Clifford Chance is examining its options in Turkey after establishing a toehold in the country, The Lawyer can reveal.

Mete Yegin

Mete Yegin

Istanbul lawyer Mete Yegin was hired by the magic circle firm in January from local firm Pekin & Pekin to expand business in the country. At the moment the relationship is run mainly out of Clifford Chance Frankfurt.

However, Frankfurt-based Clifford Chance ­partner Nicholas Wong said the firm would not rule out forming a strategic alliance with a local Turkish firm.

“We’re very keen on the Turkish market. We have a huge practice there,” he said. “We work with a number of Turkish firms and have had a longstanding relationship with Mete. He has the local knowledge and helps us make sure we’re working with the very best firms. Mete is an important part of our practice and we feel we have the right capabilities.”

Turkey is considered by a number of City firms to be a market with considerable potential. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is understood to have been interested in the jurisdiction, while Denton Wilde Sapte and White & Case both have associations with local practices.