Elig Gürkaynak

ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law is committed to providing its clients with high-quality legal services. We combine a solid knowledge of Turkish law with a business-minded approach to develop legal solutions that meet the ever-changing needs of our clients in their international and domestic operations.

Our legal team consists of 95 lawyers. We take pride in being able to assist our clients in all fields of law. Our areas of expertise particularly include competition law, corporate law, M&A, contracts law, white collar irregularities and compliance, data protection and cybersecurity law, litigation and dispute resolution, Internet law, technology, media and telecommunications law, intellectual property law, administrative law, real estate law, anti-dumping law, pharma and healthcare regulatory, employment law, and banking and finance law.

As an independent Turkish law firm, ELIG Gürkaynak collaborates with many international law firms on various projects. Furthermore, ELIG Gürkaynak is able to serve its clients’ interests also in Ankara and İzmir, through its cooperation with local law firms in these two major cities.

We are very sensitive about conflict of interest checks, and ethical professional conduct. Our founding partner, Dr. Gönenç Gürkaynak, is a member of New York Bar and the Law Society of England and Wales (non-practising), in addition to his attorney status at the İstanbul Bar since 1998.

All members of the ELIG Gürkaynak team are fluent in English.

For further information, please visit www.elig.com

Widely recognized as having the leading competition law practice in Turkiye, ELIG Gürkaynak’s team consists of 45 dedicated competition law specialists led by Gönenç Gürkaynak, the firm’s founding partner with more than 25 years competition law experience, along with seven partners and eight counsel.

ELIG Gürkaynak represents corporations, business associations, investment banks, partnerships and individuals in a wide variety of competition law matters.

Our firm also collaborates with international law firms on Turkish competition law matters.

In addition to our strong Turkish competition law practice, our international experience provides us with a high capability in multinational competition law issues. We have particular experience in the European Union competition law regime.

Our Antitrust Practice Group provides international and domestic clients with all types of legal services concerning competition law issues, including litigation. ELIG Gürkaynak provides competition law assistance particularly in the following ways:

General Advisory Competition Law Assistance

We provide clients in a broad range of industries with the antitrust counseling they need. We also advise clients on a day-today basis concerning business transactions that almost always contain antitrust law issues, including distributorship, licensing, franchising, toll manufacturing, etc. We give EU and/or Turkish competition law advice in the form most convenient to our clients.

Competition Law Aspects of Mergers & Acquisitions

We have extensive experience in merger control issues. We have been counseling clients involved in mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures about Turkish notification requirements, and our Antitrust Practice Group has been involved in obtaining approvals from the Turkish Competition Board in dozens of notifications. We also review Share Purchase Agreements and Shareholders Agreements, and engage in other aspects of transaction planning, in order to minimize delays and/or structural changes caused by the review of the Competition Board.

Legal Representation on Competition Law Investigations

We have extensive experience in defending companies before the Competition Board in all phases of an antitrust investigation. Our Antitrust Practice Group has in depth knowledge of representing defendants and complainants in complex antitrust investigations concerning all forms of abuse of dominant position allegations and all other forms of restrictive horizontal and vertical arrangements, including price-fixing, resale price maintenance, refusal to supply, territorial restrictions and concerted practice allegations

Litigation Concerning Competition Law Matters

The parties of an investigation can challenge decisions of the Competition Board in court. In addition to our antitrust litigation expertise, our firm has considerable expertise in administrative law, and is therefore well equipped to represent clients before the High State Council, both on the merits of a case, and for injunctive relief. We also represent clients in civil courts with respect to compensation claims arising out of antitrust allegations.

Educational Seminars and Compliance Programs in Competition Law

Companies can limit or avoid antitrust liability by training their executives and employees about the requirements of the antitrust legislation. We tailor our educational seminars and compliance programs according to the factors surrounding the company and market involved, and train the executives/ employees/ members of our clients in competition law matters.

“Gönenç Gürkaynak leads Türkiye’s best competition practice at ELİG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law. The team comprises a further seven partners – who have a combined 30 years of experience at the TCA – as well as eight counsel and 40 associates.”

