Mr Serhan Kocaklı > Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli > Istanbul, Turkey > Lawyer Profile
Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli Offices
Maslak Link Plaza
Eski Büyükdere Cad. No. 3-5, Kat 11
34398 Sariyer
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 advised Vitol, TPI Composites Inc, Deloitte, Cummins, Mediterra Capital, Goodrich Corporation (UTC Aerospace), Vinmar Group, Bunzl, TOSAF, Duracell, Dyson, Decathlon, Folkart, RZK Çelik, Actera, Aldiana, Söke Un, LR Global Holding, Huntsman Group, Italferr, Agence France-Presse (AFP), Otto Group, Boston Consulting Group, Hugo Boss, Comau, UN RoRo, SolarReserve, Spotify, Vansan, Fujifilm, Ajax System, Ruhrpumpen, Züber, AptarGroup, Petrol Ofisi, Porsche, Marriott International/Design Hotels GmbH, Merlin Entertainments, Saya Group, Rönesans Holding, Turkven Private Equity, UL LLC, Alterna Gıda, Elba Bant, Bozzetto Group, Pfizer, Yu Group, Odea Bank, Losta Turizm, Advaita Trade, Alexander Dennis Limited, TDC Parsons Peebles Limited, DM İnşaat, Kent Proje Yönetimi, QTerminals, RWE and Abu Dhabi Ports Company PJSC, 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.
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
Society of Construction Law Turkey (SCL Turkey); 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
Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli is involved in domestic and international infrastructure development, and it has notable experience in engineering, procurement and construction contracts within PPP projects. It is also recognised for its skill in public procurement matters, and its involvement in notable projects in the port infrastructure and energy sectors. Managing partner Umut Kolcuoğlu calls upon the specialist energy and infrastructure skills of Okan Demirkan and construction expert Serhan Koçaklı.
Turkey > Real estate and construction
(Leading partners)Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli is praised for its ‘pragmatic and business-oriented approach’. The vastly experienced Serhan Koçaklı and managing associate Büşra Özden, who has ‘perfect knowhow regarding real estate regulations’, lead the practice. The group’s work spans the whole lifecycle of real estate projects, from target-property investigations and land due diligence through sale and purchase agreements, easement rights, construction agreements, and zoning law matters. It is also skilled in securing building permits and licenses and managing relationships with governmental bodies.
Turkey > Commercial, corporate and M&A
The ‘very diligent and commercially-minded’ team at Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli acts for clients in highly regulated sectors across a range of transactional work, where clients benefit from the firm’s ‘second to none’ knowledge of the M&A process. As well as regularly handling work on behalf of high-profile blue-chip corporates on their inbound transactional activity, the firm has gained a market-leading reputation advising on funds-related M&A matters. Here, under the guidance of Umut Kolcuoğlu, the practice regularly advises core client Turkven Private Equity on its downstream investment activity, as well as handling a considerable amount of work for Middle Eastern investors, including UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala. ‘Organized, detail-oriented and informative’, Gökçe İldiri Coşgüner is increasingly key to the firm’s success on the private equity front, and alongside the ‘exceptional’ Bihter Bozbay Inan, who also has niche expertise at handling bank M&A, is recognised as a rising force in the team. Serhan Koçaklı co-heads the team with Kolcuoğlu and as part of his advisory offering, has a focus on establishing/improving corporate governance structure for family-owned businesses.
Lawyer Rankings
- Commercial, corporate and M&A Turkey
- Leading partners Turkey > Real estate and construction
- Real estate and construction Turkey
- Project finance/projects Turkey