Curtis Mallet launches in Istanbul

US firm Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle has ramped up its emerging market presence by launching its first office in Istanbul.

The firm, which has recently expanded its offices in Frankfurt, Paris and London, is hoping to build its client base in South Eastern and Central Europe as well as the Middle East with the new office.

Managing partner of the Istanbul office, Ali Gursel, said: "It’ll help us to better support our clients in these jurisdictions. We’ve always run an international firm and we have wanted to expand our capabilities
further."

Highlighting Turkey's strengthening gross domestic product (GDP), Gursel said he was surprised that so few US and UK firms have branched out into the country before.

"Over the past four years the GDP has increased dramatically and this has resulted in a lot of inbound work. We see Istanbul as a very exciting jurisdiction and I'm surprised not many other firms see it in the same way," he said.

While many firms have not moved into Turkey, White & Case and Denton Wilde Sapte are two firms that do have a presence in Istanbul.

The firm is planning to set up an office in Dubai, advancing its Middle East presence even further.

In 2003 The Lawyer reported on the firm's alliance with Italy-based firms Alemani & Bocchiola and Tamburini & Associati (11 June).