Global Competition Review 100 2025, Elite Firm

“ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law remains the market leader for competition law matters in Turkey. The law firm is highly active in both merger clearance notifications and behavioural investigations before the Turkish authorities.”

Chambers Europe 2025, Band 1

“ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law leverages its leading competition law expertise to address complex merger control issues and represent companies before the Turkish Competition Board. The firm advises a broad array of multinational corporations and prominent domestic clients. Founding partner Gönenç Gürkaynak is a recognised authority on merger control and competition law.”

The Legal 500 EMEA 2025, Tier 1

“One of the leading competition lawyers in Turkey, Gönenç Gürkaynak is highly esteemed for his ability to handle both merger control filings and behavioural investigations.”

Chambers Europe 2025, Top Ranked Lawyer

Our strong M&A team consistently shows the capability to simultaneously handle numerous significant M&A transactions, reorganizations and spin-offs.

ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys were involved in more than 15 closed M&A transactions in the last two years. With its solutionoriented and business minded approach to legal risks and structures, ELIG Gürkaynak advises various types and sizes of clients with different backgrounds and interests, such as multinational companies, international and domestic strategic investors, and investment banks. In these deals, as the specifics of the transaction requires, ELIG Gürkaynak’s M&A team works in close quarters with the Banking & Finance, Competition and Litigation departments of the firm.

Due Diligence

ELIG Gürkaynak has an extensive trackrecord for complex due diligence work. ELIG Gürkaynak conducted due diligence reviews in physical and virtual data rooms in numerous M&A transactions and submitted the outcome to its clients in detailed reports, always accompanied by an executive summary. Our firm embodies the diverse legal expertise necessary for assisting its clients in determining all material risks involved in M&A transactions by providing a legal due diligence review in all relevant fields of law.

For a well-founded due diligence process, our team not only identifies the risks to be envisaged in transactions but also provides solution-oriented advice and counseling designed to meet the self-imposed abovethe-market standards on a case by case basis.

Our M&A team is well connected to top-quality specialists in several other expertise areas such as tax structuring, real estate assessment and environmental due diligence, and has the capabilities to establish coordination among these experts, reporting also to the client for the findings and suggestions of these experts.

Contract Drafting, Review and Negotiation

ELIG Gürkaynak has a well-established practice in drafting, reviewing and negotiating share transfer, asset purchase and/or shareholders agreements as well as ancillary contracts that may be required in transactions e.g. employment contracts, option contracts and pledge agreements and sui generis contracts tailor-made for each specific transaction. Advising the sellside our M&A team works closely with the client in preparation of exhibits to the transaction documents, especially as far as the representations and warranties sections of contracts are concerned.

Joint Ventures

Our team has vast experience in the establishment, reorganization and winding up of joint ventures operating in various markets. ELIG Gürkaynak provides complete legal assistance from inception of a joint venture through structuring, contract negotiation and implementation. Our experience of complex cross-border deals and multi-jurisdictional projects provides our clients with an informed, international and comprehensive view of factors relating to choice of law issues as well as the structure itself.

In addition to the competition law, arbitration and intellectual property aspects of these concentrations, our firm has a strong capability to advise the transaction parties in properly handling the corporate governance matters of joint ventures.

Private Equity, Venture Capital and MBOs

Our firm also has a leading position in private equity, venture capital transactions as well as management buy-outs, since ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys were involved in major transactions of this type in Turkiye. ELIG Gürkaynak also advises private equity funds in structuring their exit strategies including domestic and US registration rights and public offerings.

In addition to its extensive experience in the M&A practice in Turkiye, ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys also contribute to this field of law with their publications. The firm’s M&A department co-edited a book on M&A transactions entitled “M&A Transactions under Turkish Law”, authored jointly by members of the firm and available in Turkish and English. This is the first book in Turkish legal literature on how to structure M&A transactions under Turkish law. Additionally, the firm’s M&A department prepared the Turkiye chapters of Getting the Deal Through/Mergers & Acquisitions (2003-2011) and the European Mergers & Acquisitions Review (2007-2011).

