The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Akol Avukatlik Bürosu is a first tier firm,

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu’s comprehensive banking and finance practice represents clients including UBS, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan, but particularly comes into its own in capital markets work. It recently acted for construction company Yuksel Insaat AS in a $200m senior notes high-yield bond offering. It also represented Emlak Konut REIT as issuer in its multimillion-euro IPO. Meltum Akol is recommended for capital markets work.

Within Competition, tier 4

Sezin Elcin Cengiz recently joined Akol Avukatlik Bürosu as a competition adviser. The team is involved in a large number of merger filings and recently acted for Danone on TCB filings for the merger by incorporation of Numico. Unicredit and National Commercial Bank are also clients.

Within Corporate and M&A, Akol Avukatlik Bürosu is a first tier firm,

The gap between Akol Avukatlik Bürosu and other Turkish firms is closing, but the firm still maintains ‘a market-leading position’. It acts for buyers and sellers across a broad sector base including financial services, infrastructure, energy and pharmaceuticals. It recently advised Venice European Investment Capital on its $77m acquisition of 22% of Global Liman Isletmeleri. Meltem Akol and Rozita Nigrin-Borden are recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, Akol Avukatlik Bürosu is a second tier firm,

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu has a solid commercial litigation practice headed by Meltem Akol and Yalin Akmenek, as well as a labour law litigation team co-headed by Rozita Nigrin-Borden. The group is acting for Cukurova Group regarding Turkish law issues relating to its multibillion-dollar dispute with Alfa Groups concerning the ownership of Turkcell. Construction, infrastructure and capital markets disputes are also areas of strength.

Within IT and telecoms, Akol Avukatlik Bürosu is a second tier firm,

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu’s experienced telecoms team has acted for a number of significant players including telephone operator Turkcell. Meltem Akol is the main contact.

Within Intellectual property, Akol Avukatlik Bürosu is a second tier firm,

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu’s strong contentious IP practice has recently handled numerous trade mark disputes. It also advises on non-contentious matters, including IP licensing. Pioneer, Hearst, Liberty Mutual and Hall Star are among its clients. Rozita Nigrin-Borden and Yalin Akmenek are recommended.

Within Legal market overview,

The Turkish legal market features a mix of well-established, corporate-focused firms such as Hergüner Bilgen Özeke, Paksoy, Akol Avukatlik Bürosu and Cerrahoglu Law Firm, alongside an increasing number of ‘energetic newcomers’, whether they be spin-offs – such as Aritman Yildirim Aksun Law Firm with a number of its founding partners formerly being of Esin Attorney Partnership, a Member Firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein – or new affiliations between international and local law firms, such as that of Esin Attorney Partnership, a Member Firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein, or Chadbourne & Parke LLP and Cigdemtekin Sahbaz Attorney Partnership. International law firm capability is addressed in the Foreign firms section in this chapter.

Within Privatisation, Akol Avukatlik Bürosu is a third tier firm,

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

Within Project finance/projects, Akol Avukatlik Bürosu is a second tier firm,

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu advises lenders and borrowers on projects in industries including power, healthcare and natural resources. It recently represented the AES-IC Ictas joint venture company regarding the development and financing of several energy projects in Turkey, including that of Afsin-Elbistan power project. Meltem Akol heads the team.

Within Shipping, aviation and transport, tier 4

Akol Avukatlik Bürosu’s strong banking and finance team continues to be instructed on aviation financings. It recently represented Aviation Capital Group in various aircraft lease transactions. Rozita Nigrin-Borden led the matter.