E-Bulletin November 2012 Sw
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Turkey e-Bulletin Nr. 06-2012 2012 November Interviews Events News Arpat Şenocak 3 Business Breakfast 15 From Members 10 Selim Balcısoy 5 Golf & BBQ Event 16 From Switzerland 26 Special: Swiss Arbitration 19 Latest Members 27 Bulletin Bulletin Doing Business 7 Event Calender 2012 22 - in Turkey – Part 1 e Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Turkey 7 GOLDEN SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Turkey e-Bulletin Nr. 06-2012 2 Editorial Ambassador of Switzerland Raimund Kunz Dear Friends, I would say that the official visits of also like to congratulate the new Swiss President Pascal Couchepin in management for intensifying and di- First of all I would like to thank the 2008 and President Gül to Switzer- versifying of the Swiss Chamber’s Swiss Chamber of Commerce for land in 2010 were two important activities in the new term. offering me this platform to address milestones in our relations. These you towards the end of my term in high level contacts created a positive I would also like to touch on here the Turkey. Some of you may already atmosphere and helped our countries bilateral agreements which have been know that I will be leaving for re- to develop a constructive way of dis- recently activated between Switzer- tirement next year after my four cussing and dealing with all issues. I land and Turkey. The avoidance of years in Turkey. I should say that I have also observed that, basically, double taxation agreement, which is spent one of the most interesting both countries have a strong interest going to be implemented as of January times of my carrier in this country. I in deepening these positive relations. 2013, is one of the most valuable knew before that the relations be- As a result, in the following years, pieces of the legal framework of our tween our countries have roots in several contacts took place between bilateral economic relations. The Fi- the history and Switzerland has a the parties on various platforms in- nance Dialogue, a demarche very re- special meaning to Turkey. I met cluding multilateral events like World cently started by Switzerland and Turkish officials in several multina- Economic Forum at Davos. Apart from welcomed by Turkey, to identify and tional platforms which bring the regular meetings in political and eco- foster common interests in financial representatives of two countries nomic fields, Federal Councilors of matters is another step forward in side by side because of the alpha- energy and economy paid official mutual collaboration. The decision of betical sitting order. But I grasp the visits to Ankara and Istanbul. The very Swiss export promotion agency Osec real opportunity to learn more successful visit of Federal Councilor to open an office in the Istanbul Gen- about Turkey and its people during Schneider-Amman in March 2012, eral Consulate and its cooperation my stay here. I am always impressed with a group of prominent Swiss agreement with KOSGEB to boost by dynamism and self-confidence of companies, was another door opener collaboration between Swiss and Turk- the Turkish friends. I also appreciate for other Swiss missions in Turkey. ish SMEs is also a concrete proof of much the remarkable resilience The Swiss State Secretary for educa- rising Swiss interest in Turkey. I showed by the Turkish economy tion and research was here first time strongly believe that all these steps during the high tide of the global in June 2012 to hold a series of con- will provide a better environment to crisis. tacts with the Turkish education and Swiss-Turkish economic relations. research institutions. Turkey’s suc- I would like to finalize my words by Indeed, Turkey is one of the emerg- cessful track record in R&D invest- thanking all the members of the Swiss ing economies of the current dec- ments in the last decade has led Swit- Chamber for their trust in and assis- ade. And one of the priorities of zerland to investigate further cooper- tance to me and my diplomatic mis- Swiss foreign policy is to enhance ation opportunities in international sion to maintain and strengthen the relations with emerging nations. All R&D projects with Turkey like Eureka, presence and good reputation of Swit- these factors have increased the of which Switzerland will take over zerland in Turkey. awareness of Switzerland on Turkey the presidency in 2014 from Turkey. I in the public and private sectors and should say that it is therefore the Sincerely Yours, made Swiss-Turkish relations more right decision of the Chamber to dynamic in recent years. choose innovation as the topic in the Raimund Kunz upcoming 8th Swiss-Turkish Economic Forum. With this opportunity, I would Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Turkey