General Corporate / Contracts

Our corporate team has extensive experience in advising on general corporate law matters under Turkish law.

ELIG Gürkaynak provides legal counseling concerning long term strategic business planning and the day-today operations of our clients.

Our corporate team assists multinational and local clients by providing a wide range of corporate advisory services. Our lawyers offer unique solutions and strategic planning regarding company incorporation and restructuring, along with a range of corporate housekeeping. We provide on the ground advice in regards to the following:

• Corporate housekeeping including drafting of board resolutions, convention of general assemblies, preparation of representation papers and “signature circulars”, and internal directives.
• Issuance of special powers of attorney and guiding our clients through the paperwork.
• Set-up of companies, branches and liaison offices, supporting our clients’ entry into the Turkish market with introduction to local service providers such as certified public accountants and tax advisors, virtual office space providers and payroll service providers etc.
• Divesting / de-registering (liquidation) of companies, branches and liaison offices, along with conversions, for example, from joint stock to limited liability.
• Implementing and incorporating global internal procedures into the Turkish regulations.

On the wide range of contracts required to operate a business effectively in the local environment, our corporate team will be able to draft and advise on a full range of agreements, including the following:

Litigation & Arbitration

ELIG Gürkaynak has significant litigation experience and is well-equipped to handle all types of legal disputes before the Turkish courts. Together with the legal requirements of our clients in the pre and post dispute stages, arbitration is also a fundamental practice area.

ELIG Gürkaynak is one of the few Turkish law firms that combines an international legal practice with a solid track-record and knowledge of litigation before Turkish civil and administrative courts.

Except for criminal law matters, ELIG Gürkaynak is well-equipped to handle all types of legal disputes before Turkish courts and report to its clients in English, German or French.

The following types of cases are examples of those handled by ELIG Gürkaynak’s litigation team:

Litigation in General

ELIG Gürkaynak’s litigation team represents clients in all types of civil cases, including unfair competition cases, real estate disputes, shareholding disputes, bankruptcy and execution proceedings, labor law cases.

Intellectual Property Litigation

ELIG Gürkaynak secures and enforces the intellectual property rights, including trade secrets, of its clients through civil law cases. We have substantial experience in representing clients in Turkish courts of various levels concerning intellectual property infringement cases, and related compensation claims.

Administrative Law Matters

The Turkish State actively participates in markets as a regulator as well as an independent player. The decisions, administrative orders and actions of the State are increasingly subject to judicial review in administrative courts. ELIG Gürkaynak has a high capability in administrative law matters, as its team includes an expert on administrative law with a significant academic background in this field.

Arbitration Related Litigation

ELIG Gürkaynak has experience in actions concerning the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. Furthermore, to the extent all disputes arising from a contract which contains an arbitration clause cannot be resolved through arbitration due to the mandatory provisions of Turkish law, ELIG Gürkaynak is well able to engage in litigation in tandem with the arbitration proceedings. For example, as a specific form of such parallel litigation, ELIG Gürkaynakis well equipped to handle cases before Turkish courts in relation to obligations of the shareholders under the articles of association simultaneously with arbitration proceedings among the same parties arising from a shareholders’ agreement.

Competition Law Related Litigation

ELIG Gürkaynak has significant experience in appealing against the decisions of the Turkish Competition Board in the High State Court both on the merits of a case and for interim measures applications. Furthermore, since the Turkish Competition Law - which is otherwise modeled after the EU competition law regime - includes a “treble damages clause” taken from the US antitrustregime, we represent plaintiffs and defendants in competition law related compensation actions before the Turkish civil courts of all levels.

Arbitration

Together with all legal counseling requirements of clients in the pre-dispute and post-dispute stages, arbitration is one of the fundamental practice areas of ELIG Gürkaynak.

