Bezen & Partners is ‘a leading firm in project finance, boasting a dedicated team that consistently delivers exceptional results.. The firm is currently acting for sponsors in numerous PPP hospital projects and is also active in many other key sectors, among them energy, manufacturing, mining, and aviation. Yeşim Bezen, who is ’an exceptionally skilled lawyer with deep knowledge and extensive experience’, and the ‘highly responsive, commercially savvy, and incredibly thorough’ Banu Bölükemini, who assists banks, finance institutions, sponsors, and borrowers in finance, energy, and infrastructure deals, are the key contacts. Head of the firm’s regulatory practice Aykut Bakırcı also plays a pivotal role in major projects.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Work Department
Partner - Banking, Finance, Projects and International Arbitration
Position
Yesim Bezen is a founding partner of Bezen & Partners. She assists international clients in a wide variety of transactions, most notably in banking, finance, asset and project finance transactions.
Career
Yesim Bezen is a qualified solicitor (England & Wales). She has completed her training with and has been employed by a Magic Circle law firm’s London office from 2001 to 2007 where she advised clients (mainly financiers) on banking, structured finance and project finance transactions. She advises domestic and non-domestic clients on cross-border transactions. She is the co-author of several publications on finance, privatisation and energy. A selection of her publications is as follows: (1) "Right Ingredients for Turkish PPPs” Project Finance International, 28 January 2015, pp. 49-52; (2) “Procurement mind-set: A handicap to PPPs in Turkey?”, Euromoney Project Finance Yearbook 2014/2015, Chapter 10, pp. 56-62; (3) “Renewable Energy in Emerging Markets”, Euromoney Books, Investing in Emerging and Frontier Markets, June 2013, pp. 220-227; (4) “Modernisation of the Turkish health infrastructure: What went wrong?”, Euromoney Yearbooks Privatisation & Public Private Partnership Review 2013/2014, pp. 57-61; (5) “Transport infrastructure financing in Turkey: Time to get behind the wheel”, Euromoney Yearbooks Transportation Finance Review 2012/2013. She is a frequent speaker and moderator at conferences. Some notable ones are as follows: (1) “Exportinitiative Erneuerbare Energien” (Export Initiatives for Renewable Energy) organised by the German Ministry for Economics and Energy, October 2014, Berlin, Germany (Attendance as Legal Expert of Energy Law for Turkey); (2) 6th Turkey Energy Congress & Exhibition 2014, 17-18 September 2014, Istanbul; (3) 4th Annual Turkey Energy Forum, 21-23 March 2014, Istanbul; (4) Nuclear Energy Development Summit 2013, 21-22 November 2013, Istanbul; (5) The Euromoney Seminar: 8th Annual Turkey Energy and Infrastructure Finance Forum, 16-17 March 2015, Istanbul; (6) Bonds & Loans: Turkey, 2-3 October 2012, Istanbul; (7) Bonds, Loans & Sukuk, 13 November 2013, Istanbul; and (8) Project Bonds for Infrastructure Financing in Turkey – Experience from Canada, 18 March 2013, EBRD Headquarters, London.
Languages
English, French, German (native), Turkish (native).
Memberships
Law Society of England & Wales; Law Society of England & Wales International Division;
International Bar Association;
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators;
International Chamber of Commerce;
British Chamber of Commerce of Turkey.
British-Turkish Lawyers Association (BTLA);
Education
Diplom, Politologie, Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt (1st honours); Maîtrise, Relations Internationales, Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris I), Paris (DAAD bursary); Diploma, International Law, London School of Economics, London (Colonia Stiftung bursary); CPE and LPC, College of Law, London.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Bezen & Partners is a leading firm in project finance, boasting a dedicated team that consistently delivers exceptional results. Its specialised expertise in this niche area is invaluable, ensuring clients receive top-notch legal and strategic guidance. They have demonstrated a strong ability to navigate the complexities of project financing transactions. Their advice is practical and commercially focused, carefully balancing legal precision with the unique challenges of the project finance landscape.'
'The firm’s partners and associates are highly accessible and responsive, always prepared to provide support. From the initial engagement to the resolution of the matter, effective communication remains a top priority.’
‘Yeşim Bezen is an exceptionally skilled lawyer with deep knowledge and extensive experience. She leads a remarkable team that consistently helps us achieve our goals, and her expertise has been invaluable. Banu Bölükemini has an excellent understanding of the complexities of our cases and demonstrates exceptional commercial insight. She is highly responsive, commercially savvy, and incredibly thorough in her work.’
Key clients
- Akfen Holding A.Ş.
- Rönesans Holding A.Ş.
- Akfen Gayrimenkul Yatırım Ortaklığı A.Ş.
- Eren Holding A.Ş.
- Modern Karton Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
- Medcem Madencilik Yapı Malzemeleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.
- MB Holding LLC
- CIMC Aquila Limited
- PNC Bank
Work highlights
Advised and assisted Aşiyan Enerji Üretim İnşaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., Rönesans Enerji Üretim ve İnşaat A.Ş. and its parent company, Rönesans Holding A.Ş., in the successful review, negotiation, and implementation of a significant Euler Hermes covered facilities agreement.
Advised and assisted Modern Karton, a Turkish paper manufacturer, in relation to the Hermes and Sinosure covered EUR 350 million financing from ING and DZ Bank for the supply of goods and services from the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Germany within the scope of the construction of a paper mill project (“PM-6”) in the Republic of Türkiye.
Advised and assisted Akfen Holding, a Turkish real estate investment trust, and its parent company, a large Turkish conglomerate, in respect of various financings executed by various affiliates for hotel investments in Türkiye, Northern Cyprus and the CIS.