Practice Areas

YazıcıLegal is one of the leading law firms in banking and finance law in Turkey. YazıcıLegal currently advises a number of banks, financial institutions and intermediary institutions in Turkey on all kinds of banking matters including regulatory, day-to-day operational, corporate, compliance and transactional work.

In their capacity as in-house or outside counsel, lawyers of YazıcıLegal have been involved in cutting edge banking transactions in Turkey for the last twenty years. They were the sole legal advisor in the largest bank mergers in the private sector in Turkey during the consolidation in the Turkish banking sector in 2001. They also advised the acquirer in the largest bank acquisition by a Turkish entity as well as the acquire in the largest acquisition of a Turkish bank by a foreign entity.

YazıcıLegal provides comprehensive legal advice in order to meet its clients' needs in structuring their investments and solving legal issues they may encounter in their transactions. The Firm's corporate practice offers advice on drafting, negotiating and reviewing commercial agreements of various natures, including, but not limited to, licensing, franchising, distributorship and sales agreements as well as on other general corporate and contract law issues.

The Firm's practice also covers areas such as the incorporation of legal entities, branches or liaison offices, organizing businesses, preparation of shareholders' agreements and other documents in relation to corporate governance, exit strategies, and stock option plans. Often, such areas intersect with closely related practice areas, particularly competition, employment law, and sometimes converge with bankruptcy matters, and the Firm advises its clients in these areas as well. As part of its business and corporate practice, YazıcıLegal is also regularly involved in the obtaining of various government permits, authorizations and licenses.

In addition to the general features highlighted above, YazıcıLegal has been involved in various construction, energy, sports and entertainment law related transactions.

Lawyers of YazıcıLegal have experience in relation to the energy sector through a broad variety of transactions, including all aspects of acquisitions of Turkish state entities by foreign investors and related consortia, participating in tender offers, conduct of due diligence, contract negotiations, and regulatory and compliance services related thereto.

YazıcıLegal represented and continues to represent various clients in connection with the financing of power-related projects.

YazıcıLegal assists its clients in creating, acquiring, divesting and protecting intellectual property assets in Turkey. The Firm provides services in relation to the preparation, filing and follow-up of trademark, copyright and patent applications and advises on drafting and negotiating licensing and technology transfer agreements. In addition, YazıcıLegal represents its clients in litigation related matters regarding intellectual property infringements and the enforcement of remedies in this respect. The practice of YazıcıLegal commonly extends to domain name, counterfeiting and unfair competition cases as well as trade secret violations.

YaziciLegal has vast experience in a broad variety of financing transactions, including project finance, asset backed securitization, trade finance, corporate finance, tax based structured finance and straightforward debt raising syndicated loan markets.

YaziciLegal advised and continues to advise both lenders and borrowers on many of the largest project and acquisition finance deals, involving complex financing with detailed considerations of local law, including regulatory and tax matters.

YaziciLegal represents various banks, investment banks, underwriters and issuers in their capital raising activities in both debt and equity markets. Lawyers of YaziciLegal have significant experience in all kinds of structured financing tools used by banks and corporations in Turkey. Lawyers of YaziciLegal have advised in the securitization by Turkish issuers of all asset categories completed to date, including credit card receivables, check or lease receivables and MT 100/103 receivables.

YaziciLegal regularly advises banks and corporations in syndicated loans, club loans, participations, straight bank lending, treasury products, leasing debts, restructurings, asset based and other secured financing, trade financing and bond issuances. YaziciLegal advises leading Turkish firms in the financial services sector in insurance, leasing, factoring related matters.

Rapid improvements in information and communications technologies create new opportunities and challenges for businesses, resulting in the need for appropriate legal services. In this fast-moving arena, YazıcıLegal developed experience in information and communications technology matters including technology and software licensing, copyright, patent and trademark registrations, internet law, regulatory compliance, privacy and security issues. Lawyers of YazıcıLegal represented one of the leading ISP's in Turkey in a number of its transactions including licensing and technology outsourcing contracts.

YazıcıLegal regularly represents its clients in different stages of the privatization process. Lawyers of YazıcıLegal have represented various foreign investors, major Turkish conglomerates and consortia in their efforts to invest in Turkish state enterprises since the beginning of the privatization program in Turkey through public offerings, private placements and block sales of shares, sale of assets and other transactions, mainly in the telecom, finance, cement, petroleum, steel, motor vehicle inspection, airport management and tobacco sectors. In the earlier privatizations, lawyers of YazıcıLegal have provided assistance to the privatization administration as well.

YazıcıLegal is also involved in providing pro bono work to a number of non-governmental organizations including, The Purple Roof Women's Foundation (Mor Çatı), Human Rights in Mental Health Initiative (Rusihak), Right to Health Movement Association (Sağlık Hakkı Derneği), Foundation for the Support of Women s Work – Micro Financing (KEDV) and Sahmaran Women Solidarity Center (Şahmaran Kadın Dayanışma Merkezi). Activities undertaken by YazıcıLegal includes, the provision of a vast area of legal services including legal representation in litigation proceedings. Lawyers of YazıcıLegal also participated in the Second European Pro Bono Forum held in Budapest between 6-7 November 2008.

YazıcıLegal's practice encompasses a full range of anti-trust and competition law advice including preventive counseling, exemption and clearance applications, as well as responding to competition board investigations and litigation. YazıcıLegal represents its clients in all aspects of competition law including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, horizontal and vertical restraints, predatory pricing, monopolization and abuse of dominant position, state aid, intellectual property matters, sector-specific regulation, public procurement and consumer protection issues.

YazıcıLegal also frequently advises its clients on the anti-trust implications of their business transactions, including licensing agreements, distribution, marketing and sales agreements and trade association activities.

YazıcıLegal represents leading foreign and local investment banks, underwriters and issuers in their financing transactions with regard to both debt and equity markets.

Since the early 90's, the lawyers of YazıcıLegal have advised issuers and underwriters in many initial or secondary public offerings of shares in, or bond issues by, Turkish companies. They have advised Turkish issuers in 144A/Reg S issuance of debt instruments or shares, with listings in Istanbul, New York, London and Luxembourg.

YazıcıLegal also advises leading Turkish and international securities firms in regulatory matters in Turkish capital markets and many listed Turkish entities in their ongoing reporting, disclosure, corporate governance practices and other compliance matters.

YazıcıLegal has a significant practice in mergers & acquisitions. The Firm has assisted in many cross-border mergers and acquisitions with regard to both foreign and domestic target entities. In these transactions, YazıcıLegal regularly advises in the structuring of the transaction, drafting and negotiation of the transaction documents and related competition, capital markets and other regulatory compliance matters as well as the obtaining of relevant regulatory approvals.

YazıcıLegal has significant experience also in mergers and acquisitions outside of the banking and financial services sector. YazıcıLegal has represented majority and minority owners of public and private corporations and investors in various types of asset and stock acquisitions, divestitures and management buy-outs.

YazıcıLegal represents its Clients in a variety of commercial administrative and individual disputes. The Firm's experience includes a range of matters such as litigation, arbitration, mediation, dispute avoidance and enforcement of judgments and arbitral awards.

The Firm also has a wide practice of debt collection activities primarily conducted for financial institutions in the collection of their consumer, credit card, SME and commercial loans.