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Ekin Senlet Is Providing Top-notch Legal Services in New York's Capital Region

Image Could you tell us about your personal background?
I was born and raised in Ankara, Turkey. I graduated from the Middle East Technical University with a degree in Economics in 2003. Later, I moved to the United States to study law at the Syracuse University College of Law. I also obtained a master’s degree in Public Administration and International Affairs from the Maxwell School of Citizenship while at Syracuse University. I joined Hiscock & Barclay, LLP in 2008, where I currently practice in our Energy Group, and in the Real Property Tax Practice Group.

You are one of the Turkish lawyers who practices in New York's capital. Could you share your experiences as a Turkish-American lawyer in Albany, NY?

New York’s Capital Region has been earning national attention in recent years as a high-tech hub, a stimulating place to work and live, and an ideal environment for growing a company and a family. The region is attracting new businesses due to its public-private partnerships in nanotechnology , higher education, and health care. The area is home to more than 15 private and state colleges. We have a decent sized Turkish population working in the region, including State of New York employees, researchers at General Electric and GlobalFoundries, and faculty teaching at the region’s numerous universities. We also have very active Turkish Student Associations at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and SUNY Albany. I regularly receive calls from friends and colleagues seeking legal services.

Hiscock & Barclay LLP is a full service law firm representing clients from multi-national Fortune 500 companies to medium and small businesses, and individuals. To deliver for our clients, we assembled a team of 210 attorneys across 30 specialized practice areas in ten strategically located offices. By leveraging our Northeast regional platform to connect extraordinary legal talent with the needs of our major-market clients, the Firm is often able to pass along a highly competitive cost structure. Our Firm’s presence in major markets has always helped me with advising and solving my Turkish clients’ challenges and maximize the opportunities for our clients to succeed.

You are practicing in the Regulatory, Energy and Oil & Gas Practice Areas. There are not a lot of Turkish-Americans in those fields. Could you tell us about your practice?
My group represents major energy and telecom clients before New York’s Administrative Agencies, such as the Public Service Commission, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the New York Independent System Operator. All of these agencies are located in the Capital Region, which gives our attorneys a strategic geographical advantage.

Our attorneys combine industry experience and regulatory insight with economic analysis, business understanding and legal know-how to help clients solve and avoid a range of complex regulatory and environmental issues. We are involved at every stage of energy exploration, permitting, generation, transmission and distribution with specific strengths in New York’s evolving regulatory environment. That includes the siting and development of interstate pipeline and electric transmission projects, resolving regulatory and environmental issues for power generators and working closely with clients on opportunities for the development of Marcellus and Utica shale deposits.

I also practice in the Real Property Tax Practice Group, advising industrial and commercial companies in buying, building and operating facilities to effectively manage their real property taxes, including representation before the industrial development agencies. We successfully represent energy and utility clients in jurisdictions across the country, when necessary, we litigate complex tax-reduction cases for our clients.
 
In your practice areas, what kind of investment opportunities do you observe for Turkish-American investors?
The energy sector is definitely one of the fastest growing sectors both in the United States and in Turkey. For example, there are a lot of opportunities for investors in the renewable energy sector in both countries. Turkey’s solar and wind maps are among the best in the world, while the country has significant potential for the development of geothermal energy. Also, similar to the United States, there is high shale gas potential in Turkey and shale gas infrastructure expansion in Turkey will be on the rise in the near future.

In New York and the Capital District, our Firm can help investors with multitudes of business areas outside my practice areas as well. These areas include, but not limited to, corporate, commercial litigation, real estate, labor & employment, environmental, health care, public finance, immigration, trusts & estates, and tax law.

Most of the time, the biggest challenge for Turkish investors is understanding the business climate and culture in the United States. And the same goes for American investors who would like to invest in Turkey. My biggest advice for both would be hiring the best professionals in the sectors in which they are interested. Successful business deals depend on good business acumen and working with the right people in the industry.
Last modified onSaturday, 06 May 2017 10:07
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