GÜNAY EVINCH (ÖVÜNÇ)

PRINCIPAL

WASHINGTON, D.C.

T: +1 202 637 9877
E: GEvinch@SaltzmanEvinch.com

PRACTICE EXPERIENCE

Gunay Evinch was born in Chicago, Illinois, to immigrants from the Turkish Aegean and Ottoman Macedonia regions. He grew up in San Francisco, and has resided in the Washington Metropolitan Region since 1993.

Evinch specializes in public international law, corporate and business law, civil rights, and non-profit legal consulting. He also has extensive experience in representing foreign countries.

Evinch serves on Maryland Governor Lawrence Hogan’s Commission on Middle Eastern Communities. In 2016, Evinch became the Co-Chairman of the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC), which oversees the programs of America’s leading Turkish American organizations and mosques. In 2013, Evinch was inducted into the Washington DC Cosmos Club for Distinction in International Law and Foreign Relations. In 2009-11, Evinch served as the first American-born and 14th President of the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA). Evinch also served on the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America National Board along side Chairman Ambassador Marc Grossman in 2009-11. He has represented the Turkish American community on the Heritage Council of the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence since 2007.

Evinch completed his Juris Doctor at Washington & Lee University in Virginia (1991), EU Legal Studies at the College of William and Mary Program at the University of Madrid (1989), and Bachelor Degrees in Economics and Public Service at the University of California, Davis (1986). Between 1991-93, Evinch was a U.S. Fulbright Scholar in International Law and Sasakawa Scholar in Foreign Relations in Ankara, Turkiye. Evinch received the Lee Law Grant as well as the UC Regents Outstanding Senior Award. Evinch interned with the Federal Public Defender in Sacramento and San Francisco District Attorney in 1985.

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • District of Columbia
  • Pennsylvania

EDUCATION

  • J.D., Washington & Lee University School of Law, 1991
  • B.S., University of California, Davis, 1986
  • EU Program, University of Madrid, 1989
  • Fulbright Scholar in International Law, 1991-93
  • Sasakawa Scholar in Foreign Relations, 1992-93

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

  • Turkish American National Steering Committee, Co-Chairman (2016-Present)
  • Governor’s Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs in Maryland (2016-Present)
  • Cosmos Club, for Distinction in International Law and Foreign Relations (2013-present)
  • U.S. National Director of Intelligence Heritage Council (2009-present)
  • World Affairs Councils of America, National Board of Directors (2009-11)
  • Assembly of Turkish American Associations, Board of Trustees (2013-2016), Past President (2011-2013), President (2009-2011), President Elect (2005-2007), Secretary General (1998-2000)

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

  • “Iraq Report,” The Turkish American, Vol. 3, No. 10 (Winter 2006), pp.24-29.
  • “The Armenian Cause in America Today, 2nd Edition,” The Turkish Policy Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 4 (Winter 2005), pp.35-50.
  • “The Armenian Cause in American Today,” The Turkish American, Vol. 2, No. 8 (Sum 2005), p.22-29.
  • “The Annan Cyprus Initiative Fails Under International Law,” International Cyprus Conference, pp.18-26, Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkiye (TOBB), March 1-2, 2003.
  • “The Quincentennial of Ottoman and Turkish Jewry: A Lesson in Religious Tolerance and Political Coexistence within the Turkish Societal Context,” Ankara University Human Rights Review, V.1 N.2, pp, 55-78, Spring 1992.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

  • “Rabbi’s Take on Armenia: Well-Meaning but Skewed,” The Jewish Exponent, June 16, 2011. Contrasts the Armenian case from the Holocaust and discusses the importance of the Turkiye-Armenia Protocol Historical Commission.
  • “Genocide Resolution would undo Turkish, Armenian Accord,” The Boston Globe, February 24, 2010. Discusses the prejudicial effect of a legislative resolution charging Turkiye with genocide, on US foreign policy to support Turkish – Armenian rapprochement.
  • “A Distorted View of Turkiye, America’s Friend,” The Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2005. Explains that the growing unpopularity of the United States in Turkiye and in most of the global community is due to the policies and actions of the Bush Administration in Iraq.
  • “Soccer Turks,” The Atlantic Monthly, February 2001. Discusses Turkish integration into and image building in German society via professional sports.
  • “Lawyering with Their Lives on the Line,” The Barrister Lawyers’ Magazine, Spring 1995, Vol. 22, No. 1. Explains that PKK terrorists harm human rights by committing violence against lawyers who oppose their views.
  • “Turkiye’s Response to Terror,” The Washington Post, July 16, 1994: Discusses how Turkish Kurds enjoy equal protection under the law as well as the challenges Turkiye faces in combating terrorism without infringing upon the human rights of civilians.
  • “Quest for Citizenship,” The Christian Science Monitor, July 2, 1993. Discusses the circumstances surrounding the influx of Turkish workers into Germany.
  • “The Ottoman Jews,” The Herald-Tribune International, April 17, 1992. Discusses a point ignored by the main article, that the overwhelming number of Jews who were expelled from Spain in 1492 found refuge in Ottoman lands.
  • “Don’t Blame the Turks,” The New York Times, July 31, 1991. Rebuts the assertion that the Ottoman Empire and residual Turkish culture were responsible for the Serb-engineered massacres of Bosniaks.
  • “Turkiye’s Difficult Position,” The Christian Science Monitor, February 5, 1991. Explains how media information management in southeastern Turkiye facilitated coalition efforts during the Gulf War.

