Ten Years of GBL Alliance: A Conversation with Founder Umut
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
As GBL Alliance celebrates its tenth anniversary, we sat down with one of its founding fathers and former president, Umut, to look back on how a small idea grew into a global network of close friends and trusted colleagues.
From an idea to a network
Ten years ago, Umut set out with a clear personal goal: to be a respected international lawyer with a firm known both in his country and abroad. Through his connections with German and French colleagues, he discovered something powerful. They shared the same vision.
"We came together and we detected that we have a similar vision," Umut recalls. "So we started to think about establishing a law firm network."
What began with seven founders, after many meetings and a shared constitution, has grown into a network of nearly 60 firms and almost 2,000 lawyers around the world. "From seven to nearly 60 firms in GBL. This is a huge success, and I am proud of it."
A network built on trust and friendship
When asked what makes GBL different, Umut does not hesitate. The answer is its soul.
"This is not only international legal business, we are also international close friends," he says. "We trust each other. We like each other. If a member has a problem internally, we are all motivated to solve it. And we also want to solve the needs of our clients."
For Umut, trust is the true pillar of the network. It is also why GBL keeps things simple and flexible. "We do not have heavy traditions in GBL. We can update our rules day by day. This is something very simple that makes us happy."
Selective by design
That close culture is no accident. GBL chooses its members with care, guided by a clear principle of one firm per country.
"We are very selective when we choose the members," Umut explains. "When a firm wants to join GBL, we meet the partners, we spend time together, we get to know each other. The exclusivity of one firm in its country is very important. It makes us act shoulder to shoulder."
Challenges as part of the journey
Building an international network across borders, cultures, and languages was never going to be easy. Umut sees challenges as a natural and even necessary part of any worthwhile achievement.
"If work does not contain challenges, then the achievement does not mean so much," he says. "Obstacles are a routine in life. We solved all of them because we had a common goal."
Visibility and the power of telling your story
Umut is also a strong advocate for visibility, something many lawyers find uncomfortable. His advice is practical and encouraging.
"You may be a talented person, but if nobody knows it, how can people know what you do? Visibility is very important. But behind it you need to work hours and hours, because real knowledge is what makes you worth listening to."
For those who freeze in front of a camera, his tip is simple: practice. "Record yourself at home, watch it, and do it again and again. When you know your area, do not be afraid to share your thoughts."
Hope for the future
Umut's name means hope, and it clearly shapes how he sees the world. "I do not see the obstacles. I see the solutions, the opportunities. Solutions, not problems."
It is the same message he offers to the next generation of GBL lawyers. "They need to be always hopeful for the future. They know what we built, and they will carry this achievement even further."
Asked to describe GBL in three words, Umut chose success, flexibility, and friendship. After ten years, those three words capture exactly what the network has become.
Watch the full interview with Umut in the video above.
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