The Legal 500

Within Banking, finance and capital markets, Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a first tier firm,

Banking and finance continues to be a core focus of ‘strong performer’ Hergüner Bilgen Özeke. With its 15-lawyer team, it is ‘diligent in bringing unknown issues of local law out in to the open’. Hakki Gedik advised Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs as lead arrangers of a €750m financing for the acquisition of Ontex International’s Turkish operations by Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Texas Pacific Group. Other clients include EBRD, IFC, Sompo Japan Insurance and Standard Bank. Gökhan Eraksoy is also recommended.

Within Competition, Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a third tier firm,

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke’s team complements the corporate practice: it advised Knorr Bremse on TCB clearance of a joint venture, and Yildiz Group on clearance for the acquisition of Sok Marketler. Kayra Üçer, Piraye Kuranel and Ayse Bilgen are the main contacts. Derya Genç joined Esin Attorney Partnership, a Member Firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.

Within Corporate and M&A, Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a first tier firm,

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is ‘one of the best in Turkey’, and is ‘clearly experienced in advising on complex international transactions’. The group recently acted as co-counsel to the seller in the $2.1bn sale of a leading Turkish spirits company. Kayra Üçer shows ‘in-depth knowledge’, and Senem Ismen has ‘the ability to quickly understand clients’ needs, and excellent knowledge on upcoming changes in the law and political environment’.

Within Dispute resolution, Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a third tier firm,

Ayse Bilgen and Tolga Danisman are Hergüner Bilgen Özeke’s main contacts for disputes work. The group has acted for Imperial Tobacco and Lehman Brothers, and counts LG Electronics and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline Company as key clients.

Within IT and telecoms, Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a first tier firm,

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke recently advised RIM in reaching an agreement with the Information Technologies and Communications Authority. Other clients include Amazon, Hewlett-Packard and TPV Technology. Senem Ismen demonstrates ‘good industry knowledge’ and ‘the ability to quickly understand clients’ needs’.

Within Intellectual property, Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a third tier firm,

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke has been acting for Mars in a breach of trade mark case against Elvam. Senem Ismen and Ayse Bilgen are the main contacts.

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, Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a first tier firm,

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.

Within Project finance/projects, Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a first tier firm,

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke’s lender-oriented project finance group acts for clients including Unicredit, Akbank, YapiKredi, Finansbank and Crédit Agricole. It is also acting as local counsel to the sponsors on the $6.5bn financing of Turkey’s largest BOT project, the Gebze-Izmir highway. Gökhan Eraksoy, Ümit Hergüner and Ender Özeke are recommended.

Within Tax , Hergüner Bilgen Özeke is a first tier firm,

Hergüner Bilgen Özeke remains busy with tax advisory work, despite Taylan Baykut’s move to Chadbourne & Parke LLP’s Istanbul office. Clients include OTV Turkey and ADM International. Ayse Bilgen and Piraye Kuranel are the main contacts.