"One of the best conferences ever" - that was the general opinion of those members that attended the 19th Annual Conference of World Link for Law held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 5th to 7th October 2006. There were over 50 delegates and including guests, 80 participants. The conference started on Wednesday night with some drinks and a dinner in the restaurant on the top floor of the hotel. Thursday and Friday were the conference days and also there were spouse/guest tours on both days - first around Beyoglu and then to the Dolmabahce Palace, the former royal household and the home of Atäturk at the time of his death in 1938. On Thursday and Friday night there were external dinners (kindly hosted by our local member firms respectively); and a full day city excursion on Saturday. Many had not been to the huge city of Istanbul before and therefore it was a tremendous opportunity to experience a vibrant and exotic city offering the fusion of Asian culture and a Mediterranean lifestyle.

The Conference Hotel

The fantastic views of the Bosphorus at night from the City Lights bar on the top floor	The Ceylan Inter-Continental hotel, Istanbul, close to Taksim Square	The World Link for Law banner flying between the flag poles - more visible from the road than the hotel!

The Business Conference

The conference room had great views of the Bosphorus with a veranda for coffee breaks, which was very relaxing in the warm weather. The tables to the side were for our workshop session. We discussed in small informal groups, key issues concerning a cross border contract of sale of goods to create a checklist for all members of the association to use in practice. For example: What are the behavioural and cultural issues to consider in pre-contract negotiations?; What are the contract formation issues?; What are the essentials and conditions of such a contract?; and what are the possible remedies for breach of contract?

Additionally there were presentations by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce covering the commercial and legal aspects of doing business in Turkey. Cansen Erdogan & Naile Ülkü Karaaslan, of Le Buro, Istanbul, provided a presentation about Turkish law issues; the local Bar; the rendering of legal services and the Turkish Courts' system. A key note presentation was made by Professor Dr.Gunther Teubner of the University of Frankfurt about "Network contracts: internal relations and external liability". This was a stimulating and thought provoking academic presentation with realistic implications.

There was a discussion on the application of international conventions led by Karl Johan Dhunér, of Dhunér Järvengren Advokatbyrå, Sweden. Barkin Gültekin, of Gültekin Law Office, Istanbul, provided, together with an international client, an important presentation on the changing role of a lawyer in international transactions; and Professor Dr.Emre Burçkýn, of Marmara University, Istanbul, gave a passionate presentation about the benefits of Turkey joining the EU.

Finally , before the World Link for Law General Assembly after lunch on Friday, there was a light hearted presentation by guest speaker Adrian Mackay of Duncan Alexander & Wilmshurst, UK, about the 'do's' and 'don't's' of the social aspects of business networking.

Post conference comments by some of the delegates "Interesting presentations, useful workshops, inspiring discussions - in short: a valuable experience! It was a great pleasure for us to meet our colleagues from all over the world, in Istanbul. We'll never forget the fun we had at our nights out, the delicious food and the vibrant street life of Istanbul. We are also overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality of our Turkish member firms, who made this journey truly memorable". Matthias Pitsch - Lippert, Stachow & Partner, Dresden, Germany "My first conference and it was wonderful. I feel proud of being part of World Link for Law. Last week I met wonderful people and good amigos". Eduardo Cuevas Casamijtana -Cuevas y Villarreal, Mexico "I had a fantastic time in Istanbul, thank you for organising an excellent conference". Andrea Belger, Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes, South Africa "It was a good balance. We had a useful business information; profound intellectual arguments by Professor Teubner and also practical ideas by Mac Mackay to develop business relationships in social situations - he showed us that we are all 'sitting in the same boat'. It was all very enjoyable". Dr Gery Hauska-Hauska & Matzunski, Austria "Thank you for arranging the Istanbul conference. It was an unqualified success. The presentations were excellent and the evening excursions gave us lifetime memories. We are looking forward to Boston in 2007". Tom Niemann -Reinert & Rourke, P.C, USA "A great event, extremely useful, and good to meet so many other member lawyers to discuss and share similar business ideas, while also learning more about international legal issues" Luus Hillen- Miller Bolle & Partners, Belgium "Thank you for the perfect organization of the Istanbul conference. I think we had very interesting discussions and wonderful days and evenings together, which will help to make our network stronger and work better. As one of the founding members of our association, I must say, that the response from the members to this conference was extremely large, so that I think, it was one of the best, we have ever had". Michael Raschendorfer - Coeler & Partners, Hamburg, Germany

Thursday night - dinner in Kumkapi

On Thursday night after a short bus ride, about 80 delegates and their guests went for an informal fish restaurant meal in the popular area of Kumkapi. The dinner was kindly hosted by our member firm, Gultekin Law Office, Istanbul and was preceded by traditional 'meze' - various combinations of Turkish starter dishes including squid, spicy prawns and calamari.

It looks calm and relaxed, doesn't it? But this is before the gypsy musicians started playing their vibrant music, supported by a belly dancer.	Lars Espersen of Denmark tries very hard to resist the charms of the belly dancer, or is he looking for some financial assistance! The charming lady did not take any 'no's' for an answer to provide her with some cash.

Friday night

Another fantastic evening, this time hosted by our member firm, Le Buro. It started with tea at one of their offices, followed by something more alcoholic in the garden at their other nearby office; and then on a bus to a poolside restaurant for a Turkish kebap barbecue banquet, with traditional local music and dancers (and another belly dancer!).

Part of the bar at one of Le Buro's offices - one way to ensure that clients feel relaxed!	We are encouraged to join in with the dancing - one way to "dance off" our dinner.

Saturday excursion

A long day that started at 8.30am, but necessary to see the main tourist attractions of Istanbul that most delegates had not previously visited. We started at the Hippodrome Square built by the Roman Emperor Septimus and then walked onto the Blue Mosque, the only mosque built with six minarets. Another short walk to the magnificent Hagia Sophia built by Constantine the Great and considered a masterpiece of Byzantine Art. Hagia Sophia served 916 years as a church and 477 as a mosque until Ataturk's orders converted it into a museum. Then onto the Topkapi Palace, a 'must see' on any visit to Istanbul. The foundations date back to 1460; followed by coach transfer to a boat for a cruise of the Bosphorus with lunch followed by another bus transfer to the Grand Bazaar for some shopping and time to get lost in the myriad of shops.

	Part of one of the groups at the start of our Saturday excursion at the Hippodrome, Sultanahmet, before visiting the Blue Mosque; Hagia Sophia and the Topkapi Palace. "Wake up Mr Sillis, we know it's been a busy conference!"
The good ship Gumus Damla - we boarded it for lunch and a short cruise along the Bosphorus.	Pre-lunch drinks on the top deck of the Gumus Damla with the Ciragan Palace on the left.
	Chilling out after lunch, before we go for some shopping at the Grand Bazaar.

Overall, we had a tremendous cultural experience that was enhanced by the generosity and wonderful hospitality of our local member firms - Le Buro and Gultekin Law Offices.

Happy smiles and goodbye from some of our hosts. From the left - Asli Erdogan, Naile Ülkü Karaaslan, both of Le Buro; and Duygu Gultekin, who was very recently married to Barkin Gultekin of Gultekin Law Offices.

Photograph: courtesy of Philippe Bedard International Photography SA.

Photograph: courtesy of Philippe Bedard International Photography SA.

Görüsmek üzere (See you soon)