Gün + Partners > Istanbul, Turkey > Firm Profile
Gün + Partners Offices
KORE SEHITLERI CAD 17
ZINCIRLIKUYU
34394 ISTANBUL
Turkey
Gün + Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings
Turkey > Compliance Tier 1
Assisting a diverse and lucrative client base across a wide variety of sectors, Gün + Partners maintains its stellar reputation for handling the implementation and audit of compliance structures. The team is jointly led by Barış Kalaycı, the ‘amazing‘ Özge Atılgan Karakulak, Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumus, Beril Yayla Sapan. Kalaycı is known for his extensive knowledge of anti-corruption cases, while Karakulak leads on the life sciences side. Okumuş frequently appears before regulatory authorities in a variety of sectors, including telecoms and automotives, and Sapan has ample knowledge of white collar crime related mandates, and legal audits.Practice head(s):
Barış Kalaycı; Özge Atılgan Karakulak; Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş; Beril Yayla Sapan
Other key lawyers:
Asena Aytuğ Keser; Dicle Doğan
Testimonials
‘We work with Özge Atılgan Karakulak on a regular basis and we are very happy with our collaboration. They are very experienced in their field, they are always up-to-date with developments and they provide a high quality of work.’
‘Özge Atılgan Karakulak is an amazing partner, we really appreciate working with her. She is solution oriented and she is always offering advices which are very easy to adapt to our business in real life and she is always very to the point.’
Work highlights
- Advised on a patient support program conducted by a Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company, evaluating its characteristics, compliance with regulations, potential risks, and interactions with relevant parties in the pharmaceutical sector.
Turkey > Intellectual property Tier 1
With a strong team that handles all aspects of the IP process, Gün + Partners continues to prove itself as a go-to firm for clients seeking advice on trade marks, designs, copyright, IP prosecution, anti-counterfeiting, and patents. Mehmet Gün has over three decades of experience in the IP landscape. He leads the team alongside Uğur Aktekin
, Bariş Kalayci, and Özge Atılgan Karakulak. Their combined experience spans from IP litigation and anti-piracy cases to patent infringements and unfair competition matters. Other prominent members of the team include Selin Sinem Erciyas, Hande Hançar, and Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın. In particular, Erciyas frequently handles the IP portfolios of pharmaceutical and technology companies. Practice head(s):
Mehmet Gün; Uğur Aktekin; Barış Kalaycı; Özge Atılgan Karakulak
Other key lawyers:
Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın; Selin Sinem Erciyas; Zeynep Seda Alhas; Hande Hançar
Testimonials
‘Hande Hançar is good for all IP matters relating to litigation and enforcement.’
‘Gün + Partners provides timely and accurate guidance as well as regular follow-up.’
‘Gun + Partners has a very deep bench with many qualified attorneys who can assist with various trade mark matters, including clearance, opposition analysis, and renewals.’
‘The team provides invaluable advice on protecting our brands and helping us launch new products.’
‘Gün is the best firm in Turkey for trade marks.’
‘Zeynep Alhas is outstanding. She handles all our trade mark litigation in Turkey.’
‘The firm stands out for its depth of the experience.’
Work highlights
- Advising and representing a leading subscription video on-demand streaming service company in multiple lawsuits involving copyright infringement.
- Advising a global technology company on tracking down and seizing counterfeit electronic products.
Turkey > Media and entertainment Tier 1
Gün + Partners stands out for its 'deep expertise and experience in the media and entertainment area'. The practice is well known for handling a wide spectrum of matters relating to music, sports, advertising, television, and cinema. Led by Hande Hancar and Uğur Aktekin, the team regularly handles licensing deals, talent agreements, regulatory and compliance issues, dispute resolution, and sponsorship agreements. Baran Güney brings expertise in advertising and consumer law.
Practice head(s):
Hande Hançar; Uğur Aktekin
Other key lawyers:
Baran Güney; Havva Yıldız
Testimonials
‘They are one of the leading firms in Turkey for media, entertainment, advertising, and IP.’
‘They have deep expertise and experience in the media and entertainment area.’
‘Ugur Aktekin is a giant in the field.’
‘Hande Hancer is smart, responsive, and a trusted advisor.’
‘Gün + Partners is a great and accessible firm to work with. The team is well-rounded, very knowledgeable and quick in their response.’
‘Hande Hançer and Baran Güney are very friendly and skilled lawyers. Their advice on advertising is clear and easily applicable.’
‘They are a great firm with a great team of lawyers who are experts in their field. The advice is clear and concise.’
‘The team is efficient, effective and really practical.’
Turkey > IT and telecoms Tier 2
Gün + Partners routinely provides support on data protection and privacy matters; practice co-head Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumus has extensive experience in advising clients from a broad range of industries on data protection regulations and often assists with compliance matters concerning the development of new applications. Okumuş co-heads the practice with Hande Hancar, and Yalçın Umut Talay has expertise in telecoms and internet law.Practice head(s):
Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş; Hande Hançar
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘They are a good and sizeable team. They are also very capable.’
