Meltem Akol focuses on cross-border M&A, equity capital markets and privatisations. Sources describe her as "knowledgeable with a down-to-earth attitude." As managing partner she leads on many of the firm's key deals.

Eren Kurşun is an up-and-coming partner with a background in economics, and makes a valuable contribution to cross-border transactions. 

Department head Ümit Hergüner "is great at explaining clearly what can or cannot be done." With over three decades of experience, he remains a towering figure in the Turkish legal market.

Ender Özeke handles M&A and banking and finance matters, and is noted for his focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors.

Kayra Üçer is described as "a good choice for M&A transactions," having advised SABMiller on the acquisition of a minority stake in Efes Pilsen.

Co-managing partner and head of the corporate/M&A practice Cüneyt Yüksel is lauded for his intellect and strong powers of persuasion. He "always has solutions on hand," says a source.

Ekin Gökkılıç is considered a "knowledgeable and flexible lawyer." She is highly experienced in private equity.

Department head İsmail Esin is "creative and business-minded," and is praised for his ability to explain complicated issues in simple language. His practice includes M&A, arbitration and real estate.

Serdar Paksoy is a greatly experienced practitioner of over 20 years' standing. He advises foreign investors doing business in Turkey, focusing on M&A, private equity and privatisations as well as project finance and dispute resolution.

Elvan Aziz heads the corporate department and leads on many of the team's most important transactions. She is also noted for her real estate practice.

Togan Turan "really understands our business requirements and can handle complex deals," a client reports. Turan focuses on M&A and regulatory work. 

Selin Bayar continues to attract important clients to the firm. Her practice includes M&A, privatisations and public offerings as well as real estate work.

Şefika Pekin heads the department and has over three decades of experience in the market. She advises on joint ventures, M&A and general commercial law.

Ferhat Pekin enters the rankings this year after receiving strong client recommendations. Sources describe him as "a superb lawyer" and note his international experience.

Founding partner Ahmed Pekin is a greatly experienced practitioner with a broad commercial practice.

Managing partner Fethi Pekin is recognised for his M&A work.

Department head Galip Selçuk is praised for his meticulous approach and negotiation skills. He specialises in M&A, private equity, and financial restructuring.

Selim Keki's practice includes corporate transactions as well as employment, regulatory and public law. His excellent language skills come in useful when advising international clients.

Market observers describe Arzu İnoğlu as "a quick learner who doesn't evade responsibility." She focuses on corporate law, but also handles dispute resolution.

Onur Kordel often handles M&A work in the energy and infrastructure sectors. According to one client, he "is always available and offers great expertise."

Up-and-coming associate Pinar Aybek is described as "responsive and diligent," and clients appreciate her "clear and practical instructions." She covers contracts, capital markets, competition and real estate law.

Nadia Cansun is "accomplished in structuring deals and very accurate in her advice." As department head, she leads on many of the firm's main transactions. She is a UK-qualified solicitor and previously worked for a British firm in Moscow, giving her practice a distinct international flavour.

Yeşim Bezen "has an international outlook and is attentive to clients' needs," say sources. Qualified in the UK, she focuses on project finance and energy work.

Department head Begüm Durukan Özaydın "understands the needs of the client and prepares everything thoroughly." Her broad practice covers banking as well as energy and M&A.

Mesut Çakmak is a hugely talented lawyer with over 20 years of experience. He advises on joint ventures, M&A and energy matters.

Founding partner Fadlullah Cerrahoğlu is recognised as an expert in M&A and international arbitration, and is considered to be one of the pillars of the Turkish legal market. Sources note his "impressive practice and international outlook."

Selen Güreş is a valued member of the team and leads on a number of the firm's M&A deals. She can turn her hand to a variety of legal work, including capital markets, employment law and product liability.

Ayşegül Yalçınmani's practice includes joint ventures, privatisations and public offerings.

Managing partner Can Verdi is "a brilliant lawyer and strategic thinker who can handle huge deals." He is best known for his banking and finance practice, and is also recognised as an M&A lawyer.

Department head Tayga Ak is described as "personable, very clear on recommendations, and an excellent negotiator." He advises on M&A, joint ventures and cross-border financings.

Sehnaz Gungor is described by one client as "our dream lawyer," and deals with domestic and international M&A. "She always completes tasks on time and often exceeds our expectations," says a source.

Founding partner Tunç Lokmanhekim focuses on M&A, private equity and corporate law, and stands out for his expertise in competition law.

Clients praise Edmund Emre Özer as "hard-working, dedicated, and a pleasure to work with." A UK-qualified lawyer, he covers both cross-border and domestic transactions.

Baran Gen focuses on corporate/M&A and banking. She is noted for her business acumen and earns particular praise for her regulatory work.

