Interview with: Gökçe Uzun Karabayraktar, Partner & Utku Karabayraktar, Founding Partner

Partner Gökçe Uzun Karabayraktar and Founding Partner Utku Karabayraktar co-state the Firm’s remarks on developing sector dynamics and their vision in fulfilling the needs of the clients.

 

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Karabayraktar IP Consultancy and Law Firm from your competitors?

Our law firm stands out from competitors in several keyways. Our focus on Intellectual Property Law and Media and Entertainment Law sets us apart from general practice firms. Clients benefit from the depth of knowledge and experience our team possesses in these specialized areas, allowing for tailored legal solutions that address their unique needs and challenges.

Most importantly, our firm upholds high ethical standards and prioritizes conflict of interest management, ensuring clients receive unbiased and principled legal counsel. This commitment to integrity and professionalism builds trust and confidence among all clients – production and distribution companies and talents- distinguishing our firm as a reliable and ethical partner. Our firm always adopts a rigorous attitude to avoid representing conflicting interests by making no concessions to transparency and ethical attitude.

With direct experience and expertise in the media and entertainment sector -built by managing hundreds of pre-production, production, distribution, and international sales processes for years- our firm is uniquely positioned to understand our client’s needs and implement business operations and decisions aligned with their goals. This industry insight enables our team to anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and provide strategic guidance that adds tangible value to clients’ endeavors.

Beyond our legal expertise, as a partner and founding partner, we bring a comprehensive understanding of commercial deal terms and financial considerations to the table due to working in international media holding companies for years. By integrating business and financial know-how into legal advice, our firm ensures that clients achieve the most favorable outcomes from negotiations and transactions, maximizing their interests and minimizing risks.

Our team’s tailor-made and boutique approach emphasize personalized service and attention to detail, setting us apart from larger, more generalized firms. Clients appreciate the individualized focus, responsiveness, and flexibility that our firm offers, fostering strong and lasting relationships built on trust and collaboration.

Lastly, we serve as a trusted gateway for individuals, talents and businesses looking to develop, execute, or invest in projects within the media, music, and entertainment sectors. By leveraging our extensive network and expertise, our firm connects clients with the right contacts and resources and facilitates successful collaborations and ventures by assisting in concluding agreements.

 

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

In the coming years, new and much more content will be produced in almost all media, including social media, in the industry. The convergence of technological advancements, accessibility of production tools, expansion of digital platforms, demand for diverse content, and innovation in content formats are driving the predicted increase in content production across various media channels.

Advances in technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), have led to a significant decrease in production costs across various media formats. AI-powered tools and automation software streamline content creation processes, reducing the need for manual labor and expensive production equipment. This makes it more cost-effective for creators and organizations to produce high-quality content at scale. These are also enabling innovative content formats and storytelling techniques. Immersive experiences, interactive content, and personalized narratives are becoming increasingly prevalent, offering new avenues for creative expression and audience engagement. This innovation fuels experimentation and exploration in content creation, leading to a broader range of content being produced across different media platforms.

The increase in affordable and user-friendly production tools has generalized content creation, allowing individuals and smaller organizations to produce professional-looking content without extensive resources or technical expertise. Software applications for video editing, graphic design, audio production, and animation are readily available and accessible to a wide range of users, further fueling the growth of content production.

The rise of digital platforms, including social media, streaming services, and online publishing platforms, has created unprecedented opportunities for content distribution and monetization. Creators can reach global audiences directly through these platforms, bypassing traditional gatekeepers and distribution channels. This accessibility encourages content creation by providing a potentially vast audience and revenue opportunities.

With the increasing consumption of digital media and the fragmentation of audiences across various platforms, there is a growing demand for diverse and niche content. Content creators are leveraging this demand to produce content tailored to specific interests, demographics, and cultural preferences. AI-driven analytics and audience insights help creators identify niche markets and tailor content, accordingly, further driving content production.

 

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

We have combined our experience in practice with the consultancy activities we carried out with academics. Academic consultancy enabled our clients to receive a perfect service in the service processes provided by our firm. We ensured a superior representation of our clients with the new partners and lawyers we recruited and demonstrated a commitment to innovation and thought leadership in the field.

Along with collaborating with academics, the inclusion of Eray İnceoğlu and other associates has brought several positive impacts on our clients. With the addition of a partner and associates, our law firm has a broader range of expertise and experience to offer clients, especially in trademark and corporate law. Therefore, clients can benefit from a more comprehensive approach to their legal needs, with access to specialized knowledge and skills across various practice areas.