Key clients
Zynga Games
Toros Tarım
Turkey > Dispute resolution Tier 3
Gün + Partners acts for a growing roster of multinational corporations on their local disputes, including both judicial and arbitral proceedings. Particularly active in distribution disputes of late, the group has also handled white-collar crime, administrative law and product liability cases. The department is co-led by senior partner Mehmet Gün; IP specialist Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın; and Beril Yayla Sapan, whose practice spans regulatory and compliance, and dispute resolution. Managing associate Asena Aytuğ Keser demonstrates ’excellent follow-up and communication skills’.Practice head(s):
Mehmet Gün; Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın; Beril Yayla Sapan
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is clear, precise and very cooperative. It understands our issue well.’
‘Team members are experts in their field, responsive and collaborative.’
‘I worked with Asena Aytuğ Keser, who has excellent follow-up and communication skills and understanding of the client’s business.’
‘We receive very good service from Gün + Partners in Turkey. The team closely follows the legal processes it manages on our behalf and frequently informs us about the issues. We are very pleased to work with G&P.’
‘The team provides much more value for money. The team is diligent and responsive, even though the fee cap had been filled a long time ago.’
‘Asena Aytuğ Keser handles the complicated case with ease, and provides more than enough details of the ongoing case when asked, which is appreciated. This is unlike some other firms that provide minimal information, seemingly in an effort to keep the time spent on the case minimal.’
Turkey > Employment Tier 3
At Gün + Partners, the team has ‘experience both in employment law and the pharmaceuticals sector‘ as well as the technology industry. Practice head Beril Yayla Sapan focuses on employment, dispute management, business crime and anti-corruption. Ezgi Kut, who was promoted to senior associate in 2022, is a key practitioner, as is managing associate Asena Aytuğ Keser, who has an extensive employment practice, including employment contracts, terminations and personnel management, among other matters.Practice head(s):
Beril Yayla Sapan
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team has experience both in employment law and the pharmaceuticals sector. Therefore, they are able to combine their knowledge and provide tailor made solutions.’
‘Beril Yayla Sapan understands the need and provides practical advice which can be directly implemented.’
Work highlights
- Assisted a global company with a major collective redundancy process.
- Represented a multinational client in collective bargaining negotiations with one of the strongest unions of Turkey.
- Representing a global manufacturer in a court action claiming for the penal clause due to the breach of a non-compete obligation in the employment contract of a key employee.
Turkey > Insurance Tier 3
The insurance and reinsurance team at Gün + Partners frequently advises local and international clients on regulatory requirements, liability policies, and various disputes arising from insurance-related matters. Headed by Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın and Görkem Bilgin, the team also has experience of handling M&A and joint ventures in the insurance sphere. Asena Aytuğ Keser is a further standout member of the team due to her experience in handling disputes and settlements for clients in the insurance market. She also regularly conducts assessments relating to the liability of parties and the amount of the claim.Practice head(s):
Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın; Görkem Bilgin
Other key lawyers:
Turkey > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4
The team at Gün + Partners advises financial institutions, insurers and domestic and multinational corporates in apparel, tech, pharmaceuticals, media and entertainment, automotive, publishing and software, on matters ranging from cross-border M&A and restructurings to divestments and leveraged buyouts. The practice is headed by acquisitions specialist Görkem Bilgin and Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumus, who in addition to complex, cross-border M&A, handles shareholders’ and joint venture agreements. Managing associate Yalçın Umut Talay is also of note.Practice head(s):
Görkem Bilgin; Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Görkem Bilgin and his team at Gün + Partners are great to work with. They are very attentive to their clients’ questions and needs. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone seeking legal counsel in the area of corporate compliance in Turkey.’
‘The team is professional and answers quickly to requests. Answers are clear and accurate.’
‘The practice relies on a true collaborative team, composed of excellent people who are not only very good practitioners but also nice and dynamic people.’
‘Excellent technical skills – available – calm in all circumstances – strategic approach to the issues.’
‘Excellent, very client-focused firm that handles work in a timely manner and with the client’s interests in mind.’
‘Very competent and having a wide knowledge on the the legal aspects of running business in Turkey. Great customer relationship.’
Key clients
Renault Group
BMS
Align Technology
Work highlights
- Advising an animal health manufacturing company in its exit from Turkish market and assisting the company in all aspects for its acquisition by a potential buyer in Türkiye.
- Advised a US corporation which is a global provider of brand solutions, memorialisation products and industrial technologies on the acquisition of the whole share capital of two legal entities in Turkey active in the brand and packaging design.