The adoption of the New York Convention of 1958 and the promulgation of the International Arbitration Law of 2001 based on the UNCITRAL Model Law in Turkiye constituted a welcome step forward in facilitating the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards. In this new era of arbitration friendly and efficient legal environment, ELIG Gürkaynak has formed a leading arbitration and dispute resolution practice through its cooperation with numerous international law firms.

ELIG Gürkaynak serves its clients not only during the dispute, but also by assuming a preventive role in the early stages of a transaction (e.g. during the negotiation and drafting of contracts). Furthermore, as a law firm that strives for forming efficient and focused arbitration processes and strategies, ELIG Gürkaynak also assists its clients during the final pre-dispute stages where a potential dispute is highly likely.

ELIG Gürkaynak is a member of the ICC Turkish National Committee and the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

ELIG Gürkaynak is committed to the continuing legal education of its attorneys and fellow colleagues in this field. ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys regularly attend international conferences on arbitration.

Anti-Corruption, Compliance and White Collar Irregularities

As a leading law firm, one of the significant practices of ELIG Gürkaynak relates to assisting clients on white collar irregularities, internal investigations and compliance matters.

ELIG Gürkaynak frequently assists multinational clients in terms of international investigations and compliance matters in connection with Turkish corporate compliance issues under the FCPA, the UK Bribery Act and the mandatory provision of Turkish law on anti-corruption.

ELIG Gürkaynak has so far followed and frequently helped develop different and demanding work plans for a vast number of internal investigations on the Turkish operations of US or UK based multinational companies, Turkish operations of companies quoted in foreign stock exchanges, large Turkish conglomerates, frequently coordinating issues also with their external and/or internal counsel outside Turkiye. ELIG Gürkaynak has interviewed over 200 employees, drafted disclosure petitions, dealt with PR and GR aspects of projects of this nature, prepared extensive white collar due diligence reports, provided over 80 FCPA trainings, and helped clients adopt and implement policies of detecting and ensuring full corporate compliance in Turkiye.

Our law firm holds a significant legal capability in all the fields of law required for such projects, including but not limited to employment law (notices, obtaining defenses of employees, terminations for cause, settlement negotiations, etc.), data privacy law (review of records, review of e-mail messages, correspondence, phone records, etc.), and corporate law (affiliate intervening through general assembly, Board of Directors member removals, fiduciary duties of a Board Member to the shareholdercompany, confidentiality obligations, etc.). As for the criminal law aspects of such projects, ELIG Gürkaynak works on the criminal law dimensions together with an outside law firm-specialized in Turkish criminal law- with which it has a long standing track-record for coordinating white collar crime issues.

ELIG Gürkaynak has a high reputation for handling these types of self duediligence projects because it has handled, as requested by the in-house legal counsel and/ or compliance managers of multinational companies, quite a high number of such projects. Although, due to confidentiality constraints, ELIG Gürkaynak is naturally not free to match any names of clients with a white collar irregularity representation undertaken, set forth below are descriptions of some of the projects undertaken so far by ELIG Gürkaynak:

“Compliance, antitrust, and white-collar irregularities are all mainstays of ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law’s active compliance practice. On a day-to-day basis, the team provides crucial advice concerning new and updated legislation to ensure compliance and tailors programmes to protect corporations in future scenarios. Data protection and due diligence matters are also fruitful sources of work for the firm. The team’s client list includes domestic and multinational companies, including prominent social media players.”

The Legal 500 EMEA 2025, Tier 1

(1) Company suspected FCPA violations (through payments to public officials). ELIG Gürkaynak’s work on company records and correspondence proved suspicion, and proved the nature of payments to be bribery under Turkish law, and in any case exceeding what would constitute facilitating payments for FCPA purposes.

(2) Company had already found out about embezzlement. Self-dealing and unauthorized revisions in company books and records. Documents proving embezzlement were alleged to be stolen by the subsidiary. ELIG Gürkaynak coordinated all legal aspects and Turkish law consequences of the matter.

