Leveraging strong employment understanding with an ability to ‘anticipate practical risks and deliver workable, business-oriented solutions’, the team at Bener Law Office is a go-to for high-profile multinational clients across industries like tech, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and finance. Described as ’one of a kind’ in the Turkish market, practice head Batuhan Şahmay is adept in the full lifecycle of employment law, with particular expertise in executive terminations, large-scale workforce restructurings, collective dismissals, cross-border compliance mandates, employee disputes, and data privacy compliance.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Batuhan Şahmay is by far the best in class among employment law practitioners. His expertise, strategic thinking, and ability to deliver clear, actionable advice make him an invaluable asset to our business. Batuhan is always approachable, highly responsive, and consistently demonstrates a deep understanding of both the legal framework and our commercial objectives.’
- ‘Bener Law Office distinguishes itself by combining deep expertise in Turkish employment law with a highly commercial and pragmatic mindset. The team excels not only in applying black-letter law, but also in anticipating practical risks and delivering workable, business-oriented solutions that can be seamlessly implemented in complex corporate environments.’
- ‘Batuhan Şahmay deserves special recognition. He is one of a kind in the Turkish market, combining deep experience in employment and compliance with an exceptional ability to balance strategic vision and practical problem-solving. What sets him apart is his capacity to turn complex legal and regulatory issues into clear, actionable guidance that advances business objectives.’
- ‘Compared to other law firms, Bener stands out as the most valuable partner we have worked with in employment law. Their combination of expertise, responsiveness, and practical insight is unmatched. The team’s commitment to client service and their ability to deliver results, even in complex or urgent situations, is a significant differentiator.’
- ‘Batu Şahmay is my go-to person for any legal matter. He is personally very responsive and has vast experience in FMCG employment issues. His guidance is always clear, concise, and business-oriented, thoughtfully tailored to support swift and confident decision-making, even by non-legal stakeholders.’
- ‘The individuals I’ve worked with at this firm are truly outstanding. They combine deep legal expertise with a practical, client-first mindset. What sets them apart is their responsiveness, clarity in communication, and ability to simplify complex legal matters. Partners and associates alike are approachable, thoughtful, and committed to delivering high-quality work.’
Key clients
- Amazon
- British American Tobacco
- Unilever
- Hempel
- Mastercard
- Philips
- Ge Aerospace
- Brita
- Yokogawa
- Archroma
- Michael Page
Work highlights
Serving as Unilever’s trusted employment counsel in Turkey, advising on everything from day-to-day HR queries and mediations to precedent-setting litigation.
Guided BRF-Banvit through complex employment challenges, from termination strategy to compliance overhauls, delivering legally robust, operationally viable solutions.
Acted as lead employment counsel to Novonesis, navigating sensitive workforce transfers in a global merger, mitigating contractor misclassification risks, and advising on high-stakes employment issues across its Turkish operations.
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Practice head
Batuhan Şahmay