Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership > Istanbul, Turkey > Firm Profile

Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership > The Legal 500 Rankings

Turkey > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

The M&A and corporate support team at Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership remains a force in the marketplace, utilising the experience of its team to advise domestic and multinational corporates involved in high-value multi-jurisdictional transactions, across sectors ranging from pharmaceuticals, insurance, shipping, mining, logistics and packaging to real estate, chemicals and retail. The practice is jointly led by senior partner and M&A authority Ümit Hergüner; Kayra Üçer, who, in addition to displaying strength in M&A, draws on his extensive involvement with the Corporate Governance Association of Turkey; Mert Oğuzülgen, a specialist in e-commerce; energy sector expert Deniz Tuncel; Zeynep Tor, who handles complex market entry and exit transactions.

Turkey > Employment Tier 1

As well as appearing in court on behalf of international businesses in cross-border employment disputes, Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership‘s employment team is also active in collective bargaining agreements, a feature of the wider market in Turkey. Its deep bench includes practice heads Ayşe Hergüner Bilgen, Tolga Danışman, Ufuk Yalçın and İsmet Bozoğlu, with each partner bringing a wealth of experience to the team. Bozoğlu is a key corporate law expert, while Danışman focuses on the group’s contentious matters. The employment department also provides day-to-day advice on labour contracts and C-suite terminations.

Turkey > Energy Tier 1

The ‘experienced' team at Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership maintains its strong reputation for handling pipeline and international energy transmission projects. The group regularly represents global energy companies in complex financing transactions, M&A, and disputes. Ümit Hergüner, co-founder of the firm, is recommended for large international projects related to infrastructure and energy. Hergüner leads the team alongside Zeynep Tor and Deniz Tuncel. Piraye Kuranel Başol is noted for her broad regulatory knowledge, and her experience in financing matters within the renewable energy and mining industries.

Turkey > Project finance/projects Tier 1

Noted for its illustrious record in large-scale projects, Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership has a hand in many of the country’s most high-profile matters. Most notably, firm co-founder Ümit Hergüner is leading the projects advice to South Stream Transport on the region-shaping TurkStream pipeline, which will connect Russian natural gas reserves to Turkey and to Europe. Other key names include managing partner Senem Denktaş, who specialises in PPPs; transactional banking and finance head Piraye Kuranel Başol; and projects and infrastructure partner Aslı Budak. Finance-focused senior associate Sertaç Coşgun recently joined from Güner Law Office.

Turkey > Real estate and construction Tier 1

Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership impresses with its involvement in flagship development projects across all core real estate segments, including shopping malls, hotels and residential property. The team also benefits from its ability to draw on the wider firm’s corporate and projects offerings, among other complementary practice areas, for support on large-scale matters. Sector specialist Serkan Gül co-heads the department and contributes experience across the full life-cycle of real estate work, including zones and permits, construction, and sale and leaseback transactions. Group co-lead Nazım O. Kurt combines strength in development and real estate litigation. Zeynep Tor and associate Pınar İnci Tetik specialise in matters intersecting real estate and corporate law.

Turkey > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 1

The restructuring and insolvency group at Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership draws on the wider firm’s top-tier offerings in energy and projects to excel in advising on the restructuring of major projects, with particularly strong activity in the healthcare sphere. The group, which strikes a balance between lender-side and debtor-side mandates, also impresses with its extensive experience in cross-border files. Key contacts include managing partner Senem Denktaş, who is recognised for her projects expertise; banking and finance specialist Piraye Kuranel Başol; and dispute resolution partner Şule Uluç.

Turkey > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership houses a thriving capital markets practice, with strong recent experience in representing both issuers and underwriters in domestic and cross-border bond offerings. In a highlight example, group co-head Piraye Kuranel Başol led the department’s advice to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on a bond issuance to finance the expansion of Istanbul’s subway lines. On the banking and finance side, the team demonstrates adroit handling of corporate finance, project finance, Islamic finance, and regulatory issues, among others. Fellow department co-head Yeşim Api Şamlı is recommended for both transactional and regulatory work.

Turkey > Compliance Tier 2

Primarily centered around white-collar crime related issues, the team at Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership regularly assists with the establishment of whistleblowing hotlines and the amendment of internal policies. Ayşe Hergüner Bilgen is known for her longstanding expertise in dispute resolution and employment law. Commercial disputes specialist Tolga Danışman is a key name for white-collar crime investigations, and Kayra Üçer is an M&A specialist who regularly advises clients on corporate governance. Ufuk Yalçın is noted for handling anti-subsidy, anti-dumping, and safeguarding investigations. Deniz Tuncel is well versed in whistleblowing and anti-corruption matters, and İsmet Bozoğlu regularly acts for the Turkish subsidiaries of international companies.

Turkey > Tax Tier 2

Praised for its ‘client-oriented and business-minded approach‘, Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership is a strong choice for domestic and multinational corporates operating across the manufacturing, oil and gas, energy, banking, aerospace, hospitality and real estate sectors. The team’s full service offering covers multi-jurisdictional tax litigation and assistance matters involving stamp, corporate, and income tax . The practice is headed by experienced tax litigators Ayşe Hergüner Bilgen and Tolga Danışman, with key support provided by counsel Zaman Özer, a specialist in risk management and tax compliance.

Turkey > Dispute resolution Tier 3

Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership’s dispute resolution team ‘understands the dynamics of every unique case’, according to sources. In line with the wider firm’s full-service offering, the group is well-equipped to handle a broad scope of contentious work, including commercial, administrative law, IP and tax litigation, as well as arbitral proceedings. Ayşe Hergüner Bilgen spearheads the overarching dispute resolution practice, while Tolga Danışman and Aslı Budak steer the litigation and arbitration groups respectively. Ufuk Yalçın and İsmet Bozoğlu are also noted.

Turkey > Intellectual property Tier 3

Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership has an array of experience of handling a range of IP matters, including patents and trade marks, domain names, copyright protection, and industrial designs. As part of a full-service law firm, the team caters to clients across all industries. Leading the team, Ayşe Hergüner Bilgen advises on the enforcement of IP rights and prosecution. Duygu Akşit Karaçam and Ece Başaran Küçük are also integral to the team.

Turkey > IT and telecoms Tier 3

Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership's team is perhaps best known for its expertise in handling corporate and M&A transactions concerning the IT and telecoms sectors. The practice is jointly led by the triumvirate of Kayra Üçer, Ufuk Yalçın, and Deniz Tuncel. Gizem Tokgöz is a key contact for advising on data protection, e-commerce, and telecoms law.

Turkey > Competition Tier 4

The competition law group at Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership leverages the experience of its team to advise a roster of domestic and multinational businesses, spanning industries ranging from retail, software, beverages and tech to medical devices, insurance, banking and finance. The practice’s full service covers the design of preventative compliance programs, investigations, merger clearance filings, advice on vertical distribution chains and competition litigation. The team’s leadership includes Kayra Üçer, who brings expertise representing clients before the administrative courts; and senior associate and litigator Hazar Başar.