Besides, by expanding our team, we have increased our firm’s capacity to handle a higher volume of cases and provide more personalized attention to clients. This leads to quicker response times, more efficient case management, and better overall client satisfaction.

Collaborating with academics brings fresh perspectives and insights to our firm. Academics often conduct research, analyze trends, and develop innovative approaches to legal issues, which enriches the services provided to clients. Partnering with academics also ensures access to additional resources, such as research databases, industry connections, and specialized training programs. These resources are valuable in supporting our clients’ needs and staying ahead of developments in our practice areas.

 

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

Technology is significantly changing the landscape of legal practice and how we interact with our clients. It has revolutionized communication channels. Emails, video conferencing, instant messaging, and collaborative platforms allow us to connect with clients more efficiently, regardless of geographical barriers. This has led to faster responses, clearer communication, and increased accessibility for clients. Now we have access to a plenty of tools and software for managing information and documents. Cloud storage, document management systems, and electronic discovery tools regulate the organization, retrieval, and sharing of legal documents, improving efficiency, and reducing administrative burdens.

Technology enables us to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately. This is particularly valuable in areas such as contract review, due diligence, and litigation support. Data analytics tools can uncover insights, patterns, and trends that may not be apparent through traditional methods, thereby enhancing the quality of legal advice and decision-making.

We are also utilizing remote work arrangements, allowing us to work from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility benefits both legal counsel and clients by eliminating the need for face-to-face meetings and reducing overhead costs associated with office space and travel. Embracing these technological advancements leads to improved efficiency, better client experiences, and enhanced competitiveness in the legal industry.

 

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

Our law firm always follows an organized and detailed route to navigate our clients on various projects. One of our clients is a production company specializing in creating original content for streaming platforms. They have developed a new series that they believe has significant potential, but they are unsure about the best strategy for monetizing and protecting their intellectual property rights in the competitive media landscape. We assisted the client in its Intellectual Property strategy, production, licensing and distribution agreements, digital rights management, monetization opportunities, and risk mitigation.

Our firm conducted a comprehensive analysis of the client’s intellectual property rights associated with the series, including copyrights, trademarks, format rights, and any potential ownership for unique technology or concepts used in the production. Based on this analysis, our firm developed a tailored intellectual property strategy to protect the client’s rights and maximize the value of their assets.

Along with this, we negotiated licensing and distribution agreements on behalf of the client to ensure that the content reaches its target audience effectively while maximizing revenue opportunities, including securing deals with streaming platforms, networks, international distributors, and other distribution channels.

Given the importance of digital distribution in the modern media, our firm advises the client on implementing effective digital rights management strategies to prevent unauthorized distribution and piracy of the series. This includes drafting and negotiating agreements with digital platforms, implementing technological safeguards, issuing cease and desist letters, requesting to remove from search engines and pursuing legal action against infringers when necessary.

Our firm explores with the client various monetization opportunities beyond traditional distribution deals, such as merchandising, licensing of ancillary rights, product placement, and sponsored content partnerships. By diversifying revenue streams, our firm helps the client maximize the commercial potential of their intellectual property.

Throughout the process, we identify and mitigate potential legal risks and challenges that could arise, such as copyright infringement claims, contract disputes, or regulatory issues. By proactively addressing these risks, our firm helps the client navigate the complex legal landscape with confidence and minimize the likelihood of costly litigation or business disruptions.

 

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

Absolutely, particularly in industries where legal issues can have significant implications for business operations and growth.

With the addition of a partner, associates, and collaborations with academics, our firm has strengthened its reputation in the legal community. In three years, we aim to solidify this reputation further, becoming known as a global go-to firm for expertise in Intellectual Property Law and Media and Entertainment Law.

Over the next years, our firm will continue to focus on providing exceptional client service by maintaining a client-centric approach. This includes understanding clients’ unique needs and objectives, communicating effectively, and delivering high-quality legal solutions that align with their strategic goals.

Building on our collaboration with academics and innovative solutions, our firm shall continue to innovate and develop cutting-edge legal solutions for clients. By staying ahead of industry trends and leveraging technology and research, we offer innovative strategies that address emerging challenges and opportunities in the media and entertainment landscape.

Our firm will pursue to position itself as a thought leader in Intellectual Property Law and Media and Entertainment Law by publishing articles, participating in industry events, and contributing to academic research.

As the industry continues to globalize, our firm will continue to explore opportunities to expand its reach internationally by forming strategic partnerships with law firms in key markets or leveraging technology to serve clients across borders effectively.