DURUKAN+PARTNERS > Istanbul, Turkey > Firm Profile

DURUKAN+PARTNERS
BESTEKAR HACI FAIK BEY SOK. NO: 6
34349 BALMUMCU, BESIKTAS, ISTANBUL
Turkey

Turkey > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

DURUKAN+PARTNERS’ restructuring and insolvency team sits within its wider projects, banking and finance department and is noted for its representation of borrowers and debtors. The group brings to bear particular experience in the telecoms, financial services, and energy and natural resources spheres, under the leadership of practice co-head and project finance specialist Begüm Durukan Özaydin. The team also includes corporate and commercial partner and fellow practice co-head Hikmet Fadillioğlu, as well as senior associate Damla Göksel Emiroğlu.

Practice head(s):

Begüm Durukan Ozaydin; Hikmet Fadillioğlu

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Lawyers at Durukan + Partners are capable and thoroughly research prior to advising. They are proactive in providing advice and do so in a sound/realistic commercial context. They have assisted in negotiations with lending banks in respect of loan restructurings and in concordato procedures.’

‘We have worked primarily with the founding partner Begüm Durukan Ozaydın, together with associate Damla Göksel Emiroğlu. Both are exceptional in their availability and responsiveness, often out of normal hours. Their knowledge can also be relied upon and is excellent.’

Key clients

Emaar Properties

Letterone Group and IMTIS Holdings

Perini Navi

Europe Arab Bank

Gazprom Export LLC and ZMB Gaz Depo

Ansaldo Energia

FTX

Work highlights

  • Advising FTX Trading on the Turkish law aspects of its collapse, including advising on the Chapter 11 insolvency proceedings of FTX and its Turkish subsidiaries.
  • Representing Ansaldo Energia in the bankruptcy and concordato proceedings of Yeni Elektrik, a project company operating a gas-fired combined cycle power plant in which Ansaldo is a 40% shareholder.
  • Advising LetterOne, an indirect shareholder in Turkcell, on certain restructuring and shareholding issues and concepts of capital markets laws as they may apply to Turkcell.

Turkey > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3

The seven-lawyer group at DURUKAN+PARTNERS stands out for its regulatory capability, where it is well placed to handle both compliance issues and banking litigation. The team also secures a steady stream of transactional mandates, including corporate loans, structured finance and insolvency-related work. Founding partner Begum Durukan Ozaydin spearheads the practice and combines skill sets in corporate and financial law. Associate Furkan Ergün provides key support.

Practice head(s):

Begüm Durukan Özaydın

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

China Development Bank

Arab Bank plc- Algeria

European Arab Bank

Emaar Properties PJSC

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Ansaldo Energia

Turkiye Sinai ve Kalkinma Bankasi

Euroclear Bank

FTX

Work highlights

  • Advised the International Finance Corporation on financings extended to Turkish companies for the purposes of financing their projects or working capital needs.
  • Advised Euroclear on the legal and regulatory aspects of the operations of the Euroclear clearance system in Turkey.
  • Advised Arab Bank and Europe Arab Bank in their separate litigations relating to claims arising from letters of guarantees issued by Turkish banks and implications arising from bankruptcy proceedings.

Turkey > Project finance/projects Tier 3

Drawing on its banking, real estate and corporate teams, DURUKAN+PARTNERS’ projects group demonstrates a recent focus on hotel development. It also contributes experience in energy and infrastructure-related matters. Corporate and finance partner Begüm Durukan Özaydin co-heads the department together with Hikmet Fadillioğlu, whose broad practice encompasses corporate transactions and real estate law.

Practice head(s):

Begüm Durukan Özaydın; Hikmet Fadıllıoğlu

Key clients

China Development Bank

Emaar Libadiye, Emaar Properties

Ansaldo Energia

Apple

Work highlights

  • Advised Ansaldo Energia as shareholder in connection with the default under the financing documents of Yeni Elektrik, the operator of the 865MW gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Gebze.
  • Advised Emaar in connection with the project financing and refinancings of the Emaar Square Project in Istanbul.
  • Advised Sovcombank on a $600m financing to Akkuyu Nuclear Power Project and its proposed partial assignment to another bank; the assignment was suspended upon the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Turkey > Real estate and construction Tier 4

The real estate group at DURUKAN+PARTNERS houses an increasingly prominent leasing practice, which recently secured several new clients in the luxury retail sector. The team is also noted for real estate finance, and immigration-related issues. Corporate and finance partner Begüm Özaydin co-heads the department alongside Hikmet Fadillioğlu, who specialises in corporate and commercial work.

Practice head(s):

Begum Durukan Ozaydin; Hikmet Fadillioglu

Other key lawyers:

Damla Göksel; Ezgi Ozdemir

Testimonials

‘I have been impressed with the team and its knowledge. The fact that it is able to deal with both Turkish and foreign tax laws makes it a preferred choice. I don’t have much experience with other firms in Turkey but I have found the Durukan and Partners team to be very professional.’

