Ziya Fırat Gültekin, Founding Partner
What do you see as the main points that differentiate Fırat Gültekin & Partners from your competitors?
Fırat Gültekin & Partners stands out for its deep strength in construction and real estate, coupled with a disputes-first, business-minded approach that prioritizes clarity, speed, and practical outcomes. The firms span across corporate, capital markets, M&A, and dispute resolution means clients get seamless support where deals and litigation intersect. Our firm also act for corporate clients across borders and cover the issues companies face most often—IP, employment, enforcement/bankruptcy, and insurance—so there’s no friction between workstreams. Our contributions to respected legal publications reflect a habit of thought leadership and quality. Above all, we apply sector-specific, risk-minimising strategies rather than one-size-fits-all advice, which helps clients navigate complexity with confidence.
Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?
Over the next 12 months in Turkey, I expect energy and large-scale projects work—especially around renewables and grid infrastructure—to keep expanding. New capacity targets, continuing YEKA tenders, and transmission upgrades translate into steady instructions on permitting, EPC and O\&M contracts, land and grid-connection issues, and complex project finance.
Climate and ESG work will grow in tandem. Turkish exporters face the EU’s CBAM reporting through 2025 with actual costs starting in 2026, and Ankara is advancing a domestic climate law and emissions trading framework. That combination will keep lawyers busy with supply-chain emissions data, contract clauses that allocate carbon cost and audit rights, and governance updates for boards.
Data protection will remain hot. Amendments to Turkey’s KVKK and fresh guidance on international data transfers mean companies will revisit processing bases, cross-border transfer mechanisms, and vendor contracts. Expect a wave of remediation projects—DPIAs, policy rewrites, DPA filings—and more supervisory engagement on international flows.
Technology and platform regulation is another growth lane. Draft rules inspired by EU digital and AI regimes are pushing clients to seek pragmatic “product counseling” on algorithmic risks, model and data governance, content moderation, and interoperability. That naturally intersects with competition law, where authorities continue to scrutinize digital platforms and tech deals—driving merger notifications, conduct investigations, and compliance programs.
Financial regulation, fintech, and crypto are poised for more work too. Turkey’s exit from the FATF grey list and the emergence of a clearer crypto-assets regime raise the bar on licensing, AML/KYC controls, investigations, and exchange listings. Banks, payment institutions, and crypto service providers will need sustained regulatory support.
On the corporate side, two opposing currents will both generate instructions. Restructuring and special situations will remain active as financing stays selective under the disinflation program; at the same time, equity capital markets should see continued preparation work for listings and follow-ons, with heightened emphasis on disclosure quality and governance as thresholds and scrutiny increase.
Finally, construction, real estate, and urban transformation will continue to accelerate—driven by post-earthquake regeneration and evolving transformation rules—which in turn fuels disputes. Expect busy dockets in commercial, construction, and insurance litigation and arbitration (FIDIC claims, delay and cost escalation, coverage disputes), alongside modernization of e-court processes that keep the system moving.
In short: policy-driven transition (energy and climate), regulatory alignment with Europe (data, digital, competition), tighter but cleaner finance (AML/crypto, restructuring), and the ongoing physical rebuild (construction and related disputes) are the main engines of legal demand in Turkey over the coming year. If you tell me your sector, I can translate this into a focused 12-month legal action plan.
What's the main change you've made in the firm that will benefit clients?
We are now an outcome-based, fixed-fee engagements law firm, with price certainty and clear timelines. We’ve reorganized into industry-focused teams led by experienced lawyers with of-counsel support. Each partner is dedicated on every matter supported by his / her associates. Our team guarantees a first response within 24 hours plus weekly updates. Backed by secure, AI-assisted drafting and knowledge systems, our clients receive the same rigor—delivering faster and more consistent solutions and outcomes.
Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?
Fırat Gültekin & Partners is a technology-forward law firm built for speed, accuracy, and trust – from secure client portals and AI-assisted research to workflow automation and data-rich matter reporting. Our lawyers spend less time on manual tasks and more time on strategy, so our clients see faster turnarounds, clearer communication, and stronger results. It’s modern law, delivered with rigor and accountability.
Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?
Fırat Gültekin & Partners prepared all contracts to be concluded with the contractors” (advisory, design, energy, construction, excavation, electrical, infrastructure, etc.) for a new administrative building and 23,000 m² logistics warehouse in Dudullu (Ümraniye. Our law firm took an active role in all phases from the beginning of the project to the actual start.
For a developer, this kind of end-to-end contract package typically speeds procurement, locks in clearer risk allocation, and reduces costly change-order disputes—tangible business value on cost, timeline, and risk.
Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms - where do you see the firm in three years’ time?
In three years, we Fırat Gültekin & Partners as a larger, sharper, and more regionally connected firm: a strong Türkiye base complemented by a pragmatic CEE–MENA corridor through selective alliances in Dubai, Riyadh, and London, giving clients seamless cross-border execution. We’ll deepen sector strength in real estate & infrastructure, technology/fintech, consumer/retail, and industrials, powered by targeted lateral hires and an associate academy that scales our know-how.
Client acquisition will be intentional: a focused list of mid-market and upper-mid corporates, PE-backed and growth companies, and multinationals investing into or out of Türkiye won through a deal-and-disputes flywheel (land on transformative transactions, retain via regulatory, employment, and litigation support), account-based plans with quarterly business reviews, and practical thought leadership that solves for what’s next. The client experience will feel modern: clear budgets, alternative fee arrangements, always-on portals, and proactive “no-surprises” communication.
Our service mix will reflect where demand is heading: cross-border M&A and JVs, private equity and venture deals, project finance and restructuring; regulatory and compliance with emphasis on data protection, cybersecurity incident response, AI/tech governance, competition, sanctions, and sector-specific regimes; high-stakes disputes including international arbitration, investigations/white-collar, and construction/energy/TMT litigation; plus strategic employment, IP/tech transfer, brand protection, and ESG/supply-chain diligence. Under the hood, disciplined legal ops, AI-assisted drafting and review, and partner-led playbooks will cut cycle times and raise predictability, while second-partner reviews and knowledge management preserve quality at scale. Success looks like 60–70% recurring institutional clients, a resilient 40/30/30 balance across transactions, disputes, and regulatory, and recognition as the region’s technology-forward, business-first counsel that combines Big Law quality with entrepreneurial agility.