Founding Partner Dr. Aytuğ Büyükatak, shares how Eyüboğlu&Büyükatak sets itself apart by focusing on speed, accessibility, and real-world legal solutions.

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Eyüboğlu & Büyükatak Attorneys at Law from your competitors?

As Eyüboğlu & Büyükatak Attorneys at Law, one of the biggest things that differentiates us is how quickly we respond to our clients. We don’t limit ourselves to email communication or follow a policy of replying days later. Instead, we prioritize fast and effective solutions, often setting deadlines in hours rather than days. We make ourselves fully accessible, ensuring that clients don’t have to wait to get the legal support they need. Our clients can always expect quick, actionable responses, which is key to their success. Our firm's motto, "Results Matter," reflects our commitment to delivering not just legal advice, but outcomes that make a difference for our clients. We focus on achieving the most beneficial and practical results, ensuring that our clients' success is always the priority.

Beyond just desk-based legal work, we are also highly active in the field. Observing how laws are applied in practice gives us a unique advantage—allowing us to take immediate action and offer real, practical solutions rather than just theoretical advice. This is especially critical in real estate law, where understanding how regulations affect developers, marketing strategies, and even construction costs is essential. Given that a large portion of our clients are international investors, we are able to adopt an investor's perspective in both real estate and M&A matters, keeping a sharp eye on developments in international markets. Because we work with clients across different areas of real estate, we can provide advice that fits their specific needs while also helping them strengthen relationships with other businesses in their industry. Of course, confidentiality remains a top priority in everything we do.

In corporate M&A, many law firms stay within the standard legal framework. We take it a step further. Since we know how laws are interpreted—and in some cases, how they are worked around in practice—we don’t just stop at the basics. Our in-depth approach allows us to identify potential legal risks and opportunities that others might overlook. We also bring financial and tax advisory perspectives into our legal work. When giving legal advice, we always consider whether it aligns with financial and tax realities, ensuring that it doesn’t create unnecessary costs or conflicts. This way, our recommendations are not just legally sound but also practical and implementable. Our approach in M&A is international in nature, with discussions often taking place on a global scale, as we stay closely aligned with international trends and best practices. Additionally, in M&A transactions, we go the extra mile by cross-checking financial assessments—comparing the findings of our financial advisory team with those of the client’s chosen financial consultants. This added layer of scrutiny helps ensure a more accurate and well-rounded assessment.

Employment law is another area where our approach makes a real difference. Instead of just providing generic compliance advice, we closely follow how labor laws are applied in practice. For instance, we analyze how new regulations impact different industries, how workplace audits are actually conducted, and how businesses can structure their HR policies to stay compliant while still running efficiently. This allows us to help clients navigate employment law in a way that protects them legally while also supporting their business goals.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

Given the current shifts in the economy, we expect bankruptcy and insolvency law to become increasingly relevant in the coming year. As businesses face new economic pressures, there is likely to be a rise in cases involving debt recovery and restructuring. We’ve already observed a growing need for our assistance in debt collection and restructuring processes, where we help clients navigate challenges with practical, tailored legal solutions that ensure both swift action and long-term stability.

At the same time, developments in the real estate market are driving significant growth in rental law issues. With the changing landscape, especially in commercial leasing, businesses require more specialized legal guidance. We’ve been working closely with clients—particularly those with retail spaces in shopping malls—to establish the most effective rental systems. As rental disputes continue to rise, we’ve placed a strong emphasis on developing pre-litigation strategies that enable our clients to reach resolutions before they turn into prolonged legal battles. By considering both our clients’ needs and the perspectives of the other party, we offer solutions that protect our clients’ interests in the most balanced and efficient way.

Another area seeing considerable growth is employment law. Given the current economic challenges, businesses are more focused than ever on employee rights, labor disputes, and health and safety regulations. As more employees assert their rights and employers seek to manage labor-related legal processes, we are seeing an uptick in demand for advice on worker protection, dismissals, and workplace safety issues. We also foresee continued growth in tax law services, as businesses are faced with increased tax regulations and scrutiny. As such, we are providing more tax advisory services, helping businesses manage their tax planning and compliance strategies, as well as handling disputes related to taxes and penalties.

Furthermore, the importance of data protection and cybersecurity is growing as businesses continue to digitize. The demand for services around the Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK) and cybersecurity is increasing. With the rise of data breaches, privacy concerns, and new regulations in this space, businesses are turning to legal experts to ensure they comply with data protection laws and safeguard their digital assets. In addition, we are seeing an increasing focus on legal technology, AI-driven legal solutions, and legal engineering globally, and this is beginning to make an impact in Turkey as well. As businesses strive for greater efficiency, the demand for innovative legal consultancy that incorporates technology is on the rise. The legal industry is rapidly evolving with AI tools reshaping the way legal services are delivered, and we expect this trend to continue growing in Turkey as businesses seek to optimize compliance and risk management through technological solutions.

