Former Birsel Law Offices Senior Associate Nazan Diri Bal has moved with several colleagues to join Diri Legal as the Managing Partner of the firm's new Istanbul office.
Diri's move was precipitated by the long-anticipated retirement of Mahmut Birsel, who finally closed the doors to his acclaimed firm on December 31, 2017. According to Diri, "although it was with mixed feelings for me to hear this news since I have been with the firm for more than 10 years, I am thankful to Dr. Birsel for letting me to be a part of a tremendous team which set a precedent in the Turkish legal community throughout the years."
Still, she says she is excited about the new position. According to Diri, the "extensive experience," of Diri Legal, which was founded in Izmir in 1990 by Hayri Diri — her father — "will surely be strengthened by our participation, which will bring dynamism and a new generation touch to the firm. With the new and highly capable team we will have and with continuing confidence of our clients who are following us, I am fully confident that this is the very beginning of a successful business that will grow with our commitment and dedication."
In a message to CEE Legal Matters, Diri explained that "now, by our participation, we wanted to restructure the firm and reshape its profile by a new generational touch. The first step was amending the brand to Diri Legal as an indication of a change of vision and of our willingness to put another brick to a strong wall built by the firm so far. In other words, this is a family business for me, which is being rebuilt by the experience and expertise I have gained at Birsel throughout the years (as I spent more than a decade there)." She continued, "I could not let this 30-year valuable legacy to simply fade away so I decided to get behind the wheel."
The firm has four partners, including its founding partner, and Diri is joined by two attorneys, an of counsel, and affiliated lawyers in Ankara. According to Diri, "our goal is to double in size in the near future considering the continuous confidence of our clients who are following me from Birsel and the increasing interest of past clients who are newly informed of the news. That is why we are confident of this good, fresh start and fully committed and dedicated to this successful beginning."
