Lauded as a 'powerhouse across maritime law matters', Ersoy Bilgehan Lawyers & Consultants is a trusted advisor to shipowners, P&I Clubs, H&M insurers, and cargo owners, handling complex disputes in the shipping and transportation sectors. The team is also a key player in ship finance, regularly advising international lenders on major loan facilities. Its contentious expertise spans civil and criminal cases, including pollution incidents, injuries, and narcotics investigations. Zihni Bilgehan plays a pivotal role in the firm’s transactional success. With over 35 years of experience, Ergun Ersoy offers unmatched expertise in wet shipping matters. Mehmet Raci Alper handles a diverse range of disputes, including collisions, groundings, salvages, crew injuries, and cargo damage. Emre Ersoy is praised for his 'exceptional expertise' and excels in both contentious and non-contentious shipping law.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Emre Ersoy stands out for his exceptional expertise, strategic mindset, and unwavering dedication to clients.'
‘The team is highly efficient and competent.’
‘Ersoy Bilgehan is a powerhouse across maritime law matters but particularly in maritime litigation matters, although we have also had a very good impression of them in ship finance matters.’
‘Partners and associates at the firm are efficient, knowledgeable, approachable and well respected in the industry.’
‘Ersoy Bilgehan team is highly skilled, extremely professional and ambitious in delivering the best-class service. I have worked with the team in multiple transactions and always received high-level service and great attention with a sense of urgency.’
‘Mehmet Raci Alper assisted us in a potential demurrage claim and we were very fascinated by his competence and expertise.'
‘We were very impressed with Mehmet Raci Alper's service. He was highly knowledgeable in the field of Turkish maritime/admiralty law, extremely prompt in dealing with urgent matters, and made himself available through various communication channels in a live matter.'
‘Emre Ersoy is very skilled and accessible.'
Key clients
- Holman Fenwick Willan
- Willis Towers Watson
- Wk Webster & Co
- Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation
- Orient Overseas Container Line
- Shourai Marine
- MMSL Pte
- Mitsui Simutomo Insurance
- Warstila Finland Oy
- Hiscox Mga
Work highlights
Assisting insurers and charterers of YM WITNESS with matters surrounding a collision incident with three shore cranes.
Representing the shipowners, bareboat charterers, P&I club, and insurers of M/V BENITAMOUR in matters concerning a collision.
Assisting the charterers of a container vessel that ran aground.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Ergun Ersoy; Zihni Bilgehan; Mehmet Raci Alper; Emre Ersoy