(3) Company suspected code of conduct and company policy violations, including antitrust violations and bid rigging in public tenders. ELIG Gürkaynak’s interview of employees, signed affidavits and corroborating indicia in company records proved violations. Furthermore, ELIG Gürkaynak’s findings revealed acts constituting smuggling of products into country under Turkish customs law. ELIG Gürkaynak coordinated all legal aspects and Turkish law consequences of the matter.

(4) Company suspected subsidiary employees competing with the company with commercial sales of gratuitous allocation of products, as part of a fringe benefit to all employees in the country. ELIG Gürkaynak’s work on the matter proved the suspicion. ELIG Gürkaynak coordinated all legal aspects and Turkish law consequences of the matter.

(5) Company suspected inappropriate payments to certain heads and high ranking officials of municipalities through a reported gap in the profits. Financial evidence found by auditors and legal evidence found by ELIG Gürkaynak led to managers of the company admitting the wrongdoing. ELIG Gürkaynak also provided legal assistance in the consequent process where the international company pulled out of the partnership.

(6) Company found out about numerous significant payments for services and products that are not integral to the business of the company over the course of five years. Outside detective company hired by client and their investigation revealed that the companies providing these services and products are tied to family members and friends of managers. All such managers and two BoD members terminated for cause through ELIG Gürkaynak assistance. Through the assistance of ELIG Gürkaynak, the company also intervened through General Assembly due to the need for the shareholder to compel the subsidiary to grant permission for a full blown search of company records by ELIG Gürkaynak. ELIG Gürkaynak’s full blown investigation revealed significant gifts to public officials.

(7) Company audit revealed payments to members of committees deciding on the legal categorization of the real estate owned by the joint venture of the company in Turkiye. The wrongdoing was admitted through the joint venture partner’s proposal to pay the amount to the company. The company hired ELIG Gürkaynak to conduct a due diligence on the joint venture. Corporate law assistance also provided due to the need to obtain proper permission from the joint venture company under Turkish law. All e-mails reviewed by ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys through servers. Affidavits prepared through interviews with employees. ELIG Gürkaynak coordinated all legal aspects and Turkish law consequences of the matter.

Employment Law

The team at ELIG Gürkaynak handle all types of employment law related disputes in connection with labor law litigations in Turkish courts including reemployment lawsuits and termination claims.

ELIG Gürkaynak is one of the few corporate law firms in Turkiye with a significant employment and labor law practice.

ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys advise clients in drafting employment contracts or adopting their internationally used employment contracts under Turkish Labor Law. ELIG Gürkaynak also counsels clients on their daytoday handling of employment law related matters, i.e. advising on organizing holiday entitlements, shifts or disciplinary actions. In addition, ELIG Gürkaynak works on drafting work place regulations, policies and disciplinary procedures.

ELIG Gürkaynak has extensive experience in organizing and managing employee termination procedures in accordance with the requirements of Turkish labor law legislation.

ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys also handle all types of employment law related disputes in connection with labor law litigations in Turkish courts, i.e. re-employment lawsuits, termination compensation claims and overtime payment claims.

The Turkish Code of Obligations now includes an explicit provision in accordance with international law regarding mobbing. We provide practical advice to our clients in order to assist them to implement a mobbing free environment, along with informing clients on what constitutes mobbing. When required, our firm also advises and represents its clients regarding mobbing and such claims made by a client’s employees.

In addition, ELIG Gürkaynak provides various training programmes to our clients’ human resources departments regarding employment law related matters including the Turkish Labor Code, occupational standards, labour relations, entitlements, dismissals and work place regulations.

Technology, Media & Telecommunications Law

ELIG Gürkaynak delivers tailor made strategies with a thorough understanding of existing and emerging technology mediums while also demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of legal practice.

The team at ELIG Gürkaynak is highly committed to meeting the needs of our domestic and international clients by combining our expertise in legal practice and our specialization in unique practice areas.