- Advised a US leading provider of custom and stock industrial baking pans, pan coatings and pan refurbishment services on acquisitions of two manufacturing companies in Türkiye.
Turkey > Competition Tier 4
The competition group at Gün + Partners advises a client base of corporates at the national and international levels spanning sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals, biotech and insurance to renewables, beverages, retail and aerospace. The practice is headed by Özge Atılgan Karakulak and Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumus, who bring experience to representing clients before the Competition Authority in response to investigations and filings.Practice head(s):
Özge Atılgan Karakulak; Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş
Testimonials
‘Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş is a practical and business-oriented person. She does not complicate things and provides solutions which can be put in practice.’
Key clients
Align Technology
BMS
Beckman
Novo Nordisk
MSD
D Marin
GS YUASA
Biogen
Johnson & Johnson
AON
Takeda
Gün + Partners > Firm Profile
The firm: Gün + Partners was founded in 1986 and is one of the largest law firms in Turkey with 13 partners and over 70 lawyers. The firm is based in Istanbul and provides transactional, advisory and dispute management services to local and international companies throughout Turkey and assists clients worldwide through its established network of correspondents and contacts. The firm’s core areas of expertise are corporate and commercial, dispute management and intellectual property. It represents clients in numerous industry sectors with a particular focus on life sciences, insurance and reinsurance, energy, construction and real estate, logistics, technology, media and telecoms, automotive, FMCG, chemicals and the defence industries.
Areas of practice
Intellectual property: The firm’s expertise covers patents, utility models, trademarks, copyrights and designs. Recognised as the leading IP practice in Turkey the firm provides a full range of legal services including civil, criminal and administrative litigation, arbitration and mediation, advisory, transactional, registration, opposition, maintenance, enforcement, anti-counterfeiting and investigation. The firm advocates on Turkish IP law compatibility with international treaties and standards, individually and through local and international associations.
Dispute management: The firm is renowned for the strength and depth of its dispute management capabilities. It handles a wide variety of disputes from IP litigation and complex cross-border cases including major commercial litigation, insurance, reinsurance and construction disputes, real estate projects, corporate crime, customs and tax, agency and distribution and labour and employment disputes. The firm is also active in ADR advising clients on adhoc and institutional arbitrations including ICC and LCIA. The experienced dispute management team leads the anti-bribery practice of the firm.
Insurance and reinsurance: The firm provides insurance and reinsurance-related litigation, regulation, and M&A services to its local and foreign clients. The practice mainly provides legal assistance to London-based reinsurers on complex insurance cases mostly arising from all risk construction policy, professional indemnity insurance, D&O, bankers blanket bond, CIT and general liability insurance policies. It assists many global and local insurance and reinsurance companies regarding the new products in the Turkish market, advises them in localisation of the insurance and reinsurance policies and advises the same on regulatory matters during company establishment phase as well as for their routine operations and compliance matters.
Business crimes and anti-corruption: The practice advises on the extraterritorial effects of the foreign anti-corruption legislation, particularly of FCPA and UKBA as well as Turkish anti-corruption and ethical rules and regulations and their compatibility with foreign equivalents.
Corporate and M&A: The practice handles high-profile acquisitions and joint ventures, incorporation and restructuring of businesses, all aspects of inward and outbound investment, franchise and distribution agreements, licensing, sales, agency and all related commercial contracts. The team has particular strength in advising clients from regulated sectors in corporate and M&A work, particularly in life sciences, TMT, energy and insurance.
Life sciences: The firm provides dedicated consultancy and litigation services for the life sciences industry. Combining the firm’s transactional, regulatory and IP experience with in-depth and current sector knowledge, the practice advises on every aspect of the business cycle of a life science product. In addition to corporate clients, the practice advises the most prominent industry associations active in the Turkish medical device, diagnostics and pharmaceuticals industries.
TMT: The firm advises on regulatory, transactional and dispute management matters in TMT business sectors involving all aspects of Turkish telecommunication and internet law, private broadcasting legislation, electronic communication services and infrastructure, wireless equipment rules and regulations and the structuring of telecommunication projects.
Data protection and privacy: The practice concentrates on personal data protection law issues such as compliance, data protection advise, data subject rights and claims, international transfers, data localisation, sector specific rules and regulations, data beach notifications, and judicial remedies; also transactions regarding data, i.e. license agreements, acquisitions, data use and data ownership matters.
Employment: The firm provides legal services related to all aspects of employment law, advisory and litigation services on restructurings and reorganisation, employment contracts, mutual termination contracts, collective bargaining, loyalty, discrimination, mobbing, confidentiality and non-compete obligations and enforcement, job security and termination issues, employee-related IP rights and employee inventions, liability for workplace accidents, severance payment and termination compensation claims, recourse claims by social security institutions and business immigration.
International reach: We actively contribute to the promotion of business opportunities, inward and outward direct investments and to initiatives of private and government organisations for the development of Turkey’s international economic relationships with its major trading partners.
