Deris is one of the strongest and broadest IP specialists in the country, and the only firm to rank in the top tier across all categories. It is divided into prosecution and litigation arms: Deriş Patents & Trademarks Agency and Deriş Attorney-At-Law, which both have outstanding reputations. The two teams comprise 18 attorneys and 10 lawyers respectively. The former covers patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, geographical indications, plant breeder's rights and topographies. The litigation practice advises on all the contentious IP issues and unfair competition. Both practices share an office in Istanbul. Unilever, Nike, PepsiCo, Microsoft, Bayer and BASF are among its prominent clients.
The firm's head Aydin Deriş has a formidable reputation in Turkey. "He is one of the leading Turkish experts in IP," says one competitor. Okan Çan is another of its well-regarded litigators.
The firm achieved several notable successes for clients in 2012. One highlight was Can, Feride Utku and Seda Ungur's representation of Kraft Foods in its successful trade mark and unfair competition dispute with a Turkish company Birlesik Gıda Dan. The defendant's cheese product was deemed to look too similar in colour to that of the wrapper of Milka chocolate bars. It was the first enforcement of a single colour trade mark in Turkey.
Another contentious matter saw the firm assisting Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Kleenex, in securing a Supreme Court decision recognising its well-known brand of tissues in Turkey. It was a reversal of the first instance decision.
The firm has also been active tackling counterfeiting. Representing DC Shoes/Quiksilver, it oversaw raids conducted by Istanbul police, in which more than 12,500 shoes imitating those of the client were seized.