Our team of lawyers are at the cutting-edge of technology. ELIG Gürkaynak specialises in unique practice areas such as online and mobile payment services, software development, hardware regulations, television and radio broadcasting, and regulatory compliance for telecommunication operators.

a) IT Law

ELIG Gürkaynak identifies the needs of its clients by taking into consideration their desire for innovation while respecting the legislative landscape. The team at ELIG Gürkaynak provides strategic legal assistance driven by our clients’ business models and goals. We provide legal solutions for our clients in complex and multi-jurisdictional transactions, including:

• Drafting IT related agreements, including software and hardware related agreements, outsourcing agreements and licensing agreements.
• Analyzing workflow for possible legal issues with local legislation as well as possible intellectual property and trademark disputes and data protection irregularities.
• Analyzing regulatory compliance status of manufactured, imported and/ or exported hardware and software, and providing guidance in order to ensure a steady stream of business and operations.
• Providing comparative analysis of local legislation, international treaties, directives and agreements in order to minimize legal risks and offer our clients a better understanding of the legal landscape as well as a legal road map to help structure their business.
• Offering one stop shop legal assistance to start-up technology companies.

b) Media and Entertainment Law

Media convergence brings together computing, communication, and content, while being a direct consequence of the digitization of media content and the popularization of the internet. It transforms the long-established media industry and content “silos” and disengages content from select devices such as televisions, satellite/ cable boxes and radios. The phenomenon presents major challenges for public policy and regulation.

“ELIG Gürkaynak demonstrates a reputable practice advising prominent international technology, telecommunications and media companies on high-end Turkish matters. The law firm's expertise spans regulatory, data protection and compliance advice. It counts blue-chip technology companies and media outlets as its clients.”

Chambers Europe 2025, Top Ranked

ELIG Gürkaynak is one of the few law firms in Turkiye that is able to meet a client’s needs with respect to legal issues arising from the convergence of technologies in the media industry, along with all media and entertainment law related matters for clients who operate in a wide range of media industry. We provide legal services including:

• Representing clients before the Turkish telecommunication, broadcasting and intellectual property authorities and assisting clients in their communication with these authorities and Turkish courts at all levels.
• Providing in-depth legal analysis on content provided, hosted, broadcasted, printed and published by our clients and providing them with creative counseling services to ensure compliance with the relevant legislation as well as decisions granted by Turkish courts and authorities.
• Providing sector-specific highlevel regulatory advice and risk assessment related to media businesses and social media platforms in regards to compliance issues that may arise from the relevant legislation. We offer a range of legal counseling services providing comparative analysis of current and upcoming legislation, innovative legal solutions and our team ensures that our clients are notified when a potential legislative effort may have effects on their business.
• Drafting agreements and legal documents covering all aspects of the client’s business areas such as license agreements, talent agreements, intellectual property acquisition agreements, sponsorship agreements, production, co-production and post-production agreements, video game agreements, newspaper agreements, printing press agreements, organization agreements, promotion agreements, advertisement agreements and consulting agreements.
• Providing legal assistance regarding broadcasting and media strategies in Turkiye for international companies.

• Providing legal assistance to gaming companies, along with a complete legal review and assistance for websites, which are localized in Turkiye.
• Assisting news websites within the scope of Turkish law including but not limited to internet, advertising and media legislations.

c) Telecommunications Law

Increasing developments in the telecommunications sector introduce new legal challenges, which require multidisciplinary and expert legal solutions.

ELIG Gürkaynak provides legal advice on sector related regulatory and legal risk analysis and regulatory reporting. The team provides an increasingly important range of legal advice to our clients on a daily basis, including:

• Following up on legislative developments and reporting changes in the legal landscape.
• Identifying our clients’ business position under local and international legislation, together with a compliance analysis.
• Drafting sector specific agreements, including infrastructure outsourcing, cloud services, managed networks, mobile virtual network operation, VoIP services, and analyzing these for potential legal risks and issues under local legislation.
• Preparing and filing applications before the relevant governmental authorities.
• Legal counseling concerning administrative and technical aspects of disputes regarding the telecommunications sector.

Legal 500 EMEA: Tier 1
Media & Entertainment

Internet Law

ELIG Gürkaynak represents the world’s leading internet companies and is one of the few independent Turkish law firms with an internationally recognized Internet Law practice.