‘I have worked with both senior employees, like Begüm Özaydin, and junior employees, like Damla Göksel and Ezgi Ozdemir, and have been pleased with all.’

Key clients

Emaar Properties

Apple

Housam Al Amri

Lina Saheb

ENKA Ä°nÅŸaat ve Sanayi

Work highlights

  • Advising Emaar on transferring a hotel asset (Address Istanbul) under Emaar Private Equity Investment Fund.
  • Advising Apple on leasing the Apple Bagdat Street flagship store.

The firm: DURUKAN+PARTNERS is a full-service law firm combining the dynamism and motivation with the reliability of long-established experience of its members, comprising lawyers who are respected in the legal market and recognised in their fields for providing top-quality, trusted legal advice. The team members have worked together in harmony throughout many years and are inspired and desirous to embrace innovation. They are respected in their fields for trusted advice; the firm and its founding partner Begüm Durukan Özaydin is ranked as a leading individual across different practice areas. Besides the core team, DURUKAN+PARTNERS also benefits from the proficiency of advisors and specialists who provide expert advice in special fields of law and assist with project management on convoluted matters.

DURUKAN+PARTNERS is an independent Turkish law firm offering its clients a flexible global reach through networks and good connections with leading law firms worldwide.

DURUKAN+PARTNERS team members have well-deserved reputations ingrained with solid legal knowledge, many years of experience in representing leading market players, and a business-oriented approach to transactions. The firm serves domestic and foreign clientele including financial institutions, multinational companies, and leading corporations, in the structuring and implementing of their investments or transactions in Turkey, and facilitating their operations. DURUKAN+PARTNERS lawyers are proud to be trusted by their foreign clientele in becoming their local business partner in their endeavours in Turkey.

DURUKAN+PARTNERS has a solution-oriented, efficient and to-the-point approach, providing legal counselling to its clients in a professional and strategic manner. The firm’s lawyers are committed to preserving trust and adding value and listening to clients, knowing their business expectations as their trusted business partner. The firm’s lawyers can provide exceptional, integrated services; possess top legal skills coupled with articulation ability; act proactively and can demonstrate awareness of clients’ business expectations.

Areas of practice: DURUKAN+PARTNERS focuses on cross-border transactions, in the main practice areas of banking and finance, capital markets, corporate and commercial work, dispute resolution, employment and immigration, insurance, mergers and acquisitions, projects, public procurement, real estate and construction, restructuring and insolvency, as listed in alphabetical order. The high capability of the team members, the quality of services delivered and the team spirit offered attract the confidence of many clients.

The team at DURUKAN+PARTNERS provides legal assistance to clients across a range of sectors and industries. The team members possess sectoral and regulatory know-how, especially in the fields of energy and infrastructure, financial services (especially banking and insurance), capital markets, insurance, life sciences, retail and luxury brands, telecoms and information technologies, as listed in alphabetical order.

The team has long served clients in banking and finance matters, including financing, structuring and implementing energy, real estate and infrastructure projects. They have acted for lenders, sponsors and contractors in complex financings including in regulated sectors, infrastructure projects, transactions governed by intergovernmental agreements, acquisition finance deals. They also assist clients in refinancings and restructurings of existing loans.

In M&A transactions, the firm represents both the buy and sell sides and has negotiated with private and public sector counterparties. It has been instrumental in obtaining required regulatory approvals and licences, negotiating and preparing transaction documents.

The team has also extensively served clients in the establishment and termination of their presence in Turkey, structuring and implementing their corporate governance practices, in corporate housekeeping, contract surveillance and management, real estate, competition, intellectual property, retail and employment matters.

In capital markets work, the team has advised foreign authorised market players in the introduction of their products in Turkey and regulatory requirements applicable to transactions. They also represent clients before governmental agencies and independent regulators and provide advice to shareholders in publicly held companies in issues such as mandatory tender offers, corporate governance issues and shareholding issues.

The members of DURUKAN+PARTNERS represent clients in structuring their energy and real estate investments, provide regulatory advice and assist them with contract and licensing issues without limitation. Noteworthy clients include: Letterone, Emaar, Oger Telecom, Sephora, Ansaldo Energia and Gazprom.

Department Name Email Telephone
Banking and finance Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Banking and finance Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Capital markets Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Capital markets Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Corporation and commercial Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Corporation and commercial Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Dispute resolution Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Dispute resolution Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Employment and immigration Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Employment and immigration Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Insurance Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Insurance Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Mergers and acquisitions Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Mergers and acquisitions Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Public procurement Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Public procurement Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Projects Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Projects Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Real estate and construction Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Real estate and construction Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Restructuring and insolvency Begum Durukan Ozaydin begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Restructuring and insolvency Hikmet Fadillioglu hikmetfadillioglu@durukanpartners.com +90 212 266 66 93
Number of lawyers : 14
English
French
German
Turkish
First Law International Network
Contact : Begum Durukan Ozaydin, Founding Partner (begumdurukan@durukanpartners.com)
Other offices : Ankara (affiliated lawyer)
Other offices : Izmir (affiliated lawyer)