The founder of the BTLA is its current Vice-Chairman, Paul Sheridan, a partner with the international law firm, Denton Wilde Sapte.  Paul lived and worked in Istanbul for 4 years between 2000 and 2004 and he realised the potential for more co-operation and involvement between Turkish and British lawyers for the benefit of all.  The BTLA was launched at a conference in Istanbul in April 2005 which was supported by both the Law Society of England and Wales and the Turkish Bar Association and soon there was significant interest from lawyers and law firms from both jurisdictions.  Turkey becoming a candidate for EU membership gave the BTLA further impetus and indeed the official launch of the BTLA at a reception at the Law Society of England and Wales in London was on the same day that Turkey was invited to become an EU member candidate.  The BTLA is not a political organisation but an association through which practicing lawyers and legal academics and students in both jurisdictions can meet and get to know each other and indeed learn from the experiences and knowledge of other members.