Our Internet Law practice provides advice in a range of areas including Notice and Takedown or Judiciary Decision Enforcement Assistance, regulatory counselling and internet related litigation.

We represent the world’s leading internet companies. Our Internet law practice provides advice in a range of areas including:

Regulatory Counseling:

ELIG Gürkaynak provides regulatory counseling and risk assessment services to leading Internet Service Providers, social networks, hosting providers and payper- click advertising service providers for compliance issues that arise from the relevant legislation. We offer a range of legal counseling services providing indepth and comparative analysis of current and upcoming legislation, innovative legal solutions and intuitively notify our clients when a potential legislative effort may have an impact on their business.

Notice and Takedown or Judiciary Decision Enforcement Assistance:

We provide legal assistance and comprehensive Turkish law analysis, along with review, evaluation and consistent policy oriented advice on a vast range of enforcement issues including takedown, removal and access ban requests from the courts and administrative bodies.

Internet Related Litigation:

ELIG Gürkaynak has unequalled experience and an excellent reputation in terms of Internet related litigation. We represent clients in a range of Internet related disputes, particularly user generated content hosts, online games providers and pay-per-click advertising services providers.

Our vast experience in handling disputes related to the Law on Regulation of Broadcasts via Internet and Prevention of Crimes Committed through Such Broadcasts (the “Law No.5651”) and secondary legislation offers our clients confidence and stability within their business.

Domain Name Disputes:

ELIG Gürkaynak offers legal assistance to its clients in domain name disputes and particularly advice on cybersquatting related matters. We represent clients before the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center and have solid experience and an extensive background in handling domain name disputes, particularly domain names with the ‘.tr’ extension.

Website Agreements:

We deliver hands-on legal solutions for our clients’ website related agreements, including terms and conditions of use, privacy policies, membership agreements and end-user agreements. ELIG Gürkaynak’s tailored legal assistance reflects its in-depth understanding of its clients’ goals, strategies and business models. Our highly qualified and skilled team, with top tier experience in Turkish law, guides clients through potential compliance issues without hampering their business success.

Intellectual Property on the Internet:

ELIG Gürkaynak provides legal advice in trademark and copyright infringement related disputes that arise from online content. We deliver swift and accurate legal advice where a dispute may require immediate action to ensure that our clients’ intellectual property rights remain damage free.

“ELIG Gürkaynak Attorneys-at-Law excels in handling complex projects across the technology, media, and TMT sectors, offering strong expertise in mobile payment systems, software agreements, licensing, and regulatory matters. The team is highly regarded for its extensive knowledge of data protection and privacy. Renowned litigator Gönenç Gürkaynak brings significant experience representing clients before the Constitutional and Administrative Courts.”

The Legal 500 EMEA 2025, Top Ranked

Intellectual Property

ELIG Gürkaynak assists its clients in policing the market place and taking prompt action against infringers with a successful history of prosecution of unauthorised use of trademarks in Turkiye.

ELIG Gürkaynak’s team is duly qualified in Turkiye to provide its clients with the complete range of legal services for protecting and exploiting all types of intellectual property and technology assets.

We assist our clients in the registration and protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights and industrial designs. To obtain maximum protection in Turkiye, rightholders should register their registrable intellectual property rights, so far as possible. Furthermore, registered or not, in order to properly protect the fruits of their hard work, we assist our clients with respect to all forms of infringement issues.

ELIG Gürkaynak assists its clients in policing the market place and taking prompt action against infringers. We also serve our clients in anti-piracy and anticounterfeiting campaigns. ELIG Gürkaynak has successfully prosecuted unauthorized use of various trademarks in Turkiye. Our experience involves prosecution of unauthorized registration and use of “well-known” trademarks and trademark annulment cases. In addition to our extensive experience in drafting technology transfer agreements and structuring various types of licensing arrangements, we assist our clients in legal services concerning the acquisition and use of information technology products and services.

ELIG Gürkaynak also advises on contracts for the acquisition and exploitation of computer software, databases, creative works, designs and publishing rights.

