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Clifford Chance builds on Turkish association with Istanbul launch

25 November 2010 | By Luke McLeod-Roberts

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Clifford Chance is to launch in Turkey, 18 months after The Lawyer revealed that the magic circle firm had built a presence in the jurisdiction.

Next year the firm will open an office in Istanbul, with London-based finance partner Simon Williams leading the Turkish practice.

The office will operate in cooperation with Yegin Legal Consultancy (YLC), Clifford Chance’s associate Turkish law firm, which is headed by Mete Yegin.  

In 2009 Clifford Chance tied up with Yegin, who had previously worked at local firm Pekin & Pekin (27 July 2009). That said, until now Turkish work has mainly been handled out of Frankfurt.

Managing partner David Childs said: “Since formalising our consultancy arrangement with Mete last year, our business in Turkey and the wider region has gone from strength to strength. It’s clear from discussions with our clients that they see this as one of a number of important growth markets and are keen to see us establish a presence on the ground.  

“Their view reflects our own focus on the fast growing economies in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East and our long-standing commitment to Eastern Europe.” 

Clifford Chance has been active on Turkish matters for about 30 years and recent client mandates include representing major Turkish and international clients on the financing of the Eurasia Bosphorus Tunnel, the Boyabat hydro project, the EnerjiSA power portfolio, the Mersin and Bandirma Ports, the Ankara, Antalya, Izmir and Istanbul airports and the MMK Atakas steel mill, as well as gas distribution and electricity generation and distribution privatisations and debt and capital markets issuances for a number of issuers in the US and European markets.

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Readers' comments (10)

  • Little Miss Happy | 25-Nov-2010 12:23 pm

    Excellent news! It was somewhat strange to have this geographic area covered by Bucharest. I hope that this becomes the most notable MC presence on the Balkans.

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  • marjorie | 25-Nov-2010 1:12 pm

    And the news is? Firm has had an association in Turkey for two years. Firm still has an association in Turkey. Nice one Cliford Chance. Your on fire right now.

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  • immaculate pasta | 25-Nov-2010 1:27 pm

    I bet the Turks are quaking in their boots. Little Miss Happy may have to dream on if she thinks one partner will make 'the most notable MC presence on the Balkans'.

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  • Anonymous | 25-Nov-2010 1:38 pm

    In relation to Marjorie's comment, the difference is that CC will have a licence to open an office in Turkey, although the rules require it to open with a local partner. This was not the case before.

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  • Childish David | 25-Nov-2010 2:38 pm

    They can open all the cute little offices they like but this is a distraction from Cliffords' real problem which is Asia. Links (especially) are streets ahead in China. Cc have also been left standing by what A&O have been doing in Australia. Compared to 17 partners in Oz, 1 partner in Istanbul is lame.

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  • Anonymous | 25-Nov-2010 2:56 pm

    It is good to have international law firms' presence in Turkey; since local law firms are always managed by nepotism. I hope the international law firms will offer more reasonable working condiitions and increase competition.

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  • billy childish | 25-Nov-2010 3:00 pm

    Childish Dave is right. Turkey is interesting and all, and it would be fantastic to have a proper presence there, but one lawyer really isn't a statement of intent. CC got their fingers burned a bit with the Mallesons stuff but they need to do something a bit more ballsy than this Istanbul launch if they want to keep up with the rest of the magic circle.

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  • Puerile Dave | 25-Nov-2010 3:27 pm

    @Childish David | 25-Nov-2010 2:38 pm
    By Asia presumably you are referring to East Asia? Most of Turkey (including Istanbul) sits in Asia and as a result the firm is strategically well-placed to take advantage of many of the opportunities in western Asia, particularly oil and gas pipeline work from Caspian Sea/central Asian republics.

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  • Anonymous | 25-Nov-2010 3:44 pm

    The real question is whether Simon Williams will stamp his authority on the Turkish legal market by swimming across the Hellespont in the manner of Lord Byron.
    Well Simon Williams, will you?

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  • Anon | 25-Nov-2010 3:56 pm

    It's hard to argue with this move but I agree with others here that CC needs a transformational merger in Asia to really move to the next level.
    The obvious answer is an Australian merger, but they they will have to be quick or all the potential partners will be taken... ;-)

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