Mr Serhan Kocaklı > Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli > Istanbul, Turkey > Lawyer Profile
Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli Offices
SAGLAM FIKIR SOKAK, KELEBEK CIKMAZI NO 5
ESENTEPE
34394 ISTANBUL
Turkey
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Mr Serhan Kocaklı
Work Department
Corporate and Commercial, Real Estate and Construction
Position
Partner
Serhan Koçaklı leads the Firm’s corporate and commercial as well as real estate and construction practices.
He advises a number of foreign capital companies in connection with their activities in Turkey on a broad range of issues, including joint ventures, corporate law, contracts and employment in several different sectors, including retail, hospitality, aviation, construction, energy, textiles, chemical and metal industries. He has significant experience in establishing/improving corporate governance structures of family-owned businesses by creating mutually acceptable solutions to address the shareholders’ conflicting interests.
Among the Firm’s clients, he advises Vitol, TPI Composites, Cummins, UTC Aerospace (Goodrich Corporation), Deloitte, Pfizer, Fujifilm, Ajax System, Ruhrpumpen, Züber, Bunzl, TOSAF, Mediterra Capital, RZK Çelik, Vinmar Group, Actera, Vansan, Söke Değirmencilik, Aldiana, Otto Group, Boston Consulting Group, LR Global Holding, Huntsman, Italferr, Agence France-Presse (AFP), Comau, UN-RoRo, SolarReserve, Duracell, Dyson, Netflix and Spotify, all of which are leading companies in their respective sectors. He has been advising the majority shareholders of a USD multi-billion FMCG company, which is among the top 100 Turkish companies, in connection with disputes between family members regarding the company’s management and control.
Serhan has a particular focus on the real estate sector, where he advises on all types of real estate transactions. He has a substantive degree of experience in commercial and industrial property transactions with a specific focus on zoning, construction and structuring matters. Serhan has special expertise on specific legislation governing the real estate aspects of complex projects (e.g., development of mixed-use projects, ports, renewable energy projects, port development projects and tourism facility developments concerning the use of treasury/state-owned land). He has assisted a UK-based retail giant in connection with the development and acquisition of approximately 40 sites throughout Turkey for its hypermarket activities in more than 20 cities. He advises major property developers, investment funds, construction companies, landlords, tenants and other parties involved in property development, such as Decathlon, Folkart, DM İnşaat, Doğ-Yap, Kent Proje Yönetimi, QTerminals and RWE.
Serhan lectures on real estate law in various Istanbul-based university certificate programs.
Career
After spending seven years with a major Istanbul-based law firm, Serhan joined the Firm in 2010 as a partner.
He is a co-author of “Doing Business 2020,” The World Bank, U.S.A. (2020), “Doing Business 2019,” The World Bank, U.S.A. (2019) and “International Franchise Handbook,” Turkey Chapter, 2nd edition, DWF Germany (2017).
Languages
English, Turkish
Memberships
Audit Board Member of Turkish Corporate Governance Association (TKYD); Istanbul Bar Association, International Bar Association (IBA); Beşiktaş Sports Club Association.
Education
Istanbul Bilgi University School of Law (2018) LL.M.; Istanbul Bilgi University School of Law (2003) LL.B.; Istanbul American Robert College (1998).
Lawyer Rankings
Turkey > Project finance/projects
Construction-related matters feature among Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli’s recent work, with the team also offering experience in advising energy and infrastructure companies on public procurement, project finance and administrative law issues. Okan Demirkan co-heads the energy and infrastructure group, as well as leading the dispute resolution team, and has a significant regulatory dimension to his practice. The department also draws on energy and infrastructure co-head Melis Öget Koç, real estate partner Serhan Koçaklı and managing partner Umut Kolcuoğlu.
Turkey > Real estate and construction
(Leading individuals)The full-service real estate team at Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli added a raft of new names to its client roster over the past year, including tourism company Losta Turizm and property owner Odea Bank. The group’s diverse client list is testament to its expertise across all key stages of the sector, from land acquisition and planning, through to project development and financings. Go-to real estate expert Serhan Kocaklı heads the department and brings to bear extensive experience in commercial and industrial property transactions. The group also includes talented managing associate Büşra Özden and associate Orcan Çetinkaya, who both focus on real estate work.
Turkey > Commercial, corporate and M&A
Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli remains among the leaders in the marketplace, harnessing the expertise of its team to advise insurers, private equity firms and domestic and multinational corporates on day-today matters and in high-value, cross-border M&A. The firm’s client base spans such sectors as hospitality, retail, chemicals, energy, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverages. A combined practice is led by founder, managing partner and head of the transactional department Umut Kolcuoğlu, who brings over 25 years’ experience; and by Serhan Koçaklı, who heads the corporate and commercial division. Other key members of the team include Bihter Bozbay Inan, a specialist in M&A and joint ventures; Melis Öget Koç, who handles complex energy and infrastructure matters; counsel Begüm İnceçam Kolcuoğlu, who draws on an extensive M&A skill set. Gökçe İldiri Coşgüner was promoted to partner in January 2024.
Lawyer Rankings
- Commercial, corporate and M&A Turkey
- Leading individuals Turkey > Real estate and construction
- Real estate and construction Turkey
- Project finance/projects Turkey