ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law > Istanbul, Turkey > Firm Profile
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law Offices
CITLENBIK SOKAK NO: 12
YILDIZ MAH, BESIKTAS
34349 ISTANBUL
Turkey
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law > The Legal 500 Rankings
Turkey > Competition Tier 1
‘A unique expert in competition law of Turkey‘, ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law fields the largest team of dedicated competition law practitioners in the market and is a regular fixture across the full spectrum of matters in the field. The head of the department, Gönenç Gürkaynak, is synonymous with Turkish competition law and seen by one client as ‘the best option for local competition counsel in Turkey‘. He draws on over 25 years of experience, dating back to the inception of the Turkish Competition Authority, and is supported by a sizeable team of practitioners with varying backgrounds. ‘Expert‘ Korhan Yıldırım, Ebru İnce, and counsel Kağan Uçar all come with client praise. Dilara Yeşilyaprak, Öznur Inanılır and Onur Özgümüş are among the other key contacts.
Practice head(s):
Gönenç Gürkaynak
Other key lawyers:
Korhan Yıldırım; Öznur İnanılır; Onur Özgümüş; Dilara Yeşilyaprak; Eda Duru; Ebru Ince; Kağan Uçar
Testimonials
‘This practice offers unique level of support when it comes to competition law matters (number of lawyers & economists and great leadership skills of the managing partner). I’ve not seen many firms with that capability in Europe.’
‘Gönenç Gürkaynak – outstanding practitioner with excellent communication skills and impressive experience. He really makes you feel like you are taken care of by the best possible legal team.’
‘The founding partner, Gönenç Gürkaynak, brings a business-friendly approach to client service reflective of his time at leading US firms. He has an unusual level of sophistication that is often not found in local counsel. I think he is the best option for local competition counsel in Turkey.’
‘Gönenç Gürkaynak is incredibly responsive and attentive to client needs, involving himself where appropriate, but not micro-managing. Kağan Uçar has supported on many cases and is frequently responsive into his evening and promptly responds to client questions.’
‘ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law is an absolutely unique expert in competition law of Turkey. Gönenç Gürkaynak and his team provide the highest level of professional assessments and legal support, advise on crisis matters and handle complex legal cases with a very prudent legal and operational excellence. The team is always very professional with legal management, client-oriented, quick and has a good business acumen.’
‘Korhan Yıldırım is our partner in charge. He has become an expert in our industry, knowing our business in full detail. He is always available to us. Best in class competition lawyer.’
‘The team is really experienced in competition law. The case we worked together was the first case that we met investigation. They helped us like a mentor and replied to all our questions They are fast and competent compared to the other external law offices.’
‘We usually worked with Ebru İnce. She really understood our market and our sensitivities.’
Key clients
Google LLC
Google Turkey
Allianz Sigorta A.Ş.
L’Oréal Türkiye Kozmetik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
Çimentaş İzmir Çimento Fabrikası Türk A.Ş.
MLP Sağlık Hizmetleri A.Ş.
UNMAŞ Unlu Mamuller Gıda San. ve Tic. A.Ş.
Jubilant Foodworks Limited
Quidel Corporation
Juki Corporation
OCIM Sdn. Bhd.
Kumho P&B Chemicals Inc.
CMA CGM
PAI Partners S.à.r.l.
The Carlyle Group Inc.
DaVita Inc.
Grifols S.A.
CPP Investments
3M San. ve Tic. A.Ş.
Medcem Beton Üretim Pazarlama Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi / Medcem Madencilik ve Yapı Malzemeleri San. ve Tic. A.Ş.
Edenred Kurumsal Çözümler A.Ş.
Gruma S.A.B. DE C.V./ Semolina Mısır İrmiği Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirketi
Pfizer İlaçları Ltd. Şti.
Curtiss-Wright Corporation
PKG Schürfeld GmbH
3i Group Plc
Mirova-Eurofideme 4
Advent International Corporation
HgCapital LLP
ENEOS Corporation
ironSource Inc.
BCP Acquisitions LLC.
BDP Intermediate 1, Inc
Bouygues SA
Ponooc Investment B.V.
Elliott Investment Management L.P.
Align Tech Turkey Tıbbi Cihazlar Ltd. Şti.
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company
Comcast Corporation
ViacomCBS Inc.
General Electric Company
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Veolia Environnement S.A.
Trinity Investments Designated Activity Company
Biocon Limited
Westlake Chemical Corporation
The Kraft Heinz Company
Faerch A/S
Société Générale S.A.