e-Bulletin Nr. 06-2012 3 Interview with... Name: Arpat Şenocak Position title: Senior Associate at Özdirekcan Bilgiç Dündar Avukatlık Ortaklığı, corre- spondent firm of Gide Loyrette Nouel in Turkey “Law firms need to Date of Birth: 21.01.1979 remain open minded” Place of Birth: Neuchâtel / Switzerland Marital status: Married University: Neuchâtel and Istanbul University Law Schools SCCT: Mr Şenocak, tell us a little bit Nouel in Istanbul. Their activities partners leaving majors such as Her- about your background. were strongly growing at that time güner Bilgen Özeke, Pekin&Pekin or in parallel to the booming Turkish White&Case to start their own firms, I was born and raised in Neuchâtel, economy. Taking part to an impres- which now count among the leading well-known in Turkey not only for its sive number of privatizations and firms on the market. legendary football team “Xamax” M&A (merger and acquisition) deals, but also for being the Canton where I got the confirmation I needed: the As the Turkish economy has experi- the Turkish Code of Civil Procedure market was clearly the place to be enced a rapid growth in recent is originating. After graduating from and the firm was of top quality! years, the flow of foreign direct in- the Neuchâtel University Law School vestments has significantly increased I passed the bar exam and got ad- In parallel to my admission to the and new investment sectors are mitted at all Swiss courts in 2003. Istanbul bar, I developed an exper- continuing to develop, thus creating tise in M&A in various fields of the new key area of focus for law firms. Targeting a career in corporate and business life, with a specific focus on commercial law, I decided to take a regulated markets such as finance, Major changes operated recently in shot in the heart of the business insurance and energy. Alongside this the legislative environment with the world, Istanbul… the same city my activity, I have also been developing entry into force of a new Commer- parents had left approximately at a practice in international commer- cial Code, an updated Code of Obli- the same age back in the 70’s to cial arbitration, another essential gations and a strongly revised Code start a better life in Switzerland, like trademark of Switzerland strongly of Civil Procedure also constitute a many of their contemporaries. I rap- established worldwide. very positive sign of the evolution of idly noticed that many other young the Turkish market in parallel to the Turkish men and women born SCCT: What is your impression of trends in Europe and in particular in and/or graduating in Europe were Turkey and the Turkish market Switzerland. Implementation of such following the same road. The trend (Law/Consultancy) so far? sophisticated rules is sometimes was clearly reversed… Europe was difficult due to deeply-rooted busi- The Turkish legal market has been not anymore as attractive to Turkey ness practices in Turkey and to the progressing very strongly, evolving as Turkey actually was to Europe! lack of reactivity in the public admin- to become a much more mature istration, but I am confident these Arriving in Istanbul in 2004, I made market. For a decade, Istanbul has issues will be gradually reduced in the choice of joining the corre- witnessed an impressive number of the future. spondent firm of Gide Loyrette successful senior associates and Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Turkey e-Bulletin Nr. 06-2012 4 SCCT: Name us three extraordi- SCCT: What is the biggest chal- ferences which have been orga- nary things about your company? lenge your firm is facing in Turkey? nized since then. The Swiss- Turkish Economic Forum is obvi- In a market where competition The biggest challenge is always to ously a major event but many increases every day, law firms be able to compete with local tal- various smaller luncheon and need to remain open minded and ents. As I said, the Turkish market presentations have attracted a adapt to the evolution of the mar- has been strongly evolving and the very strong interest among the ket if they want to make the dif- quality of services provided by SCCT's members. Besides the ference and stay on top. some of the top firms is clearly content of these events, the competing with the level of inter- Our law firm, which is now oper- platform that is made available national practices. ating as Özdirekcan Bilgiç Dündar, by the SCCT is very useful for was created in Istanbul more than SCCT: What are the gains? networking purposes and of 15 years ago and has been acting course to get to know better as the correspondent of Gide Loy- Actually, competition is not only a other Swiss businessmen and rette Nouel in Turkey since then. challenge. It also brings the ad- consultants based in Turkey.