The Legal 500

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu is ‘very proficient, thorough and timely’, and ‘absolutely top quality’. It recently advised Dexia on the €2.8bn sale of DenizBank to Sberbank. It also acted as local counsel to Nestlé on its $11.8bn acquisition of Pfizer’s infant nutrition division. Meltem Akol and Rozita Nigrin-Borden are ‘the pillars of the firm in M&A’. Associate Yalin Akmenek has ‘full knowledge of corporate law’.

Esin Attorney Partnership provides ‘client service that is without doubt one of the best in Turkey’. ‘Star of the Turkish market’ Ismail Esin recently led advice to SK Planet on its $55m e-commerce joint venture with Turkish conglomerate Doğus Holding. Also recommended are associates Duygu Turgut, who is billed as ‘a future star’, and senior associate Aslı Yiğit, who recently joined from Hergüner Bilgen Özeke.

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke has an enviable reputation for corporate and M&A advice, and is often ‘the local counsel of choice’ for international firms. In addition to a strong local client base, the firm also represents a number of multinationals operating in Turkey. Kayra Üçer and Senem Ismen are recommended.

Paksoy has an excellent M&A practice. Elvan Aziz advised Dow Chemical on its joint venture with Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sonayii, and led advice to US-based Amgen on its acquisition of 94% of Mustafa Nevzat Ilaç Sanayii, a Turkish pharmaceuticals company. Serdar Paksoy is well respected.

Pekin & Bayar Law Firm ‘operates to a high international standard and gives confidence to a foreign investor’, and Selin Bayar is ‘one of the most experienced corporate lawyers in the market’. The group recently acted for Redevco’s Turkish subsidiaries on the €200m sale of Redevco Group’s shopping centre portfolio to Blackstone. Practice head Şefika Pekin is strongly recommended.

Pekin & Pekin advises foreign investors on entering the Turkish market but has also seen an increase in domestic M&A. Energy and pharmaceuticals are key industries for the practice, which is headed by Kemal Serdengeçti. He and regulatory expert Sezin Okkan Çaliskan are recommended.

The ‘outstanding’ YükselKarkinKüçük’s clients include Abbott Laboratories, Glencore, Johnson & Johnson, Carlyle, and Turkish mobile phone operator Turkcell. The highly regarded Ekin Gökkiliç recently advised Turkish beverages producer Anadolu Efes on corporate aspects of the merger between Anadolu Group and SABMiller. Practice head Cüneyt Yüksel is also recommended.

Balcioglu Selcuk Akman Keki stands out for its ‘legal knowledge, responsiveness and dynamism’. It announced its co-operation with Dentons in January 2012 and also recruited the ‘highly reputable’ Selim Keki from Özel & Özel. The team recently advised Blackstone on the acquisition of Redevco’s Turkish shopping centre portfolio. Managing partner Galip Selçuk is ‘a superstar in private equity investment and M&A projects’, associate Gözde Manav Kılıçbeyli is ‘a bright young lawyer with good business acumen’, and Barlas Balcioğlu is also recommended.

Bener Law Office’s ‘highly knowledgeable lawyers’ give ‘A-grade, quality service’ and ‘clear and professional’ advice. Gözde Esen Sakar recently provided local counsel advice to Citadel Plastic on its acquisition by Huntsman Gay Global Capital. Other recent clients include Tiger Global, which was advised on e-commerce transactions, as well as Global Ports and GDF Suez. Onur Kordel and managing partner Erim Bener are recommended.

Bezen & Partners is ‘a very sophisticated, top-flight local firm operating to the highest international standards’. The ‘hugely capable and technically outstanding’ Nadia Cansun is recommended, as is associate Can Özilhan, who is ‘responsive and hardworking’.

Birsel Law Offices, which provides ‘highly professional’ advice and good response times, advises clients from sectors including real estate, media, telecoms, luxury goods, and energy. Practice head Begum Ozaydin is recommended, as are senior associates Fulya Kazbay and Ayse Nilufer Turkcu.

Çaga & Çaga has ‘a proven track record’, and is admired by clients for its ‘professional quality and appropriate advice’. The team has expertise across a number of sectors, particularly the media and advertising industries, and also recently advised a London-based restaurant group on its multimillion-dollar merger with a Turkish restaurant group. Team head Barbaros Çaga, Erdem Degerli and Duygu Acar are also recommended.

Ankara-based Çakmak Avukatlik Bürosu continues to leverage its impressive client base in the energy, infrastructure and industrial sectors. It recently advised Alacer Gold on divesting 50% stakes in three subsidiaries to Lidya Mining. Other clients include Gazprom and Rio Tinto. Sebnem Önder is recommended along with Ahmet İlker Doġan, who heads the corporate governance team.

Cerrahoglu Law Firm is a prestigious name in the Turkish market, and founding partner Fadlullah Cerrahoglu is well respected. Selen Güres and Aysegül Yalçinmani are also names to note in this broad and experienced practice.

ELIG, Attorneys-at-Law has ‘strong business acumen and provides practical, commercial solutions’. The group recently acted for Boyner Büyük Mağazacılık on its acquisition of a majority stake in YKM, which created the country’s largest non-food retailer. Gönenç Gürkaynak and Tunc Lokmanhekim are recommended.

Corporate and M&A is a core practice at Ismen Law Firm, which has experience in M&A and ‘strategic purchases’. It has clients in the telecoms, FMCG and manufacturing sectors. Tolga Işmen and Arzum Günalçin are the names of note.

