Ten years ago, Dr. Tim Schlun and Aykut Elseven took the decisive step to establish their own law firm – driven by a clear vision of what modern legal counsel should embody and how they wanted to build trusted relationships with their clients. Since then, they have developed a practice that distinguishes itself not only through legal excellence but also through personal commitment and unwavering reliability.
To mark this milestone anniversary and to commemorate the occasion, we invite you to join us in reflecting on their journey: from the early days and pivotal moments to the experiences that have fundamentally shaped their practice. We also want to explore what continues to motivate them, how their approach has evolved, and what aspirations guide their vision for the years ahead.
The Interview with Dr. Tim Schlun and Aykut Elseven
What led to the decision ten years ago to establish your own law firm?
Aykut Elseven: The decision wasn’t a singular moment but rather an evolving realization. Early in our careers, we recognized that traditional law firm structures didn’t align with our professional philosophy: they lacked entrepreneurial vision, maintained too much distance from clients, and often diffused accountability for outcomes.
We knew that if we wanted to deliver legal counsel as we envisioned it – combining technical excellence with transparency, solution-focused strategies, and genuine client relationships – we would need to build that environment ourselves. We began modestly, but with an uncompromising clarity about the practice we intended to create.
What market need did you aim to address at that time, and how do you view it today?
Dr. Tim Schlun: From the outset, we sought to establish a practice that approached matters holistically rather than compartmentalizing them by individual legal disciplines. Many clients confronted complex situations spanning multiple areas of law and frequently involving cross-border dimensions – yet found themselves coordinating these issues among disparate advisors. This was precisely the gap we intended to close.
From inception, our approach was therefore full-service: specialized teams within a unified firm, collaborating seamlessly to provide integrated counsel. For clients, this translates into clear areas of responsibility, efficient communication channels, and strategically aligned advice – both domestically and internationally.
Today, we observe that this need has only intensified. Legal challenges have become increasingly complex, more international in scope, and time-sensitive in nature. Clients expect not only technically sound answers but also comprehensive and reliable guidance throughout the process. In retrospect, our early commitment to this model and its consistent refinement represents one of our most pivotal and prescient decisions.
Your guiding principle is “Driven by Excellence“: What does excellence mean to you, and how does this value manifest in your firm’s philosophy?
Aykut Elseven: For us, excellence is not about perfection for its own sake, but rather accountability at the highest standard. It means remaining current with legal developments, executing work with precision, and rendering transparent and comprehensible decisions. Simultaneously, excellence encompasses professional integrity, characterized by transparent communication, unwavering reliability toward clients and colleagues alike, and a commitment to continuous process improvement. This ethos permeates our training programs, our leadership approach, and our strategic decision-making at every level.
Which of your decisions proved particularly transformative – perhaps even unexpectedly so?
Dr. Tim Schlun: One of our most consequential decisions was investing in organizational infrastructure well before it became imperative: establishing team leadership structures, defining clear accountability frameworks, and implementing digital workflows. In retrospect, our unwavering emphasis on international capabilities and specialized expertise also proved instrumental. Our early adoption of an integrated approach to client matters – thinking holistically across practice areas from the outset – has profoundly shaped the firm’s trajectory, both professionally and economically.
How would you characterize your firm – what distinguishes you professionally and strategically?
Aykut Elseven: Professionally, we represent depth of specialization within individual practice areas; strategically, we embody a comprehensive full-service model with a distinctly international orientation. Our counsel is structured to guide complex matters seamlessly across multiple legal disciplines and, where necessary, across jurisdictions – all under unified direction. We marry legal excellence with entrepreneurial acumen.
The firm has deliberately evolved not as a loose confederation of individual practitioners, but as an integrated institution with specialized teams, clearly defined responsibilities, and coordinated workflows. This cohesion enables us to deliver structured, efficient, and dependable counsel to clients – whether their needs are domestic or span international borders.
Your firm has grown substantially in personnel. How do you cultivate an organizational culture where colleagues genuinely thrive?
Dr. Tim Schlun: Culture is not forged through mission statements and principles, but through daily decisions and actions. We prioritize recognizing achievement, enabling professional development, and communicating expectations with clarity. This encompasses transparent career pathways, flexible work arrangements, comprehensive benefits, targeted professional development, contemporary work environments, and substantive responsibility – irrespective of hierarchical position. Simultaneously, we place considerable emphasis on collegiality, dependability, and mutual respect. Those who work here should experience the sense of contributing to something enduring.
What accomplishments from the past decade fill you with particular pride?
Aykut Elseven: Naturally, we take pride in our growth, office locations, mandates, and market recognition. Yet what resonates most profoundly is witnessing so many talented individuals build their careers alongside us and actively shape the firm’s evolution. That clients accompany us over the years, refer others to us, and place their confidence in our counsel – this represents our most significant achievement. It validates our standards anew each day.
Which areas or initiatives do you intend to advance in the years ahead?
Dr. Tim Schlun: We will continue deepening our core practice areas while making substantial investments in professional development and knowledge transfer. The SE-Academy serves as a cornerstone in this effort, enabling us to systematically expand the training of emerging talent and safeguard quality over the long term. Beyond this, we are evolving our office locations – both spatially and structurally – to accommodate the growth and evolving needs of our teams. Our objective remains unequivocal: sustainable expansion without compromising our foundational values.
Thank you for the interview!
Ten years of Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte: countless decisions, encounters, and developments – yet simultaneously the commencement of a new chapter. This conversation with the founders, Dr. Tim Schlun and Aykut Elseven, reveals how profoundly their core values, collaborative spirit, and strategic clarity have shaped their firm’s trajectory – and how resolute they remain in maintaining this course. With the same conviction that propelled their beginning, everybody at S&E looks ahead: prepared for new challenges, new mandates, and the next chapters of Schlun & Elseven Rechtsanwälte.
