Clifford Chance forays into Turkey

Global law firm Clifford Chance plans to foray into the dynamic Turkish market and expand across South Eastern Europe by opening an office in Istanbul.

Clifford Chance has teamed up with a leading Turkish law firm Yegin Legal Consultancy (YLC) to open a new law office in Istanbul in spring 2011. The new law office will be led by YLC partner Mete Yegin, the firm said in a statement.

Simon Williams, a London-based finance partner, will relocate to Istanbul and lead the firm's practice in Turkey. The new office will focus on infrastructure, energy, finance and capital markets.

In January 2009, Clifford Chance tied up with YLC head Mete Yegin, a banking and finance partner, who had previously worked at local firm Pekin & Pekin. The Turkish firm has four further associates.

According to Clifford Chance Managing Partner David Childs, Turkey is one of the important growth markets and hence they decided to open an office there.

Agrees Williams. The Turkish business environment is evolving fast and there is a strong group of very impressive corporations that are ambitious to expand. These businesses, alongside the major multinationals, are looking for the highest-quality international and Turkish legal advice around inbound and outbound investment, Williams said.

Combining our network and our deep expertise in the key sectors that are driving development in the region with the best-in-class Turkish legal advice provided by Mete's team makes us particularly well placed to support these clients in meeting their ambitions, he added.