About

Ibrahim Chechen Investment Holding Co. (IC Holding) is an investment management company that carries out its business activities mainly in construction, energy generation and distribution, tourism, industry, and infrastructure through its group of companies. As the parent company ‘upholds an understanding of management that encourages strategic approach, participation in decision-making, respect towards humans and social responsibility’, it is easy to see how the legal team would slot into the structure. Zihni Gönen, chief legal counsel and member of the executive committee, plays an active role in managing the global legal team of 55 lawyers and 20 non-lawyers that cover Russia and the CIS regions. Demonstrating a strong work ethic and value to the business, the team provides legal advice to more than 70 companies in the group, handling local and international matters in over 10 countries. Gönen believes that the ‘legal team plays an important role in most of the decisions as I am member of the board. The board does not take any decision without the legal team’s confirmation’. Having the voice of the legal team at the highest level has helped support the group through regulatory change, economic downturn and political change.