Another notable development is the recent introduction of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) legislation in Turkey. With the new regulations in place, we expect companies to focus more on ESG compliance, sustainability, and leveraging tax incentives. Turkey is aligning its regulations with those of the European Union, and as a result, ESG legislation was published, with expectations for it to come into effect by 2026. However, we foresee a high demand for compliance assistance and ongoing adjustment processes from firms, as businesses start to adapt early and seek legal guidance in navigating this shift. This shift will open up new opportunities for law firms specializing in ESG, as businesses not only look to meet regulatory standards but also seek ways to align their operations with global sustainability trends. The demand for ESG consultancy will undoubtedly rise as companies look to navigate the new framework and enhance their reputations by adhering to these important guidelines.

Looking ahead, it’s clear that businesses will need proactive and solution-oriented legal strategies that go beyond the traditional approach. The growth in employment law, tax law, data protection, and ESG compliance will be significant in the next 12 months, driven by the evolving economic landscape, increasing digitalization, and changes in both local and global regulatory environments. We are committed to staying ahead of these trends and providing our clients with innovative legal solutions tailored to these emerging needs.

What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?

First, to ensure our clients receive timely and effective assistance, we have implemented specialized response systems for each area of practice. For every client, we have established dedicated teams consisting of at least 3-4 lawyers from the relevant practice area. These teams are available not only via email but also through various communication channels, such as social media platforms, ensuring continuous contact with clients. By coordinating these teams, we ensure that responses are quick, accurate, and efficient, no matter the urgency of the request.

Secondly, recognizing that our clients may require urgent legal assistance outside of regular business hours, including weekends and holidays, we have established a rotating on-call team for urgent legal matters. This system guarantees that we are always available to handle any emergencies and prevent any potential disruptions or setbacks. By organizing this proactive approach, we ensure that our clients are never left without support, regardless of timing.

Additionally, with our new "Check Tracking Database" system, we have the capability to analyze the financial health of third-party companies our clients work with. This allows us to assess the potential risks associated with business relationships and offer insights into the financial stability of potential partners. By providing this analysis, we empower our clients to make well-informed decisions that protect their business interests.

Lastly, To ensure that our clients receive the most accurate and relevant advice, we have designed a flexible legal consultancy approach. Our lawyers, each specializing in different areas of law, are constantly trained to stay ahead of legal developments and changes in the regulations. This ensures that we can provide specialized, tailored advice to our clients in a way that meets their unique needs, offering both immediate legal solutions and long-term strategic guidance.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Absolutely, yes. Technology has completely changed the way we interact with our clients and the services we offer. Legal consultancy is no longer just about meetings in boardrooms or long email chains—it’s about being fast, interactive, and accessible.

For example, the social media communication channels we’ve developed for urgent matters allow us to stay connected with our clients in real-time, ensuring that critical issues are addressed without delay. This has significantly improved responsiveness and overall client experience.

In addition, our 15-minute online appointment tool on our official website has made it easier for our international clients to book quick consultations, regardless of time zones, creating a structured yet flexible way to provide legal guidance efficiently.

Beyond communication, we’ve also integrated technology-driven solutions into our legal practice. A great example is the internal real estate project database developed by our Real Estate Law Team. This tool compiles up-to-date information on real estate projects across Türkiye, helping our clients make informed investment decisions based on real-time insights about market trends, project timelines, mortgage statuses, and potential risks.

At Eyüboğlu & Büyükatak Attorneys at Law, we see technology as more than just a tool—it’s a way to enhance our efficiency, accessibility, and the value we bring to our clients. We are constantly investing in digital solutions to keep up with evolving client needs and to ensure that the legal services we provide remain practical, proactive, and future-ready.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

At Eyüboğlu & Büyükatak Law Firm, we do not merely provide legal consultancy to our clients; we also implement mechanisms that enhance the value of their businesses. Our goal is to strengthen their day-to-day operations, increase the valuation of their companies during potential investment processes, and ultimately add value to their business. To give a few practical examples:

Our firm is committed to providing proactive legal solutions that not only protect our clients but also contribute to their business growth and operational efficiency.

 Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

Over the past two years, we anticipated the financial downturn and took proactive steps to support our clients in navigating these challenges. Recognizing an inevitable increase in litigation and bankruptcy cases, we developed legal roadmaps to help our clients take preventive measures. At the same time, we expanded our litigation team by hiring in new lawyers specialized in these areas.

Looking ahead, we foresee a shift in the market, with investment activity picking up again. In response, we plan to broaden our expertise in finance and investment law by adding experienced professionals to our team. Additionally, we are committed to the continuous development of our attorneys—supporting training initiatives, advanced education programs, and increasing the number of our lawyers with master's and doctoral degrees. This aligns with our broader strategy of expanding our client portfolio in line with these emerging trends.

We would like to add that the real estate sector, which has seen a slowdown over the past two years, is expected to gain momentum as many currently stalled projects become active again. We anticipate that this will lead to increased legal work on both the investment and construction sides. As a firm with a strong track record in major real estate investments, our team is well-prepared to adapt to evolving needs. With deep regulatory knowledge and sector-specific insight, we are ready to provide dynamic, up-to-date legal counsel that keeps pace with industry developments.

At Eyüboğlu & Büyükatak Attorneys at Law, we are not just reacting to change—we are actively preparing for the future, ensuring that both our firm and our clients are positioned for success in the years ahead.