Mutlu Akü ve Malzemeleri Sanayii Anonim Şirketi
Çimsa Çimento Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (a subsdiary of Sabancı Holding)
Akçansa Çimento Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
Associated British Foods Plc
Merck Sharp Dohme İlaçları Ltd. Şti.
Tetra Pak AB
Universal City Studios Productions LLP
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc.
Medtronic plc
Work highlights
- Advised Elliott Investment Management and Brookfield Private Equity Holdings on the acquisition of indirect joint control over Nielsen Holdings by funds and/or investment vehicles managed by Elliott Investment Management.
- Represented Willis Towers Watson in its acquisition of sole control by Aon.
- Acted for General Electric Company in the acquisition of its GE Capital Aviation Services business by AerCap Holdings.
Turkey > Compliance Tier 1
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law focuses on anti-corruption and data privacy advice for a client base of multinationals and leading Turkish conglomerates. Dovetailing with its market-leading competition practice, the practice is adept in both investigations and preventative advice with respect to various regulatory bodies. Gönenç Gürkaynak and Ceren Yıldız spearhead the team; The former draws on extensive experience of competition authority investigations to advise on other contentious regulatory matters, while Yıldız has a particular focus on pharmaceutical and medical device regulatory, e-commerce, and payment services regulatory.Practice head(s):
Gönenç Gürkaynak; Ceren Yıldız
Key clients
YouTube LLC
Twitter Inc.
Automattic (WordPress.com)
Work highlights
Turkey > Media and entertainment Tier 1
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law has an established TMT practice which includes expertise in various practice areas including IP, competition and antitrust, corporate, capital markets, banking and finance. The firm works with industry leading clients such as Google, YouTube, WordPress, Twitter and Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Gönenç Gürkaynak assists clients with website agreements, internet copyright and trademarks in addition to internet-related litigation and domain name disputes. He co-heads the team with Ceren Yıldız who is experienced in regulatory and compliance matters.Practice head(s):
Gönenç Gürkaynak; Ceren Yıldız
Testimonials
‘ELIG has deep experience in handling content and other requests from Turkish officials. Smart and savvy litigators who know their way around court proceedings in Turkey. They have worked with us for nearly a decade and understand our unique risk profile and preferences.’
‘Highly trustworthy team. As well as demonstrating that they are constantly up to date with the relevant law, they also demonstrate that they are listening to their clients and keep the client’s needs at the front of their minds when carrying out their work.’
‘The team has an unmatched experience in the media and entertainment practice due to high numbers of and a wide range of legal issues and landmark cases they have worked on in this field.’
‘Gönenç Gürkaynak and Ceren Yildiz offer top-notch legal assistance you can rely on while facing legal challenges in the media and entertainment realm in Turkey.’
Key clients
Google LLC
Google Reklamcilik ve Pazarlama Ltd. Sti.
Automattic Inc.
Twitter, Inc.
Twitter Internet Icerik Hizmetleri Ltd. Sti.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
Warner Bros
Ralph Lauren Europe Sàrl
L’Oréal Türkiye Kozmetik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
ZWILLING J.A. Henckels Germany GmbH
Work highlights
- Provided legal assistance to Google regarding the obligations to be introduced by the Proposal Amending the Law No. 5651 and Further Laws.
- Assisted Google Reklamcilik on handling the notifications received from the Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance.
- Provided detailed evaluations and assessment to Google LLC regarding the amendments on the consumer protection law.
Turkey > IT and telecoms Tier 2
The IT and telecoms team at ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law has expertise in online platforms, mobile payment services, software development, hardware regulations, television and radio broadcasting. The practice handles issues concerning digital platforms including content liability matters, online free speech and user data requests for high-profile clients. Gönenç Gürkaynak provides legal assistance with website agreements, internet copyright and trademarks; he co-heads the team with Ceren Yıldız, who provides day-to-day operational advice on regulatory and contractual matters in the IT and telecoms space.Practice head(s):
Gönenç Gürkaynak; Ceren Yıldız
Testimonials
‘The team has a good understanding of the legal framework governing sophisticated digital services and is well equipped to deliver business friendly legal solutions to barriers facing novel technologies and the operations of IT businesses.’
‘Gönenç Gürkaynak and Ceren Yildiz are easy to work with in identifying the regulatory landscape and addressing legal risks.’
Key clients
Google LLC
Google Reklamcilik ve Pazarlama Ltd. Sti.
Twitter, Inc.
