Berker Berker Law Firm

Founding Partner Atty. Ayça Berker discusses Berker Berker’s vision for a sustainable world, foreign investments and the importance of fostering strong client relations.   What do you see as the main points that differentiate Berker Berker Law Firm from your competitors? What truly differentiates Berker Berker Law Firm from our competitors is the depth of professional experience that both Atty. Ahmet Berker and I bring to our practice, along with our high level of personal involvement in each case. Having worked on both sides of the table, representing a range of client types, we understand the unique perspectives and requirements that arise in both consulting and dispute resolution. This dual-sided experience allows us to navigate the legal landscape with a comprehensive understanding, fostering practical and effective solutions that others might overlook. My experience as an in-house counsel for a leading telecommunications company in Türkiye has been instrumental in shaping my approach. This background has given me a profound understanding of business complexities, enabling me to deliver legal services that are deeply aligned with commercial realities and clients’ strategic goals. I can easily look at any situation from the eyes of a corporate client and can understand their points of view. This gives our clients a sense of understanding and assures them that we will act in their best interests. Our hands-on involvement is another defining aspect of our work; as partners, we ensure we are always accessible to our clients and are actively engaged in our cases. We believe that limiting one’s practice to a single perspective misses the opportunity for crafting smarter, more adaptable solutions. Through our varied experiences, we can craft innovative, forward-thinking strategies to prevent potential issues or resolve disputes efficiently when they arise by anticipating how both sides may approach a dispute or negotiation. This combination of legal acumen, commercial insight, and active partnership involvement allows us to serve clients with a level of detail and strategic foresight that truly sets us apart in a competitive landscape.   Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that? In the next 12 months, I see significant growth potential for our firm in the banking and finance sector, as well as in dispute resolution. Given the ever-changing economic landscape and the challenges that businesses are facing globally, I believe there will be an increasing demand for legal services that address the complexities of financial transactions and regulatory compliance. Our previous experience in these areas will be invaluable as we navigate these changes. We are well-equipped to provide strategic guidance to both banks and financial institutions and commercial entities in their dealings with such institutions, especially as they adapt to new market conditions and look for ways to manage their risks effectively. Additionally, I foresee a growing need for dispute resolution services. As businesses face more challenges and potential conflicts arise, our firm’s expertise in quickly resolving disputes will become even more crucial. Our proactive approach, combined with our extensive background in handling various disputes, positions us to help clients minimize disruption and achieve favorable outcomes.   What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients? The main change we have implemented at Berker Berker Law Firm that directly benefits our clients is our commitment to providing partner-level services throughout their engagement with us. This ensures that every client receives the highest quality of service, no matter the size or complexity of their case. From the very beginning, we make it a priority to deliver on the promises we make. Our clients can trust that the level of service they are promised will be consistently maintained. Both Ahmet and I are deeply involved in all aspects of our cases, managing our teams carefully and effectively to ensure that no detail is overlooked. I believe that this dedication to quality service is one of the most important benefits we offer to our clients. By being actively engaged and accessible, we not only foster strong relationships but also provide strategic insights that can significantly impact their business outcomes. Our focus on maintaining high standards of service ultimately helps our clients achieve their goals with confidence.   Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them? Sure enough, technology is transforming the way we interact with our clients and the range of services we can provide. It has significantly enhanced our capabilities in areas such as reporting and the digitalization of internal structures, which streamlines our processes and improves efficiency. For instance, technology has allowed us to speed up our consulting services, enabling us to deliver timely and relevant advice to our clients both virtually and in person. We are committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, actively monitoring every change to determine how we can implement new tools and systems to better serve our clients. This proactive approach to technology not only improves our internal operations but also enhances our communication with clients, ensuring that we can respond to their needs quickly and effectively. By leveraging these advancements, we can offer a more comprehensive and efficient legal service, ultimately leading to better outcomes for our clients.   Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business? One practical example of how we have added value to our clients' businesses is through our commitment to keeping them informed about relevant regulatory changes. We regularly send out news alerts that cover both local and international developments that could impact their operations. This proactive approach allows our clients to stay ahead of any changes in the regulatory landscape, ensuring they can make sound commercial decisions based on timely information. By closely monitoring these changes, we help our clients save valuable time and money, allowing them to focus on their core business activities while we handle the complexities of compliance. Additionally, we have successfully supported several clients in confidential matters, where our involvement has been crucial in securing the continuation of their practices. In these sensitive situations, our expertise has helped clients navigate potential challenges, allowing them to operate smoothly and confidently.   Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time? Absolutely. Clients are indeed looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms, especially in these dynamic times. In the next three years, I envision Berker Berker Law Firm not only continue to provide that stability but also, expand significantly. We aim to grow our team to enhance our capabilities and strengthen our client relationships further. Integrating technology into our legal practice will remain a priority, allowing us to provide even more efficient and effective services. I believe that as Türkiye evolves, it can become a more attractive destination for foreign investors, and our firm is committed to playing a key role in facilitating this. We want to provide the necessary legal support to help clients navigate the complexities of entering and operating in this market. Moreover, we aspire to be a factor in promoting sustainability. This means not only helping our clients make their operations more sustainable but also ensuring that our own practices as a law firm reflect sustainability principles. We want to lead by example, setting a standard for other firms to follow. By focusing on these areas, I believe we can position ourselves as a forward-thinking, responsible firm that truly adds value to our clients and the broader community.

Founding and Managing Partner Atty. Ahmet Berker emphasizes the importance of close partner-level involvement in the firm's cases.   What do you see as the main points that differentiate Berker Berker Law Firm from your competitors? What sets Berker Berker Law Firm distinctly apart is the deeply personal and hands-on approach we take with every client and every case. We do not merely oversee cases from a distance—Atty. Ayça Berker and I are personally involved in every detail, from strategy sessions to client meetings, ensuring we come fully prepared without relying on extensive briefings or third-party support. This direct involvement means that clients are working directly with the decision-makers of the firm, not intermediaries, and receive the benefit of our combined insights from the outset. Our commitment to personal engagement is more than a method; it reflects our dedication to providing the highest level of care, accountability, and client satisfaction. This approach enables us to not only deliver efficient results but also build a deeper understanding of each client’s unique needs, allowing us to anticipate potential challenges and pivot quickly when necessary. Ayça and I prioritize a close, ongoing relationship with our clients, providing them with frequent updates and being readily accessible whenever they need guidance or reassurance. Ultimately, our clients gain the assurance that their matters are not just being managed—they are being championed. With our deep involvement and commitment, we take ownership of each case, ensuring no detail is missed and every avenue for success is explored. This level of personalized service and rigorous engagement underscores our firm’s philosophy and is central to our identity at Berker Berker Law Firm. Ayça’s extensive experience as an in-house counsel gives her a unique business-oriented perspective on legal matters. She understands the corporate world’s demands and nuances and her insights are invaluable for guiding company management and developing strategic, outcome-oriented solutions that align closely with business goals. My background as an outside counsel complements this. I draw on over 33 years of experience managing complex matters in various fields, such as corporate law, construction projects, and dispute resolution, with a special focus on arbitration. With experience across both sides of the table in transactions and disputes, ranging from banking and finance disputes where we represented both banks and corporate borrowers, to real estate projects where we acted on behalf of both property owners and developers, our varied experience enables us to understand issues from multiple perspectives, tailoring our approach to best serve each client. Through such an approach, our firm can address the distinct needs of each party involved in multifaceted disputes, both in Türkiye and internationally. Ayça and I are experts in our respective fields. Together, we offer a unique and well-rounded collaborative service that capitalizes on this. For corporate deals, Ayça’s business acumen and contractual expertise is crucial; in complex disputes, my dispute resolution and arbitration experience comes to the fore. Our clients receive direct access to senior-level expertise at every step, with both of us actively involved alongside our team. When we talk about partner-level service, we mean it—no detail is overlooked, and every case receives the full benefit of our combined knowledge and experience.     Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that? Looking ahead, I am afraid I anticipate significant growth in our role in dispute resolution, particularly within the banking and finance sectors. This need is largely driven by the ongoing global economic challenges. Over the next 12 months, I foresee a rising demand for the restructuring of commercial loans as banks face increasing pressures in today’s financial climate. Many institutions will need to reassess their loan portfolios, and our firm’s expertise in corporate law and financial restructuring will be invaluable in addressing these challenges. At Berker Berker Law Firm, we are positioning ourselves to meet the complex demands of both banks and their clients. We offer comprehensive support, from asset management to debt recovery, for banks both domestically and abroad. However, we also extend our expertise to borrowers, leveraging our experience representing prominent corporate clients in their dealings with financial institutions. This unique perspective allows us to see both sides of the table, enabling us to foresee potential issues and develop practical, strategic solutions to avoid or resolve disputes. In this critical area, our dual-sided experience will be essential for helping both lenders and borrowers navigate uncertain times with stability and insight. Additionally, we are currently advising on several large-scale real estate projects, and I am optimistic about the progress there as well. These projects represent significant opportunities, and I expect our work in this area to continue growing as the projects move forward.   What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?  One of the main changes we have made that will significantly benefit our clients is the expansion of our legal team. We have recently brought in talented new attorneys, which not only strengthens our capacity but also introduces fresh perspectives to the way we approach our cases. This growth allows us to provide enhanced support across a broader range of industries and legal matters, ensuring we meet our client’s needs with depth and agility. We have also embraced technology more actively, implementing secure, encrypted file-storing services to protect client information rigorously. Additionally, each team member has a dedicated work laptop, providing an added layer of security for sensitive data. Virtual meeting platforms have also further streamlined our operations, allowing us to connect seamlessly with clients, both locally and internationally, and to use our time more efficiently. This technological integration has enabled us to respond faster and more effectively, making our services even more accessible and secure for our clients.   Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them? Technology has changed the way we interact with our clients and the services we provide, especially since the pandemic. Platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become an essential part of how we conduct meetings, replacing many of the face-to-face interactions we used to rely on. These virtual meetings not only cut down on travel time and costs but also allow us to meet more frequently with clients when needed, which ultimately benefits them. The time we save by using these platforms gives us more flexibility and allows us to focus on what really matters—understanding our clients’ needs in greater depth and delivering faster, more efficient solutions. This has been particularly beneficial for our clients abroad, as technology enables us to stay connected no matter where they are located, making the entire process more practical and streamlined. Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?  One example that really stands out is our work regarding a large tourism project in a private tourism area in Türkiye, valued at over 600 million Euros. We represented the property owner in this matter, and there were significant disputes between the owner and the developer that prevented the project from moving forward. The delays were costly for both parties, and the project was at risk of not starting at all. Through our practical approach and in-depth knowledge of real estate and construction law, we were able to resolve these issues and made sure the project could proceed as planned. By navigating this complex situation and settling the disputes efficiently, we not only ensured that the project could start but also saved both sides from further financial losses. This was a clear example of how our law firm adds value by combining legal expertise with practical problem-solving skills.     Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time? Absolutely, clients are looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms, especially in today’s challenging environment. We have made several key changes to ensure we meet those needs, from expanding our legal team to using technology more actively and continuing to offer our expert advice. Looking ahead, in the next three years, I see our firm growing strategically in several areas. One major focus will be expanding our work in dispute resolution. With the increasing complexity of disputes, both locally and internationally, we want to further establish ourselves as a leading firm for arbitration and litigation, particularly in corporate and construction-related matters. Real estate and construction projects will also remain a key area for us. We have already seen success in these sectors, such as with the large tourism project we helped launch, and I expect us to continue strengthening our role in these industries. Another area where I see significant growth is energy projects. I have in-depth knowledge of energy law, backed by prior experience working on major energy projects, and I see this as a vital sector going forward. With the global push towards sustainable energy and the increasing need for legal guidance in energy investments, we are positioning ourselves to offer strategic counsel on these projects, helping clients navigate both regulatory and operational challenges.