DLA Piper will open an office in Istanbul, Turkey on June 1, and will provide legal services relating to international and foreign law.
According to today’s article at hurriyetdailynews.com, Sir Nigel Knowles, the joint CEO and managing partner of DLA Piper was quoted as saying: “Turkey is an important part of the Group of 20, and it might be in the top 10 or even top five in the coming years. It fits in with our vision to be the leading global business law firm.”
According to the same article, Turkey has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Despite the local bar restrictions which prohibit international firms from opening directly in Turkey, DLA Piper has been active in the country for quite awhile.
Last year, the firm hired U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Marc Grossman as a senior advisor. The firm then represented the Turkish government in lobbying against the Armenian “genocide” resolutions. In addition, the firm is a legal adviser to the Turkish Ministry of Health on the first of its kind public-private healthcare partnership in the country: the 250-million-euro Kayseri Integrated Health Campus.
DLA Piper has 3,500 lawyers in more than 65 offices in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The firm represents more clients in a broader range of geographies and practice disciplines than virtually any other law firm in the world.