Interview with: Levent Lezgin Kılınç, Founding Partner

What do you see as the main points that differentiate [law firm name] from your competitors?

From day one, our mission at Kılınç Law & Consulting has been to provide exceptional legal support to foreign clients investing in Turkey. As the founder of the firm, I see it as my personal responsibility to help those living in a foreign country, having experienced this firsthand during my six years in the US. While we share many qualities with our competitors, what sets us apart is our youth and dynamism. Our team of young lawyers is passionate about learning and always strives to serve our clients in the fastest and most efficient way possible. We understand the importance of making our clients feel comfortable and confident in our ability to swiftly provide solutions to their legal problems, so they can move forward without worry.

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

As we all know, elections can have a significant impact on the business environment in Turkey. However, I am optimistic that the upcoming term will create a more stable environment that will inspire greater confidence among investors. As a result, I anticipate that our M&A, Project Finance and Real Estate departments will experience a surge in workload over the next 12 months.

With increased stability and confidence in the Turkish market, I believe that more companies will look to merge with or acquire other businesses to expand their operations and take advantage of new opportunities. This trend is likely to be driven by a range of factors, including growing demand for Turkish goods and services, increased political stability, and the overall growth of the Turkish economy.

At Kılınç Law & Consulting, we are well-equipped to handle this increased demand for Real Estate, M&A and Project Financing services, with a team of experienced lawyers who are dedicated to helping clients navigate the complexities of the legal process. We look forward to working with our clients to help them achieve their business goals in the coming year.

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

At Kılınç Law & Consulting, we are constantly seeking ways to enhance the quality of our services and provide greater value to our clients. One of the key changes we have made recently is to expand our network of partnerships with other law firms in the region to create our own international legal service provider capability.

As Kılınç Law & Consulting, we are proud to offer legal services to our clients in a range of countries, including the UK, the US, Azerbaijan, the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Through our partnerships with esteemed law firms from the EU and Gulf countries, we are committed to providing our clients with access to the best legal advice and representation, no matter where they are in the world.

We believe that this expansion of our network will provide significant benefits to our clients, including greater flexibility, broader expertise, and a wider range of services. By partnering with leading law firms from around the world, we are able to offer our clients a truly global perspective and a deep understanding of the legal and business landscapes in different regions.

Overall, we are committed to providing our clients with the highest level of service, and we believe that our expanded international capabilities will help us achieve that goal. We look forward to working with our clients to help them achieve their legal and business objectives, wherever they may be located.

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

At Kılınç Law & Consulting, we are always looking for ways to leverage technology to improve our services and enhance the client experience. To achieve this, we have implemented various tools and systems that help our lawyers work more efficiently and effectively. By streamlining our internal processes and reducing the time our lawyers spend on administrative tasks, we are able to focus more of our time and energy on serving our clients.

In addition, we are constantly exploring new technologies and innovations that can benefit our clients. For example, we have developed online portals and other digital platforms that enable clients to access legal documents, track the progress of their cases, and communicate with their lawyers in real time. We also use advanced data analytics tools and AI-powered legal research platforms to provide our clients with the most accurate and up-to-date information and legal advice.

Of course, we recognize that not all clients are comfortable with technology, and we always offer a range of options for communicating with us and accessing our services. Whether it’s through traditional channels like phone and email or through the latest digital tools and platforms, we strive to provide our clients with the flexibility and convenience they need to achieve their legal and business objectives.

Overall, we believe that technology is transforming the legal industry in exciting ways, and we are committed to staying at the forefront of these changes to provide our clients with the best possible service.

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

At Kılınç Law & Consulting, we believe that our role is not just to provide legal advice, but also to help our clients achieve their broader business goals. One recent example of this was when we assisted one of our foreign clients to sell all their assets in Turkey in early 2023.

Our team worked closely with the client to understand their objectives and priorities and then developed a comprehensive exit strategy that would allow them to maximize the value of their assets while also minimizing any legal or financial risks. We helped them identify potential buyers, conducted due diligence and negotiated the terms of the sale on their behalf.

As a result of our efforts, the client was able to sell their assets at a favorable price and use the proceeds to invest in other areas of their business. They were extremely pleased with the outcome, and we were proud to have played a role in helping them achieve their goals.

This is just one example of how we work with our clients to add value to their businesses. By taking a holistic approach to their legal and business needs, we are able to provide them with the strategic guidance and support they need to succeed.

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

The main focus of Kılınç Law & Consulting is not on increasing the number of clients or employees, but on maintaining a stable and supportive work environment where everyone feels like family. As the founder, the office is like a second home to me and my colleagues are like family members. This approach creates a better work atmosphere, which translates into better service to clients. As long as the team feels like family and works together cohesively, the trust relationship with clients will strengthen, leading to more clients and a better reputation for the firm. In the next three years, the goal of Kılınç Law & Consulting is to continue fostering a supportive work environment while expanding its network of law firms to provide international legal services to clients.