France desk: FrenchDesk@gun.av.tr
Germany desk: GermanDesk@gun.av.tr
Japan desk: JapanDesk@gun.av.tr
Russia and CIS desk: RussiaCISDesk@gun.av.tr
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intellectual Property, Dispute Management, Corporate and M&A, Life Sciences, Competition, Finance | Mehmet Gün | mehmet.gun@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 12 |
| Intellectual Property, Anti-Counterfeiting, Business Crimes and Anti-Corruption, Trademarks and Designs, Copyrights | Barış Kalaycı | baris.kalayci@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 40 |
| Intellectual Property, Trademarks and Designs, Copyrights, IP Prosecution, Technology, Media and Telecom, Life Sciences | Hande Hançar | hande.hancer@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 73 |
| Life Sciences, Intellectual Property, Patents and Utility Models, Competition | Özge Atılgan Karakulak | ozge.atilgan@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 24 |
| Intellectual Property, Patents and Utility Models, Life Sciences | Selin Sinem Erciyas | selin.yalincakli@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 24 |
| Intellectual Property, Trademarks and Designs, Copyrights, IP Prosecution, Technology, Media and Telecom | Uğur Aktekin | ugur.aktekin@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 22 |
| Intellectual Property, Trademarks and Designs, Anti-Counterfeiting, IP Prosecution, Copyrights | Zeynep Seda Alhas | zeynep.alhas@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 40 |
| Corporate and M&A, Energy and Natural Resources, Insurance and Reinsurance, Construction and Real Estate | Görkem Bilgin | gorkem.bilgin@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 12 |
| Intellectual Property, Patent and Utility Models, Insurance and Reinsurance | Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın | aysel.korkmaz@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 22 |
| Intellectual Property, Trademarks and Designs, Copyrights, IP Prosecution | Mutlu Yıldırım Köse | mutlu.kose@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 22 |
| Intellectual Property, Trademarks and Designs, Copyrights | Güldeniz Doğan Alkan | guldeniz.dogan@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 24 |
| Employment, Dispute Management, Business Crimes and Anti-Corruption | Beril Yayla Sapan | beril.yayla@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 05 |
| Data Protection and Privacy, Corporate and M&A, Life Sciences, Competition, Technology, Media and Telecom | Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş | begum.yavuzdogan@gun.av.tr | + 90 (212) 354 00 24 |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mr Uğur Aktekin | Partner Uğur Aktekin joined the firm in 1999 and has been a… | View Profile |
|
Ms Özge Atılgan Karakulak | Partner Özge Atılgan Karakulak has been with the firm since 2005 and… | View Profile |
|
Mr Görkem Bilgin | Partner Görkem Bilgin has been with the firm since 2012 and became… | View Profile |
|
Ms Dicle Doğan | Managing Associate Dicle Doğan is a managing associate in Gun + Partners… | View Profile |
|
Ms Güldeniz Doğan Alkan | Partner Güldeniz Doğan Alkan joined the firm in 2006 and has been… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Selin Sinem Erciyas | Partner Selin Sinem Erciyas joined the firm in 2006 and became a… | View Profile |
|
Mr Mehmet Gün | Partner Mehmet Gün, the founder of the Firm, is truly a self-made… | View Profile |
|
Ms Hande Hançar | Partner Hande Hançar joined the firm in 2005 and has been a… | View Profile |
|
Mr Barış Kalaycı | Partner Barış Kalaycı joined the firm in 1997 and has been a… | View Profile |
|
Ms Asena Aytuğ Keser | Managing Associate Asena Aytuğ Keser has been with the firm since 2011 and… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın | Partner Aysel Korkmaz Yatkın joined the firm in 2008 and became a… | View Profile |
|
Ms Zeynep Seda Alhas | Partner Zeynep Seda Alhas joined the firm in 2006 and became a… | View Profile |
|
Mrs Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş | Partner Begüm Yavuzdoğan Okumuş has been with the firm since 2007 and… | View Profile |
|
Ms Beril Yayla Sapan | Partner Beril Yayla Sapan joined the firm in 2008 and became a… | View Profile |
|
Ms Mutlu Yıldırım Köse | Partner Mutlu Yıldırım Köse has been with the firm since 2006 and… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 70Languages
English French GermanMemberships
IBA (International Bar Association) LegaLink BioLegis IAPP ITechLaw GALA (Global Advertising Lawyers Association) INTA - International Trademark Association ECTA (European Communities Trade Mark Association) Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group (PTMG) International Federation of Intellectual Property Attorneys (FICPI) AIPPI (The International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property) Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (CITMA) APRAM (Association des Praticiens des Marques et Modèles) German Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (GRUR) MARQUES BCCT- Compliance
- Intellectual property
- Media and entertainment
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- IT and telecoms