of the German Bundestag. The firm helps organisations prevent or resolve complex issues in international markets where conventional approaches fall short. Focus areas: unfair competition, complex disputes, permit denials, market entry barriers, procurement protectionism, and local management and joint venture partner risks.

About a7 Relations

Private equity firms, family-owned businesses, and multinationals trust a7 Relations with their most complex commercial issues and value its expertise, discretion, and independence of thought. Its work draws on a global network of experienced, well-connected senior figures from government, finance, strategy, industry, media, law enforcement, and the not-for-profit sector, and it takes on assignments only where it is confident it can add real value. Our work spans Unfair Competition, Complex Disputes, Permit Denials, Market Entry Barriers, Procurement Protectionism, Local Management & Joint Venture Partner Risks.

a7 Relations was founded as a spin-off of the Foreign Council On Economic Relations to help organisations prevent or resolve complex issues in international markets where conventional approaches fall short. Our expertise and execution draw on a global network of experienced, well-connected senior figures from government, finance, strategy, industry, media, law enforcement, and the not-for-profit sector. Only a few businesses depend on trusted human relationships as much as ours does. That, above all, is what sets us apart. We hold ourselves to exacting ethical standards and choose our mandates with care. We work only with companies whose conduct we respect, and take on assignments only where we are confident we can add real value.

Leadership

Alexander Kulitz

Partner & CEO Career highlights: Member of the Executive Board, Europa Union Deutschland (2025–present); Co-Chair, Foreign Council On Economic Relations (2021–present); Member, German Federal Parliament / Bundestag, FDP (2017–2021); Member, Foreign Affairs Committee, German Bundestag (2018–2021); Deputy Chairman, Parliamentary Group for Relations with the ASEAN States, German Bundestag (2018–2021); Federal Chairman, Junior Chamber of Commerce Germany WJD (2017–2018); Attorney at Law (2010–present); Third-Generation Family Business Owner, ESTA Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG.

Maximilian Hoffmann

Founder Career highlights: President, Foreign Council On Economic Relations (2022–present); Executive Chairman and Secretary-General, Foreign Council On Economic Relations (2019–2022); Deputy Spokesperson of the Executive Board, Alliance of Associations (2020–2023); Secretary-General, Federal Business Associations of Germany and the Gulf Cooperation Council (2016–2019); Member of the Board of Directors, Federal Association of German Business in Ukraine (2008–2016).

Focus Areas

Contact

Berlin office: a7 Relations, Am Pergamonmuseum, Bauhofstraße 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Telephone: +49 30 692067500.