Ersoy Bilgehan Lawyers & Consultants

Maritime, Shipping & Transport Insurance & Re-insurance Litigation & Arbitration Banking & Finance Corporate

Managing Partner

Zihni is the managing partner of the firm and responsible for management and business development. Zihni is a qualified barrister at law admitted to the Bar of England and Wales as a member of the Honorable Society of Middle Temple Inn, London and a qualified lawyer admitted to the Cyprus Turkish Bar Association.

After a career as a lawyer in London spanning a period close to 10 years, Zihni became a partner at Bilgehan Law Office in Cyprus where he held responsibility for company, commercial, maritime and insurance work between 1995-1998. He moved to Turkey and founded ErsoyBilgehan in 1999 with a view to serving the needs of his global clients having interests and presence in Turkey.

Zihni focuses on company commercial, private equity investments, PPP, finance, maritime and insurance sectors. His advice is regularly sought by a wide range of blue chip companies in their investment strategies in Turkey. He represents European lenders and equity investors in their secured and unsecured financing and advises bidders in major public tenders on infrastructure. He was quoted in the Legal 500 as a “lawyer who stands out as a key player” and “who adeptly handles foreign investment matters”.

Zihni also has vast experience and enjoys an excellent reputation in the maritime field. His clients are P&I Clubs, ship owners, charterers, ship building/repair yards and ship financing banks. According to Chambers and Partners “Sources consider top-rated shipping lawyer Zihni Bilgehan as an extremely experienced and well-respected maritime lawyer - in many people's opinion, the pre-eminent shipping lawyer in Turkey," adding: "Not only does he have a brilliant legal mind, but he is able to take a commercial approach, and explain the often unfathomable twists and turns of the Turkish legal system."

Turkish, English.

Admitted to the English Bar (Middle Temple) Admitted to the Turkish Cypriot Bar Registered with Istanbul Bar as a Turkish Cypriot lawyer LMAA – London Maritime Arbitrators Association (Supporting Member) DEIK – Foreign Economic Relations Board BCTT – British Chamber of Commerce Turkey CBPA – Cyprus Businessmen and Professionals Association

LL.M., University College London, 1985 LL.B., Birmingham University, 1982