Kolcuoglu Demirkan is ‘right on top of the law’ and provides ‘commercially sound’ advice. The team recently assisted EuroChem with its €140m acquisition of K+S Aktiengesellschaft’s nitrogen fertiliser business. Umut Kolcuoglu is ‘a very experienced, skilled and strong lawyer with broad international experience’.

Cigdemtekin Sahbaz Attorney Partnership has earned some impressive transactions since being established in July 2011, and is especially strong on private equity investments. It recently advised Asia Debt Management Hong Kong on its acquisition of approximately 50% of two Turkish vehicle parts manufacturers. Gamze Çiğdemtekin Özer and Deniz Şahbaz are recommended.

Cosar Avukatlik Bürosu’s corporate and M&A practice is best known for its ‘huge experience’ in the energy market, but also has extensive experience in a number of other sectors, including retail and finance. The group recently advised a construction group on a joint venture. Utku Cosar is ‘one of the most responsive and result-oriented lawyers in practice’, and has ‘an unquestionable commitment to both work and clients’. Arzu Cosar is also recommended.

Ersoy Bilgehan Lawyers & Consultants advises on corporate and commercial matters ranging from incorporation of Turkish operations, and day-to-day support, to joint ventures, M&A and demergers. Zihni Bilgehan is recommended.

Güner Law Office’s broad corporate and M&A practice recently advised private equity fund General Atlantic on its $43m purchase of a minority stake in online food-ordering service Yemek Sepeti. The team is also advising key client News Corporation on its proposed acquisition of a number of Turkish broadcasting companies. Managing partner Ece Güner is ‘outstanding’.

Mehmet Gün & Partners has particular expertise in healthcare, advertising and media. Serra Başoğlu Gürkaynak is ‘an excellent commercial lawyer’, and Mehmet Gün has ‘wide experience and an excellent overview of business’.

Senguler & Senguler recently advised key client Transatlantic Worldwide on Turkish aspects of the $200m sale of its petroleum services division to Viking. Selçuk Şengüler shows ‘strong business acumen’, and Jonathan Blythe is also recommended.

Somay Hukuk Bürosu has ‘intelligent and commercial emphasis on difficult mergers and corporate matters’. The group recently advised Cartesian Group and Kurdoglu Family on their joint acquisition of Burger King China. Metin Somay is ‘very smart, with high integrity and impeccable skills’.

Turunç provides ‘a top-notch service’. Managing partner Noyan Turunç is recommended for his ‘wisdom and professional experience’, as is Kerem Turunç for his international experience. Clients include SC Johnson, Chevrolet and Nissan.

Ali Can Verdi, name partner of newly established Verdi Avukatlik Ortakligi, is well regarded. The firm recently advised Burgan Bank on its $355m acquisition of Eurobank Tekfen.

YaziciLegal, which was formed after the dissolution of Verdi & Yazici, recently acted for private equity firm Actera, and advised Esas Holding on its purchase of shares in Mars, AFM Sınema and Mac gyms. Founding partner Hakan Yazici led the advice.

ASC Law Office recently advised Doğan Enerji on its €240m acquisition of 100% of shares in Akdeniz Elektrik Üretim A.Ş., as well as its purchase of Galata Wind Enerji Limited Şirketi’s operational wind farms. The group provides ‘great clarity’. Murat Aksu is the main contact.

CCAO’s full-service corporate and M&A practice is able to handle ‘complex structured deals’. Clients include VHV, EBRD and CVC Capital Partners. Practice head Halide Çetinkaya Yilmaz is recommended.

Cukur & Yilmaz’s corporate and M&A practice has a strong focus on mid-market transactions and acts across a wide range of industries. Practice head Devrim Çukur is recommended.

Erdem & Erdem Law Office advises domestic and international clients as buyers and targets. Senior partner Ercüment Erdem is recommended.

Goksu Safi Isik Attorney Partnership’s Ali Göksu and the ‘detail-oriented’ Lale Deliveli recently advised G Capital on its $75m acquisition of Adabank from Savings Deposit Insurance Fund. Energy and media are key sectors for the practice.

Gür Law Firm recently recruited Nilhan Buyurgan to head its corporate and M&A team. Buyurgan was formerly in-house at Sabançi Holding. Founding partner Tevfik Gur is also recommended.

Inal Law Office is well regarded for general corporate and commercial advice, and has a strong client base in the shipping sector. Seyma Inal is recommended.

Seyfi Moroğlu and Ergun Benan Arseven lead Moroglu Arseven’s corporate practice, which has ‘deep knowledge of corporate law’. Energy is a key sector strength.

Özdirekcan Bilgiç Dündar Attorney Partnership’s Bülent Özdirekcan recently led representation of Yves Rocher during its acquisition of a 51% stake in Turkish cosmetics company Flormar.

2012 saw the co-operation between Özel & Özel and Dentons end, which also led to the departure of Alican Babalioglu and key M&A partner Selim Keki to Balcioglu Selcuk Akman Keki. The firm has experience in advising domestic and international clients across a number of industries. Name partner Haluk Can Özel is the main contact.

Taboglu & Demirhan Attorneys-at-law has a broad corporate and M&A practice. Ebru Demirhan is recommended.

ADMD Law Office’s M&A practice had a strong focus on the mining industry in 2012. Orhan Mavioglu is recommended.

Aksan Law Firm continues to advise on local and cross-border transactions, and provides general corporate support to a diverse client base. Mehmet Taş leads the practice.

Boden Law’s ‘highly specialised’ practice is ‘getting stronger and stronger’. The firm’s advice is geared towards its sector strengths of power, oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure. Name partner Değer Boden is recommended.