Senior consultant Ali Göksu has broad commercial experience, particularly in the energy sector.

Lale Deliveli is a "hard-working and bright" lawyer who handles M&A and private equity deals.

Clients recommend Tolga Ismen as "a very talented lawyer." As managing partner, he leads on a number of the firm's key deals. 

Halide Çetinkaya is the department head and main contact for this practice, which handles work in sectors such as private equity, financial institutions, telecoms and healthcare. The firm is associated with Kinstellar law firm. 

Managing partner Umut Kolcuoglu has a busy transactional practice which includes M&A and banking as well as energy and private equity. Clients describe him as "highly efficient and capable of meeting tight deadlines."

Department head Metin Somay remains a well-known name, and is admired for his skill in negotiations.

Sera Somay focuses on M&A transactions as well as corporate matters, and is adept at handling cross-border deals. 

Clients say founding partner Noyan Turunç is "a strong yet comforting presence" in negotiations. His broad practice spans M&A, competition, finance, employment and tax.

Ihsan Ömür Yarsuvat has a broad practice in general business law and is well known in the market.

Süreyya Ayşe Aktan Yazici is an up-and-coming associate whose work includes capital markets, corporate/M&A and administrative law. 

This firm's Russian desk assists both Turkish and Russian clients with cross-border transactions between the countries. The group advises on regulatory, corporate and IP matters and represents clients in disputes. The team is led by Serra Başoğlu Gürkaynak, who was previously head of legal affairs for the CIS at Coca-Cola.

This firm has a long history of advising investors in Turkey, and Turkish investors in Europe, on issues such as M&A, due diligence and regulatory requirements. It has developed excellent working relationships with lawyers on the ground and has a number of Turkish-speaking partners within its ranks. Recent work includes advising Zentiva on its EUR460 million acquisition of 75% of Eczacibasi Generic Pharmaceuticals. The firm has a deep bench of Turkey specialists, including Dirk Jannott in Düsseldorf, David Bresnick in the UK, Pietro Cavasola in Rome, Jacques Isnard in Paris, and Katja van Kranenburg-Hanspian in Amsterdam. Döne Yalçın heads the Turkish desk from the firm's Vienna office.

Frauke Bemberg is based in Munich and a member of the Turkey desk, where her previous experience as a lawyer in Istanbul comes in useful.

See above for editorial

Freshfields draws on the expertise of a substantial group of Turkey specialists from Germany, France, Austria, Dubai and the UK to offer clients strong support on deals in this dynamic market. Its track record includes advising Cinven on its acquisition of Pronet, the private equity firm's first investment in the country. 

Hartmut Nitschke in Cologne is the key partner for the Turkey desk and a member of the firm's emerging markets group. He advises clients on cross-border transactions, and specialises in the infrastructure and general industries sectors. 

Dubai-based Pervez Akhtar is the firm's regional managing partner for the MENA region. His profound understanding of the Turkish business environment is invaluable to clients.

Asli Karagozoglu is an associate qualified to practise in Turkey and New York. She is based in London and focuses on corporate/M&A.

Tom O’Neill heads the Turkey desk out of London, which consists of several lawyers with extensive experience on Turkish transactions. It was mandated by Sberbank on the USD3.5 billion acquisition of Denizbank from the Dexia group. The firm advises on the full spectrum of legal matters, being particularly strong on corporate and M&A, project finance, banking, and capital markets. Further highlights include advising Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii on its USD750 million joint venture with Dow Chemical.

Daniel Cousens in Warsaw has experience of handling M&A and private equity transactions in the CIS, CEE and Turkey.

See above for editorial

Loyens & Loeff's Turkish desk advises both inbound and outbound investors, and has particularly strong expertise in tax. Freek Jonkhart in Rotterdam is a key contact for the desk, and he advises Turkish and Dutch clients on M&A and other business law issues.

This firm's Turkey business group focuses on the energy, corporate and Islamic finance sectors, acting for Turkish and international clients such as SOCAR. Several lawyers in the London office are part of the desk, with key names being Charles Whitney and Thomas Vita. Led from London, the group recently advised the EBRD and several other senior lenders on the development, construction and building of an 835 MW greenfield power plant in Turkey.

Gesina van de Wetering recently joined the firm from Norton Rose, considerably adding to its existing expertise in the Turkish market. She handles tax and corporate finance work, and has represented major Turkish clients including Turkcell and Zorlu Enerji. Clients describe her as "easy-going, hands-on, and practical." She is a key contact for the firm's Turkish practice.

Marc van Campen is a private equity and fund structuring specialist with a growing Turkey practice. His clients include Turkven Private Equity and Standard Unlu.