Interview with: Dr. Ömer Kesikli, Founding Partner

Kesikli Law Firm stands out through its strategic vision, personalized client approach, and innovative solutions. In this interview, the firm’s founding partner Dr. Omer KESIKLI shares valuable insights into their unique practices and future direction. Discover how Kesikli continues to deliver exceptional value and maintain strong client relationships in a rapidly evolving legal landscape.

 

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Kesikli Law Firm from your competitors?

At Kesikli, we position ourselves as more than just external advisors; we serve as trusted in-house counsels for our corporate clients, deeply understanding their business objectives and challenges. Our global presence allows us to support our clients’ international projects seamlessly, combining traditional legal advocacy with innovative transactional solutions. Having hands-on experience in both transactional and dispute resolution practices significantly strengthens our advice and positions our clients advantageously in the marketplace.

We take pride in delivering highly personalized attention to each client, regardless of their size or sector. Many global corporations, mid-sized businesses, and ambitious startups have approached us specifically due to their frustrations with larger competitors who often fall short in providing responsive, quality service tailored to their specific needs. At Kesikli, our primary goal isn’t about accumulating mandates; it’s about ensuring that every client receives exceptional, attentive service. Our culture emphasizes continuous learning, adaptability, and keeping abreast of technological, cultural, and market developments. This proactive approach significantly enhances our ability to provide forward-thinking, impactful solutions that genuinely make a difference in our clients’ businesses and lives.

 

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

We anticipate significant growth in Technology, Energy, and Arbitration practices in the coming year. Rapid integration of AI, blockchain, and advanced technologies into various industries is reshaping the business landscape, raising complex legal issues ranging from intellectual property and data protection to regulatory compliance and competition law. Companies increasingly need specialized legal advice to navigate these evolving challenges, making our Technology Law practice increasingly essential.

Energy practice growth will be driven by escalating global energy demands combined with stringent ESG standards. Businesses are investing heavily in renewable energy and sustainability initiatives, presenting numerous legal opportunities related to project development, finance, and compliance.

Arbitration is set to grow substantially due to the overburdened court system in Türkiye and the growing need for efficient, expert-driven dispute resolution mechanisms, particularly in cross-border transactions. Institutions like the Istanbul Arbitration Center (ISTAC) and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Center (ITOTAM) significantly enhance Türkiye’s attractiveness as a regional arbitration hub, capitalizing on its strategic geographical position connecting East and West.

 

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

One of the most impactful changes we’ve implemented is our comprehensive adoption of innovative legal technology solutions, including advanced document management systems, AI-driven legal research, and secure, real-time client collaboration platforms. By embracing technology, we have streamlined our workflows, significantly reducing turnaround times and enhancing accuracy, transparency, and efficiency for our clients.

Additionally, we have introduced multidisciplinary advisory groups combining legal expertise with commercial and technical insights. These groups proactively identify opportunities and mitigate risks early in the decision-making process, ensuring our clients benefit from holistic, strategic, and business-focused advice.

 

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Absolutely. Technology has fundamentally transformed our client interactions, enabling us to provide more agile, responsive, and precise services. Through cloud-based collaboration platforms, virtual meetings, and AI-supported analytics, we significantly reduce the time our clients spend on routine processes, allowing them to focus more on their core business operations. Technology also empowers us to proactively identify potential legal risks and opportunities through sophisticated data analytics, thereby adding measurable value to our clients’ strategic decision-making.

 

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client add value to their business?

At Kesikli, we see our role extending beyond traditional legal services; we actively facilitate meaningful business relationships within our extensive network. Recently, we proactively connected two corporate clients from complementary industries. Recognizing their potential synergies, we initiated and moderated strategic discussions, ultimately resulting in a highly successful joint venture that has expanded their market reach significantly.

In another instance, during a complex corporate transaction that had the potential to escalate into a significant dispute, our team proactively intervened with an innovative approach distinct from traditional legal methods. By thoroughly engaging with our client’s technical experts and commercial team, we gained deep insights into every aspect of the business, enabling us to identify creative, mutually beneficial solutions. Through this collaborative effort, we not only successfully resolved the conflict by strengthening the relationship between the involved parties but also secured substantial financial savings for our client. Seeing the genuine appreciation from our client affirmed our commitment to exceeding standard legal practices and consistently delivering exceptional value.

 

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Absolutely, clients increasingly seek stability, reliability, and strategic insight from their legal advisors. As we approach our 18th anniversary, I’m proud to share that our very first client remains with us today, underscoring the trust, stability, and lasting partnerships we cultivate at Kesikli. Our consistent recognition by Legal500 as a leading law firm for the last 11 consecutive years further validates our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction.

Three years from now, we envision significantly expanding our global presence, particularly within key emerging markets. While we continue to strengthen our leadership in Energy law, we plan substantial growth in our Arbitration and Technology practices, establishing Kesikli as a leading innovator in these dynamic sectors. Additionally, we aim to enhance our multidisciplinary approach by attracting top-tier talent from diverse professional backgrounds, enabling us to address our clients’ increasingly complex business challenges comprehensively. Ultimately, our strategic direction remains focused on delivering unparalleled service quality, pioneering legal solutions, and sustained, measurable value for our clients.