Twitter Internet Icerik Hizmetleri Ltd. Sti.
Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
Warner Bros
Springer Nature Switzerland AG
L’Oréal Türkiye Kozmetik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
Zwilling J.A.
Bird & Bird
Booking.com B.V.
Work highlights
- Assisted Twitter, Inc. with an investigation initiated by Turkish Data Protection Authority with regard to a data incident.
- Assisted Google LLC with compliance and data protection legislation and provided comprehensive legal analysis as well as drafting documents.
- Supported ZWILLING J.A. Henckels Germany GmbH with respect to the localisation of its influencer agreement templates.
Turkey > Dispute resolution Tier 3
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law‘s contentious work primarily focuses on big-ticket disputes born of competition law, and IP disputes covering copyright, trademark and patents. The firm has a heavyweight client base, particularly in the tech sector, and recent multinationals to look to the disputes team for counsel include Philip Morris and Booking.com. Gönenç Gürkaynak, one of the country’s leading competition and antitrust experts, and Tolga Uluay co-lead the practice group. Counsel Ceyda Karaoğlan Nalçacı is a further name to note.Practice head(s):
Gönenç Gürkaynak; Tolga Uluay
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Tolga Uluay is always one hundred percent involved in the dispute resolution process, describing the status in detail, offering recommendations on how best to proceed in certain situations.’
‘Team’s strengths and key capabilities are client-orientation, always expected results and deadlines.’
‘They are proactive, collaborative, ready for challenges.’
‘The team has a strong record in resolution and litigation of disputes concerning the internet or social media. They are accustomed to working with multinationals and understand cross-jurisdictional sensitivities in handling legal disputes.’
‘Tolga Uluay is very good at representing clients against legal claims on a variety of legal matters.’
‘Their experience, quality of the associates and high level of communication with their clients.’
‘Gönenç Gurkaynak is very experienced in antitrust area. He also has out of box thinking and provides the clients with different perspectives to tackle different and challenging situations.’
Key clients
Newell
3M Company
L’Oréal
Henkel
Twitter Inc.
YouTube LLC.
Booking.com B.V.
Alcon Laboratuvarları Ticaret A.Ş.
Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
Philip Morris SA and Philip Morris Sabancı Pazarlama ve Satış
Turkish Airlines
TÜSİAD (Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association)
Edenred
TI Automative
Mercedes Benz Turkey
Mutlu Akü
Indesit
Medtronic Plc.
Boyner Holding
Polypag AG
Work highlights
- Acted for Philip Morris in a commercial litigation regarding unjust termination of a distributorship agreement between Philip Morris and its distributor Test Tutun.
- Advising Booking.com in a high profile lawsuit where Booking.com is claimed to be acting as a travel agency without complying with any of the obligations that being a travel agency entails and thus creates unfair competition.
Turkey > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4
Built upon the foundation of its outstanding competition law practice, ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law‘s work on the corporate and commercial side includes advice on a range of transactions, as well as broad corporate governance. Its clients include major tech companies like Google and Twitter. Gönenç Gürkaynak and Nazlı Nil Yukaruç are the contacts to note.Practice head(s):
Gönenç Gürkaynak; Nazlı Nil Yukaruç
Testimonials
‘What I value the most in cooperation with Nazlı Nil Yukaruç is the readiness to provide professional assistance and an immediate reaction when a legal assistance is necessary.’
‘Team’s strengths and key capabilities are client-orientation, always expected results and deadlines.’
‘They are proactive, collaborative, ready for challenges.’
‘Knowledge of the industry and flexibility in dealing with issues, – always willing to offer the most convenient and unconventional solutions for business.’
‘ELIG’s team is excellent at corporate maintenance and offers to-the-point practical guidance for complex corporate law transactions.’
‘Nazlı Nil Yukaruç is capable of simplifying corporate law requirements and assisting clients in corporate maintenance.’
‘Great availability, quick response time, competent and diligent.’
‘Competent, great level of expertise combined with pragmatic approach, appropriate staffing for projects.’
Key clients
Google Ireland, Google LLC, Google Turkey (Google Bilgi Teknolojileri, Google Reklamcılık)
Warner Bros
L’Oréal
TI Automotive
TRB
Boyner Holding
Harvard Business School
Willis Towers Watsons
Work highlights
- Advised Google Bilgi Teknolojileri and Google Reklamcılık on all of their Turkish corporate law matters, including general assembly meetings, appointment of new signatories, post-incorporation matters and website related obligations.
