Özge Akkaya is the co‑founder and co‑managing partner of Akkaya & Partners, a leading Turkish corporate law boutique based in Istanbul.  Özge drives the firm’s strategic direction and oversees key alliances that shape its purpose, while fostering strong links between the legal team and clients. She reflects on the firm’s journey since formation and the role of independent corporate boutiques in supporting international business activity in Türkiye.

What do you see as the main points that differentiate Akkaya & Partners from your competitors?

Uniquely in Turkey, Akkaya & Partners was founded by three women lawyers, who each bring the expertise they have gained at prominent organisations. We are proudly independent and have built the firm around what we believe to be the true partnership model: collaborative, client‑focused, and quality‑driven. From the outset, we were determined to serve clients in our own way, with a progressive outlook that anticipated the changes that are reshaping the profession. We’re able to combine the agility of a boutique structure with the sophistication required for complex cross-border matters. Partners work directly with clients and remain closely involved throughout mandates, ensuring both strategic oversight and practical execution. We consistently embrace innovation and have had the courage to move confidently toward the future. This mindset has enabled us to remain focused and adaptive, to develop a highly capable team, and to consistently deliver market‑leading services.

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

 We anticipate continued growth this year in corporate restructuring projects as businesses strive for efficiency, cost reductions, and strategic repositioning in a challenging economic climate. This will include mandates such as mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, workforce downsizing, and operational reorganisations. We also expect growth fuelled by the accelerating pace of technological development, digitalisation and the expanding regulation of data‑centric and automated business operations. E‑commerce is poised for further expansion, extending beyond metropolitan areas across Türkiye. In parallel, areas such as digital platform governance, intellectual property protection, and advisory services relating to artificial intelligence will assume greater significance. Alongside these commercial drivers, we see increasing demand in strategic advisory work related to simulation training and cyber expertise in technology and defense industiries, reflecting the increasing importance of global security frameworks and defence‑related innovation in shaping regulatory and advisory practices.

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

The most significant change we’ve made is deeper investment in both strategic alliances and the development of our team. The partners have put a lot of time and effort into building partnerships that expand the resources and expertise available to clients, while accelerating the professional growth of our attorneys through regular training on best practices, emerging trends, and new regulations. This commitment ensures that our team is equipped to navigate complex legal landscapes and deliver high‑quality advice. Seeing colleagues grow from junior team members into accomplished professionals is rewarding for us as leaders, but more importantly, it strengthens our operations and directly benefits clients through deeper expertise, sharper responsiveness, and the continuity that comes from working with a team that understands their business over the long term.

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

 We have recognised the transformative potential of technology for both our internal operations and the services we deliver to clients for some time. We have a range of advanced tools that enable us to communicate more efficiently with clients, many of whom are international organisations, streamline workflows, enhance legal research capabilities, and achieve valuable outcomes within highly competitive timeframes. We are integrating new technologies responsibly, including AI‑driven solutions, to optimise departmental tasks and add value to restructuring projects and complex deal structures. At the same time, we have reinforced data protection measures to safeguard sensitive client information.

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

There are many examples we can choose from including:

As part of our international work, we advised a leading investment firm on structuring and managing early, and growth‑stage investments in infrastructure‑adjacent technologies, including high‑tech construction, smart energy and green infrastructure. We drafted and managed SAFE agreements, guided equity rounds, designed exit strategies, and embedded ESG frameworks. We strengthened their governance in founder‑heavy ventures, safeguarded their investor rights and facilitated mission‑aligned growth. Our work meant that the client could scale responsibly and mitigate their risk, which preserved long‑term value.

We also guided a well‑known Turkish manufacturer through its transition from a founder‑led business to a professionally governed, export‑oriented enterprise. We created scalable corporate templates and employment documentation, negotiated supplier and private‑label agreements with major chains, and implemented a comprehensive IP protection strategy. We also structured new export and distribution arrangements and prepared governance frameworks to support potential M&A or private equity involvement. The company is now a modern, compliance‑driven corporation, positioned for sustainable international growth. Supporting clients like this through transformative stages is particularly rewarding, as it allows us to contribute to strategic development and expansion into global markets.

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

 Clients are increasingly seeking stability, and long-term partnerships with legal advisors who have an in-depth understanding of their business and industry and can add extra value. Since our formation, we have successfully guided clients through diverse business cycles supporting expansion into new sectors and markets.

Over the next three years, we envisage strengthening our international presence, and expanding key practice areas such as corporate restructuring, regulatory, data privacy, and dispute resolution.

Our objective is to remain a trusted long-term advisor to clients operating in or entering the Turkish market, helping them navigate both opportunity and complexity in a rapidly evolving business environment. We aim to continue investing in technology and innovation, the development of our team, and key strategic alliances, ensuring we remain at the forefront of legal excellence in Türkiye.