The Legal 500

Çakmak Avukatlik Bürosu recently advised EnerjiSA on privatisation of the Turkish electricity distribution sector, helping the client win the tender for the Ankara distribution region. It acts for other participants including investors, underwriters and corporates such as AEI, SK Telecom and RWE Energy. Mesut Çakmak and Zeynep Çakmak are highly recommended.

Cosar Avukatlik Burosu’s advice is ‘spot on, to the point and delivered lightning fast’. It is representing the Turkish Privatisation Authority (TPA) in a number of privatisations including those pertaining to natural gas distribution, electricity distribution, and banking. Arzu Cosar has ‘an unparalleled and exceptional knowledge of privatisation and corporate work in Turkey’.

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke acted for Hammes Company Healthcare International on Ministry of Health PPP projects in Turkey, which were implemented as part of a privatisation project. It advised a number of clients – including Demirören Holding and Demir Export – on preparing privatisation bids. Ümit Hergüner is recommended.

Pekin & Pekin is advising a holding company regarding a potential acqusition via privatisation. Kemal Serdengeçti leads the privatisation practice, and Ahmed Pekin is recommended for related finance.

Bener Law Office was very active in privatisation work throughout 2010 and 2011. It acted for the Kolin Limak Cengiz consortium on financing the acquisitions of two privatised electricity distribution companies. Philips Healthcare and Global Ports are also clients. Onur Kordel heads the group.

Birsel Law Offices has developed ‘impressive expertise’ in privatisation, including recently in the electricity distribution sector. Begum Durukan Ozaydin is recommended.

Çaga & Çaga Law Firm represented a client in its dealings with the TPA regarding the privatisation of concession rights at Tekidag Harbour. It is also advising a media client concerning the privatisation of the Turkish National Lottery. Barbaros Çaga and Erdem Degerli are recommended.

Cerrahoglu Law Firm has broad experience advising clients (primarily bidders) in privatisations. It has represented individual bidders as well as consortia, and was legal counsel to the winning bidder OYAK in the privatisation of Turkish steel and chemical conglomerate Erdemir. Sezin Turan is the main contact.

GSI Meridian advised Istanbul Municipality on the privatisation of natural gas distribution company IGDAS. Ali Göksu is highly recommended.

Group Law Firm has built a strong record acting on all sides of privatisation transactions, particularly in energy, commodities and industrial sectors. It is currently advising on Turkey's largest ever privatisation project. Founder of the firm Ahmet Kesli is the key figure in the team.

Güner Law Office acted for Ashmore Energy International (AEI) on five separate privatisations recently. Ece Güner is recommended.

Ismen Law Firm provides ‘an overall good level of service’, and is advising the TPA on various privatisation projects including the privatisations of motorways, Bosphorus bridges and the Galataport. Tolga Ismen ‘can work under pressure, reponds very quickly and has good knowledge about projects’.

Haluk Can Özel is the pivotal figure for privatisation work at Özel & Özel, which has represented bidders in the electricity privatisations. Orkun Güncan is also recommended.

Paksoy has a solid track record advising a number of participants, including investors and government agencies, on privatisation projects. It is advising investors on prospective bids in the gas and electricity sectors. Togan Turan is the main contact.

Taboglu & Demirhan Attorneys-at- Law has advised the TPA as well as potential bidders in privatisations, and its experience spans telecoms, energy distribution and petrochemicals. Esin Taboglu Yurtal and Ebru Demirhan are recommended.

YukselKarkinKucuk has experience of representing clients across a number of sectors when it comes to privatisations, including aviation, energy, healthcare and infrastructure. Notably it acted on the National Lottery privatisation. Practice head Cüneyt Yüksel is recommended.

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu’s Meltem Akol has strong experience representing bidders in privatisations.

Aksan Law Firm recently picked up a significant instruction in relation to the privatisation of 47 power plants throughout Turkey. Muhammet Aksan is recommended.

Bezen & Partners’ team is headed by Aykut Bakirci, the former head of legal at the TPA. The practice’s track record includes having advised the sponsor on the $510m privatisation and financing of nine power plants. Yesim Bezen is also recommended.

Erdem & Erdem Law Office recently acted for a holding company on preparing a bid in the Istanbul Sea Buses privatisation.

Esin Attorney Partnership, a Member Firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein’s Ismail Esin has experience in privatisation, but Melis Aritman Alp joined Aritman Yildirim Aksun Law Firm.

Selin Bayar is the main contact at Pekin & Bayar Law Firm for privatisation work. The team advises bidders and bid lenders in privatisations.