- Advised Warner Bros on appointment of new board members and signatories, ordinary general assembly meeting, powers of attorney issuances, and address change.
- Assisted L’Oréal with appointment of new board members, appointment of new signatories, ordinary general assembly meeting, power of attorney issuance, opening and closing of branch offices and website related obligations.
Turkey > Intellectual property Tier 4
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law is experienced in transactional matters pertaining to IP rights in addition to trademarks, patents, copyrights and industrial design issues. The practice has completed numerous trademark registrations for clients such as Warner Bros and L’oréal. The firm’s expertise spans pharma, life sciences, telecoms, media and entertainment. Gönenç Gürkaynak has represented clients before the constitutional and administrative courts; he co-heads the team with regulatory expert, Ceren Yıldız , and litigator Tolga Uluay.Practice head(s):
Gönenç Gürkaynak; Ceren Yıldız; Tolga Uluay
Testimonials
‘ELIG team has significant expertise on the use of trademarks and copyrighted contents in the internet medium.’
‘Tolga Uluay has remarkable knowledge and experience on trademark laws and copyright issues.’
Key clients
Google LLC
Google Reklamcilik ve Pazarlama Ltd. Sti.
Automattic Inc.
Google Ireland Limited
Twitter, Inc.
Twitter Internet Icerik Hizmetleri Ltd. Sti.
Warner Bros
L’Oréal Türkiye Kozmetik Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
Work highlights
- Represented Google LLC before the Turkish Patent and Trademark Institute throughout the opposition process initiated against a trademark application of “GOOGLEPLAY”.
ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law > Firm Profile
The firm: ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law is an eminent, independent Turkish law firm based in Istanbul. The firm was founded in 2005. ELIG Gürkaynak is committed to providing its clients with high-quality legal services and combines a solid knowledge of Turkish law with a business-minded approach to develop legal solutions that meet the ever-changing needs of its clients in their international and domestic operations.
ELIG Gürkaynak has established close working relationships with a number of international law firms and has served mutual clients on numerous mergers and acquisitions transactions, competition law matters, commercial arbitrations and various other projects. The firm also has formal alliances with two Turkish law firms in Ankara and Izmir.
Areas of practice: ELIG Gürkaynak takes pride in being able to assist its clients in all fields of law. The firm’s legal team consists of 95 lawyers.
The firm’s particular areas of expertise include competition law, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, contracts law, anti-corruption, white-collar irregularities and compliance, Internet law, technology, media and telecommunications law, data protection and cybersecurity law, banking and finance law, litigation and dispute resolution, administrative law, real estate law, anti-dumping law, pharma and healthcare regulatory, employment law and intellectual property law.
ELIG Gürkaynak delivers the top competition law practice in Turkey with 52 competition law specialists. The team is led by Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak, ELIG Gürkaynak’s founding partner, along with four partners and nine counsel. In addition to its unparalleled experience in merger control issues, ELIG Gürkaynak has vast experience in defending companies before the Turkish Competition Board in all phases of antitrust investigations, abuse of dominant position cases, leniency handlings and before the courts on issues of private enforcement of competition law, along with appeals of the administrative decisions of the Turkish Competition Authority.
Unlike many firms in Turkey, ELIG Gürkaynak has a recognised and significant practice in IT and telecommunications law. The practice covers domain name disputes, website agreements, internet copyright and internet trademarks, internet-related litigation, regulatory counselling, notice and takedown or judiciary decision enforcement assistance and localisation of telecom agreements and licenses to be signed with carriers.
ELIG Gürkaynak has a significant practice in Turkey, focusing on internal investigations and white-collar criminal matters. Among other things, the practice advises clients in connection with Turkish corporate compliance issues under the relevant OECD Convention, FCPA, the UK Bribery Act and Turkish anti-corruption laws. This includes all matters relating to data privacy, employment law, anti-corruption policies and other related aspects of the Turkish legal regime.
ELIG Gürkaynak’s corporate team assists multinational and domestic clients by providing a wide range of corporate advisory services. The firm represents local and multinational conglomerates in numerous M&A projects, and the M&A team has vast experience and capability in handling multiple and significant M&A transactions, reorganisations, joint ventures and spin-offs. The firm’s corporate team has a solid practice in providing commercial and corporate law services to corporations, advising foreign clients during their entry to the Turkish market, and on daily operations thereafter.
