The Legal 500

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu’s capital markets group, which is well versed in debt and equity products, recently advised VTB Capital on Turkey’s first debt securities issuance by a non-Turkish issuer and acted for UniCredit as arranger on Şekerbank’s €335m covered bonds programme, the first ever by a Turkish issuer. Güniz Gökçe is the ‘go-to name’ for banking and finance transactions, and Meltem Akol is well respected for capital markets work.

Birsel Law Offices advises financial institutions, export credit agencies, foreign commercial banks, and corporate borrowers on all banking and finance matters. Recent instructions include advising on various high-value receivable trade financings and credit facilities. Practice head Begum Durukan Ozaydin is recommended.

Paksoy’s ‘very professional’ practice has an impressive record in bond offerings and Islamic finance transactions including sukuk issuances. It recently advised the joint lead managers on Halkbank’s $750m Eurobond offering and listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Capital markets expert Ömer Çollak is ‘commercially astute’ and has ‘first-rate knowledge’, and Togan Turan and senior associate Erkan Tercan are recommended for banking and finance and regulatory and securities law, respectively.

Pekin & Bayar Law Firm advises its broad client base on capital markets, banking and finance matters. It is representing Citigroup and Deutsche Bank as the joint lead managers of Türkiye Petrolleri Rafinerileri’s note issuance on the LSE. Halkbank is also a client. Practice head Selin Bayar, Sila Yavuz and Ferhat Pekin are recommended.

Pekin & Pekin’s highly respected practice recently advised a client on the sale of shares in a Turkish bank via an equity offering. Sezin Okkan Çalişkan and Ahmed Pekin are recommended.

ASC Law Office provides punctual service and clear advice. The team acted for regular clients Finansbank, Garanti Bank, Işbank and UniCredit and the other lead arrangers on the $477m acquisition finance facility advanced to Limak Uluslararası Liman İşletmeciliği. Okan Beygo has ‘profound expertise’.

Balcioglu Selcuk Akman Keki began co-operating with Dentons in January 2012. Practice head Barlas Balcioglu led advice to EBRD on its €400m credit facility made available to a number of banks, including Garanti Bank, DenizBank, Vakifbank, Işbank and Akbank, to finance agribusiness enterprises. He and managing partner Galip Selçuk are recommended.

‘Preferred local counsel’, Bezen & Partners has an ouststanding reputation for energy and infrastructure financing. Yesim Bezen, who ‘understands what international firms look for’, recently led representation of ING Bank’s Russian subsidiary as lender’s local counsel on a $75m term loan provided to a Turkish energy company.

Esin Attorney Partnership has ‘a very strong finance practice’, and benefits from its formal co-operation with Baker & McKenzie, which allows it access to the expertise of Baker & McKenzie’s Istanbul-based partner Daniel Matthews. The team recently advised Commerzbank and other lenders on loan facilities extended to TSKB, and acted for Akbank on its $1bn bond offering. Senior associate Muhsin Keskin has ‘outstanding credentials’, and is recommended along with Ismail Esin.

Güner Law Office’s experience spans capital markets as well as banking and finance matters including syndicated loans, asset or trade finance, and Islamic finance. Clients include Akbank, Garanti Bankasi, Vakifbank, Alternatifbank, and Türk Eximbank. Managing partner Ece Güner is the name of note.

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke recently lost a number of its banking and finance lawyers including two of its leading finance partners, Gökhan Eraksoy and Hakki Gedik, who established Gedik Eraksoy Avukatlik Ortakligi, the firm’s strong reputation continues to attract a broad range of matters including project, construction and real estate financings. Ender Özeke, Kemal Mamak, and Ümit Hergüner are the main contacts.

Leading name Ali Can Verdi recently established Verdi Avukatlik Ortakligi after the dissolution of Verdi & Yazici. The firm advises banks and other financial institutions on domestic and cross-border matters, and also handles financial services litigation.

Hakan Yazici, the other former name partner of Verdi & Yazici, founded YaziciLegal and is a renowned banking and finance and capital markets expert. Structured finance and project finance transactions are key strengths of the practice, and clients include Goldman Sachs, Garanti Bank, Isbank, and Akbank as clients. The group recently completed a $500m bond issuance for the issuer VakifBank.

YükselKarkinKüçük recently advised EBRD on three equity investments and also acted for Sumitomo Trust and Banking on a €45m financing made available to a Turkish borrower. Practice head Muharrem Küçük and Ekin Gökkiliç are also recommended. The team continued to grow in 2012, when it hired former Akbank senior legal counsel Isil Ökten.

Bener Law Office’s key clients include Sekerbank, DenizBank, and HSBC. It acted for the IFC as lender to TSKB on a $75m energy project financing, and advised Tron Telecom on its successful listing on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE). Win Michaelsen and Gözde Esen Sakar are highly recommended for banking and finance and capital markets, respectively.

Kinstellar Danismanlik Hizmetleri Avukatlik Ortakligi’s Turkish affiliate practice CCAO acts for clients including Akbank, Barclays, HSBC, Yapi Kredi, EBRD and Halkbank. Halide Çetinkaya Yilmaz, managing associate Ömer Erdogan and Onur Taktak, who is a former Yapi Kredi in-house lawyer, are recommended.

