Arda Cankat

Associate

Arda is an associate in the Private Clients, Trusts & Estates group.

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Arda focuses his practice on private wealth management and estate planning, advising clients on estate tax, gift tax, and generation-skipping transfer tax (GST) issues. Arda utilizes various techniques to meet his clients’ goals, which include preparing traditional estate planning documents, such as wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives, as well as handling more complex trusts and documents. Additionally, he prepares and advises clients on federal estate returns and federal gift tax returns.

Previous Work

Prior to joining ArentFox Schiff, Arda represented clients in private wealth management at a nationally recognized firm. Early in his career, Arda gained valuable experience as an immigration associate, where he managed employment-based petitions and represented foreign countries, providing him with a strong foundation in navigating complex legal frameworks.

As a consultant, Arda made impactful contributions to US-Turkish foreign policy by crafting strategies that enhanced diplomatic relations and trade opportunities. He facilitated political engagement within the Turkish-American community, empowering individuals and organizations to participate in initiatives like the Turkish American Women Leadership Initiative. His international experience as a law clerk in Paris included drafting corporate documents and conducting due diligence for mergers, further broadening his legal acumen and ability to support clients in diverse legal landscapes.

Professional Activities

Pro Bono Work

Arda’s pro bono work focuses on advising tax-exempt organizations for their federal tax-exemption applications and ancillary issues.

He also has experience in assisting with asylum applications.

Life Beyond the Law

Outside of work, Arda enjoy cooking and watching films.

  • Languages
    Turkish
  • Bar & Court Admissions
    • District of Columbia Bar
    • New York Bar
  • Education
    Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M., Taxation, with distinction, 2022
    Georgetown University Law Center, JD, 2019
    New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, BFA, 2016