Seda Aktas: A Top 40 Under 40 in Florida

Could you tell us a little bit about your personal background?  
I was born in Istanbul, Turkey and moved to Garfield, NJ with my family at the age of 10.  I graduated with honors from UMASS Amherst in Massachusetts.  I then attended law school at Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida.  I have the current honor and pleasure of serving as the Vice President of the Florida Turkish American Association, and being active in the Turkish-American community in Florida.  

You are a former prosecutor. How does it help you in law practice?  
Being a former prosecutor gave me the requisite experience I needed to become a successful litigator along with a high comfort level in any courtroom, Federal or State, as I have successfully handled hundreds of trials so far in my career.  Specifically in criminal defense cases where I have been on the opposite side, I am able to see the weaknesses in the government’s case, and therefore I am able to negotiate excellent resolutions for my clients.  In civil matters, I am unafraid of fighting for my clients’ rights to the end.  Whereas compromise is an option for me as a zealous advocate providing sound counsel, giving up never is.   

In 2014, you were honored as a new member of  the Top 40 Under 40. Could you tell us about it?
The Top 40 Under 40 is an invitation-only professional organization composed of top trial lawyers from each state who are under the age of 40.  Invitees must exemplify specific qualities and possess superior qualifications, positive trial results, and great leadership skills as a young lawyer under the age of 40.  Selection is based on a thorough multi-phase process, which includes peer nominations combined with third-party research.  It is an honor to have been invited to be a part of this elite organization.

Can you share with us some interesting case resolutions which you handled?  
As an ethical obligation, I cannot divulge details of cases I have handled, but I can say that the most interesting case resolutions for me are those that were resolved by carefully crafting a solution instead of just employing the obvious methods.  The problem with utilizing the most obvious methods is that a “one size fits all” approach is ultimately bound to fail the client, whereas utilizing a creative approach is bound to be successful as it is tailored to meet the client’s needs, which is deeply satisfying for me.

What are your future plans?  Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?  
As a Turkish-American attorney, I take pride in assisting the booming Turkish-American business community in their growth by acting as a guide, a resource, and an advocate through Aktas Law, P.A.  My firm has experienced rapid growth in the past year in keeping up with the demands of this very active community, which includes small to medium-sized businesses, investors, and individuals in Florida.  In the next ten years, I will still be practicing law, launching more offices in Florida for the convenience of our clients, and proudly aiding the continued prosperity of the Turkish-American business community.

Would you like to add anything?
At Aktas Law, P.A., our diverse practice works to serve our clients’ needs.  We are a solid team of three principals, and do not believe in putting our clients through many levels of administrative staff before they can ultimately reach their lawyer.  We believe in open lines of communication, and use our extensive experience to resolve matters while remaining focused on the client, which is the very core of our success.  We look forward to continuing to serve the legal needs of the U.S. Turkish-American business community in Florida.