Çaga & Çaga has a broad banking and finance and capital markets practice which advises a number of local and international banks on matters including compliance with Turkish Capital Market Board regulations. Erdem Degerli is recommended.

Ankara-based Çakmak Avukatlik Bürosu’s strong energy and mining practice continues to attract financing instructions while it also has outstanding banking regulatory expertise. The group recently advised power producer Aksa Enerji Uretim on its global equity offering and ISE listing. Zeynep Çakmak, Sebnem Önder and of counsels Mehtap Yildirim Öztürk and Mesut Çakmak are recommended.

ELO | Eryürekli Law Office, which ‘stands out with its service-oriented mindset and proactive attitude’, recently advised global private bank Julius Baer on the structuring of a new asset management and brokerage firm in Turkey. Murat Eryürekli and Mustafa Ünal, both former members of the Turkish Capital Markets Board, are recommended.

General practice law firm Erdem & Erdem Law Office has transactional and regulatory experience across capital markets, banking and finance. Ercüment Erdem is recommended.

Ersoy Bilgehan Lawyers & Consultants is recognised for its strength in ship finance and also has experience including asset finance, and other forms of secured and unsecured financing. Gulistan Baltaci Hatay and Zihni Bilgehan are the main contacts.

Gür Law Firm recently advised a banking syndicate (which included Eurohypo Aktiengesellschaft, Garanti Bank and Akbank) on the restructuring of a €442m shopping mall loan facility. Burcu Boso is the main contact.

Inal Law Office’s predominantly borrower-side practice provides an ‘excellent, client-focused, personal, and tailor-made service’. It is well versed in financing transactions including Islamic finance, export finance agreements and corporate guarantees, in addition to its recognised strength in ship finance. Seyma Inal heads the practice.

Kolcuoglu Demirkan’s banking, finance and capital markets group advised The Bank of Ireland and RBS on the financing of an acquisition by Perform Group. Practice head Umut Kolcuoğlu is highly respected. Senior associate Kemal Aksel recently joined the firm.

Somay Hukuk Bürosu’s growing banking, finance and capital markets team complements its ‘leading’ Islamic finance practice. It recently acted for the Republic of Turkey in its first-ever Islamic finance offering (of $1.5bn in value). Sera Somay led the advice.

Taboglu & Demirhan Attorneys-at-Law’s broad practice has experience across a range of transactions including structured finance and international securities work. Esin Taboglu and Ebru Demirhan are the main contacts.

Yegin Legal Consultancy’s excellent banking, finance and capital markets practice works in co-operation with Clifford Chance’s Istanbul office. Mete Yegin is recommended for his considerable experience, which includes having worked at Garanti Bank.

Cerrahoglu Law Firm’s practice spans equity and debt capital markets, project or asset finance, and general financing. Aysegül Yalçinmani is recommended.

Cukur & Yilmaz’s borrower-oriented practice recently advised a client from the automotive sector on its IPO on ISE. Irem Soyman heads the practice, which also includes Devrim Çukur.

Davutoglu Attorneys at Law ‘dedicated’ partners include Eda Cemali, who ‘makes sure the deal proceeds’, and managing partner Ali Cem Davutoğlu, who is also highly recommended.

Dogru Law Office’s founding partner Halil Doğru has strong expertise in capital markets and finance, and is a former employee of the Turkish Capital Markets Board.

ELIG, Attorneys-at-Law is acting for Boyner Buyuk Magazacilik on a TL150m facility agreement entered into with Işbank. Gönenç Gürkaynak is the main contact.

Halisan Yengin and Lale Deliveli jointly lead Goksu Safi Isik Attorney Partnership’s ‘dynamic and up-to-date’ banking and finance practice, which advised QInvest on making a $40.5m loan facility available to Al Jazeera. Ali Göksu has ‘immense experience in banking and finance transactions’.

IctemLegal recently advised Credit Suisse International on a TL130.5m facility agreement with Lider Faktoring Hizmetleri. Other clients include NBG Bank Malta, TSKB, ADM Capital, and Finansbank. Serkan Içtem is the main contact.

Ismen Law Firm’s Tolga Işmen brings ‘deep experience’ to capital markets transactions. In 2010, the group advised UniCredit and TSKB as underwriters on the IPO of Emlak Konut Gayrimenkul Yatirim Ortakligi on the ISE.

Moroglu Arseven provides ‘an excellent overall level of service’ and is particularly expert in infrastructure and other project finance transactions. Seyfi Moroġlu and Ergun Benan Arseven lead the group.

Özdirekcan Bilgiç Dündar Attorney Partnership recently advised RCI Banque and Oyak on the incorporation of a Turkish financing company. Other clients include the IFC, HSBC and Andros. Haluk Bilgiç heads the practice.

Early 2012 saw the end of Özel & Özel’s relationship with Dentons, but the group continues to advise local, foreign and international clients. Managing partner Haluk Can Özel is the main contact.

Senguler & Senguler continues to act for National Bank of Abu Dhabi on a wide range of financial matters. The group also advises AMEX on its credit card operations in Turkey. Selçuk Şengüler is the main contact.

Turunç’s banking, finance and capital markets team makes ‘managing complex deals look like child’s play’. It advised HSH Nordbank as lender’s counsel on a credit facility made available to Flament Tekstil. Noyan Turunç and practice head Kerem Turunç are recommended.