ELIG Gürkaynak handles complex intellectual property matters, each one of which sets a precedent in the market. ELIG Gürkaynak’s intellectual property team provides clients with a complete range of legal services for protecting and exploiting all types of intellectual property and technology assets. The firm’s dedicated team of three partners and two counsel along with twelve associates also offer invaluable knowledge and track record in other practice areas where they are pioneers.
The firm renders a wide variety of litigation and arbitration services. The firm specialises and has very significant expertise in debt enforcement.
ELIG Gürkaynak also has a strong practice in administrative law. Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak heads the practice, which has grown significantly due to representations in numerous appeals.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Anti-corruption and compliance | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Banking and finance | Nazlı Nil Yukaruç | ||
Competition and EU law | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Competition and EU law | K Korhan Yıldırım | ||
Competition and EU law | Öznur Inanilir | ||
Competition and EU law | Dr Ekrem Kalkan | ||
Competition and EU law | Eda Duru | ||
Corporate and commercial | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Corporate and commercial | Nazlı Nil Yukaruç | ||
Data protection and cybersecurity | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Dispute resolution and arbitration | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Dispute resolution and arbitration | Ceyda Karaoglan Nalçaci | ||
Dispute resolution and arbitration | Tolga Uluay | ||
IT and telecommunications | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Intellectual property | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Litigation, administrative law | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Litigation, administrative law | Ceyda Karaoglan Nalçaci | ||
Litigation, administrative law | Tolga Uluay | ||
Media and entertainment | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Mergers and acquisitions | Nazlı Nil Yukaruç | ||
Pharma and healthcare regulatory | Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | ||
Pharma and healthcare regulatory | Ceren Yıldız | ||
Competition and EU law | O. Onur Özgümüş | ||
Anti-corruption and compliance | Ceren Yıldız | ||
Corporate and commercial | Ceren Yıldız | ||
Litigation, administrative law | Tuğba Uluay | ||
Dispute Resolution and arbitration | Tuğba Uluay | ||
Technology and Media, Data Protection and Regulation | Noyan Utkan | ||
Competition and EU law | Dilara Yeşilyaprak |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Ms Berfu Akgun | Counsel | View Profile | |
Ms Betül Baş Çömlekçi | Counsel | View Profile | |
Ms Eda Duru | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Harun Gündüz | Counsel | View Profile | |
Dr Gönenç Gürkaynak | Founding Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Öznur Inanılır | Partner | View Profile | |
Dr Ekrem Kalkan | Competition Economics Counsel | View Profile | |
Ms Ceyda Karaoğlan Nalçacı | Counsel | View Profile | |
Mr O. Onur Özgümüş | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Kağan Uçar | Counsel | View Profile | |
Ms Tuğba Uluay | Counsel | View Profile | |
Mr Tolga Uluay | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr Noyan Utkan | Counsel | View Profile | |
Mr Görkem Yardım | Counsel | View Profile | |
Ms Dilara Yeşilyaprak | Counsel | View Profile | |
Ms Nazlı Nil Yukaruç | Partner | View Profile | |
Mr K Korhan Yıldırım | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Ceren Yıldız | Partner | View Profile | |
Ms Ebru İnce | Counsel | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 95Languages
English French GermanMemberships
IBA ABA UIA ICC SRAOther
Contact : Gönenç Gürkaynak LLM (Founding Partner)Legal Briefings
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Recent competition law developments in Turkey: hindering on-site inspections
Article 15 of Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition authorises the Competition Board to conduct on-site investigations at the premises of undertakings, if it deems it necessary. During the on-site inspection, Competition Authority officials assigned by the Board to conduct the inspection, are entitled to (i) examine the books, any paperwork and documents … -
Selective distribution systems in the pharmaceutical sector
Introduction Ankara’s 13th Administrative Court (‘Administrative Court’) annulled1 the Turkish Competition Board’s (‘Board’) decision, dated 3 September 2020 and numbered 20-40/553-249, rejecting the exemption application of Johnson & Johnson Sıhhi Malzeme Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti. (‘J&J’) (‘Board’s decision’).
Comparative Guides
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Turkey: Competition Litigation
Published: July 2023
Authors: Dr. Gönenç GürkaynakEda Duru
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Competition Litigation laws and regulations applicable in Turkey.
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Turkey: Merger Control
Published: October 2023
Authors: Dr. Gönenç GürkaynakÖznur İnanılır
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Merger Control laws and regulations applicable in Turkey.
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Turkey: Cartels
Published: April 2023
Authors: Dr. Gönenç GürkaynakHarun Gündüz
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Cartels laws and regulations applicable in Turkey.
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- Compliance
- Media and entertainment
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