Turkey's Cakmak Law Offices, which after many years as the preeminent firm in Ankara just launched its new Istanbul office last week, has announced that it will join forces with the Serap Zuvin Law Office on April 1, 2018, and that going forward, the two teams will operate under the Cakmak Law brand.
The tie-up of the two well-known brands represents just the second ever law firm merger on the splintered and highly competitive Turkish law firm market, following the 2014 merger of the Davutoglu firm with the Bener Law Firm (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on August 28, 2014), although that association ended less than two years later, when Cem Davutoglu joined Akbank (as reported on March 14, 2016).
In the newly merged firm, Partner Serap Zuvin will lead the Cakmak's newly established Aviation Department. Indeed, the Serap Zuvin Law Office has a strong market reputation for its Aviation Law practice, developed over the 18 years since Serap Zuvin left White & Case. In merging with Cakmak law she rejoins former White & Case colleague Zeynep Cakmak, who was the Co-Managing Partner of the Cakmak-Gokce Law Firm, White & Case's Istanbul affiliate, until she left in December of 2017 (as reported by CEE Legal Matters on December 15, 2017).
According to Cakmak Law, the firm's new office in Istanbul allows them to be close to the multinational companies, local companies, and financial institutions operating out of Turkey's biggest city. According to a firm press release: “This complements our long-time establishment in Ankara, where we benefit from our close proximity to and long-standing familiarity with all government agencies and authorities. Being located in both Ankara and Istanbul will strengthen our ability to meet our Turkish and international clients’ needs in a prompt, efficient, and cost-effective manner."
Regarding the merger, a Serap Zurin Law Offices press release claimed that “the joining of the two law firms with very similar cultures and high quality of service will enable them to provide their clients with a broader range of assistance and expertise.”
In an exclusive interview with CEE Legal Matters, Cakmak Law Partner Zeynep Cakmak spoke about the decision to integrate with Serap Zuvin's team: “We share the same business culture with Serap Zuvin and we worked together in the past. We are now getting back together to create a new synergy combining our strengths in the Turkish legal market. It is exciting times for all of us and we hope that will be shared by our clients too.”