PUBLIC SPEAKING

  • “Turkish American Diversity and Advocacy,” 17th Annual Conference of the Turkish Writers and Artists Foundation (TURKSAV), May 16, 2013, New York, New York.
  • “Turkish American Empowerment.” Workshop on Turkish Diaspora Civic Engagement and Empowerment, Turkish Prime Ministry Directorate on Turks Abroad, January 11-13, 2013, Antalya, Turkiye.
  • Master of Ceremonies, H.E. Abdullah Gul, President of the Republic of Turkiye, Commemoration of Ataturk, NATO Summit, May 19, 2012, Chicago, Illinois.
  • “The North American Turk in Public Advocacy,” Fifth Annual Turkish Canadian Youth Congress on Social Activism and Leadership, hosted by the Council of Turkish Canadians, January 20-22, 2012, Ottawa-Gatineu, Ontario-Quebec, Canada.
  • “The Turkish Private Sector and Turkish American Civil Society: A Partnership for a Better Future”, co-hosted by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkiye (DEIK), Turkish American Businessmen’s Association (TABA)/AMCHAM, Yong Executives and Businessmen’s Association of Turkiye (GYIAD), July 27, 2011, Istanbul, Turkiye.
  • “Turkish American Public Advocacy in the Legal Arena”, “World Turkish Forum”, Turkish Asian Center for Strategic Studies TASAM), October 21, 2010, Istanbul, Turkiye.
  • “The Awakening of Turkish Activism in North America”, Conference on North American Turkish Public Advocacy, Council of Turkish Canadians, January 16, 2010, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  • “US-Turkish Relations: Challenges and Opportunities”, Greensboro College, Triad World Affairs Council, September 24, 2009, Greensboro, South Carolina.
  • “The Turkish Private Sector and Turkish American Civil Society: Partnering for a Powerful Future”, Turkish American Chambers of Commerce (TACCI) and Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), September 14, 2009, Washington, DC.
  • “Turkish Immigration, Integration, and Civil Society”, Symposium on Migration and Integration in its 50th Year, Hacettepe University Strategic Studies Center (HUSAM), May 21-23, 2009, Ankara, Turkiye.
  • “The Turkish Jews – Past, Present, and Future,” Conference on The Jewish Heritage of the Turkic World, American Azerbaijan Council and American Sephardic Federation, Center for Jewish History, May 16, 2009, New York, New York.
  • “The Turkish Private Sector and Turkish American Civil Society: Partnering for a Powerful Future”, Congress of World Turkish Entrepreneurs, Turkish Republic Prime Ministry Foreign Trade Directorate in cooperation with the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) of Turkiye, April 10-11, 2009, Istanbul, Turkiye.
  • “Turkish – Armenian Relations and the Role of the United States”, Discussion with Ambassador John Evans, Former US Ambassador to Armenia, and Gunay Evinch, Former Fulbright Scholar on the Armenian Matter (ATAA), Rumi Forum, Washington DC, April 2, 2009.
  • “Congressional, Government and Public Relations, Lessons for the Azerbaijani American Diaspora”, Conference on Energy Security and Diaspora in US-Azerbaijan Strategic Allied Relations, October 1, 2008, George Washington University, Washington DC.
  • “Turkish American Public Advocacy in the Legal Arena”, Annual International Law Symposium”, Ankara Bar Association, January 9-11, 2008, Ankara, Turkiye.
  • “US-Turkish Relations: Challenges and Opportunities”, George Washington University, November 29, 2007, Washington DC.
  • “Suppression of Freedom of Speech on the Armenian Matter in the United States: The Griswold v. Massachusetts Case”, International Symposium on Developments in Turkish Armenian Relations and the Events of 1915”, Gazi University, November 23 – 25, 2005, Ankara, Turkiye.
  • “The Annan Cyprus Initiative” Problems Under International Law,” International Cyprus Conference, Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), March 1-2, 2003.

LANGUAGES

  • Turkish, Fluent