Real Estate Law

The considerable investments of ELIG Gürkaynak’s international and domestic clients in real estate matters are protected by a thorough understanding of the rather rigid and mandatory provisions of the Turkish property law.

Real estate law by definition requires a thorough knowledge of local rules and regulations.

ELIG Gürkaynak represents clients in all proceedings and transactions that deal with real property and the structures attached to it; including purchase and sale, construction, mortgages, easements, facility management, restrictive covenants, refinancings, leases, title examinations, quiet title actions and project development.

We have particular expertise in shopping center and hotel management contracts and our experience in real estate law also extends to advising on the administration of and investments concerning free trade zones and organized industrial zones.

The real estate team at ELIG Gürkaynak also provides consultation to our clients in relation to the review of zoning plan notes and compliance of utilization licenses with construction permits and zoning plans.

Banking & Finance Law

ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys represent clients in leveraged finance transactions, bankruptcy and reorganization and structured finance.

ELIG Gürkaynak assists clients in financing transactions and bankruptcy trust matters.

In particular, ELIG Gürkaynak has experience in the following aspects of banking and finance law:

Loan Agreements

In the area of bank financing, ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys participated in drafting numerous loan documentation with emphasis on leveraged finance transactions and represented agent banks in providing senior financing to a large number of borrowers operating in a variety of industries. In the area of acquisition financing, our lawyers advised banks and other lenders, as well as borrowers, on financings for acquisitions, bridge loans, working capital and general corporate purposes.

ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys have extensive experience in connection with the standards, principles, forms and requirements of international financing institutions such as OPIC, IFC and major worldwide banks. We believe this experience provides us with a unique advantage in terms of bringing a financing deal with such institutions to a smooth closing in an efficient manner.

Structured Finance

In structured finance, our attorneys advised Turkish banks and arrangers on securitization deals in Turkiye including their securitization programs structured on future cash flows.

Bankruptcy and Reorganizations

In the area of bankruptcy and reorganizations, ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys have experience in representing creditors in bankruptcy matters. ELIG Gürkaynak attorneys can assist clients, especially creditors against bankruptcy estate, in connection with structuring bankruptcy and claims against the bankruptcy estate.

Data Protection & Privacy Law

Our team is a pioneer in this field of law with an established background and significant experience in data protection and privacy. ELIG Gürkaynak actively contributes to the legislative process and the establishment of legal precedents.

ELIG Gürkaynak is one of the few Turkish law firms practicing data protection and privacy law in Turkiye.

Our team has a solid background and significant experience in this practice area, which makes us a pioneer in this field of law and enables us to actively contribute to the legislative process and the establishment of legal precedents. We are directly involved in legislative efforts in the data protection and privacy area due to our extensive knowledge on European Union legislation.

Our business oriented approach to handling issues related to data protection and privacy law enables us to successfully assist our clients in strengthening their positions against the risks incurred by data protection and privacy law related issues, while always working to ensure our client’s business remains uninterrupted.

The irrepressible development of information technology and diversity results in an inevitable increase in the amount and type of data exchanged between individuals and machines, and a change in the way and purpose in which this data is processed. The ever increasing nature of data flow and data processing leads to legal concerns regarding data protection, security, integrity and privacy. The legal framework where these concerns emerge may lag behind the developments being made in information technologies. We assist our domestic and international clients in initiating, developing and sustaining their projects and operations within the Turkish market, without focusing on the stumbling blocks. We also provide affirmative legal strategies and compliance advice in terms of data protection and privacy law.

Our team provides data protection and privacy consultancy for the information and communication technologies sector, along with insurance, retail, energy, oil and gas, transportation, financial services, commercial and professional services and media sectors on various matters including:

• Practical legal advice on data protection and privacy law matters which take into consideration all of our clients regulatory compliance challenges and advising on prospective regulations, drafting policies and agreements, and offering advice on legislation relating to the international transfer of data.
• Extensive regulatory advice on data breaches, assisting clients in risk management and compliance strategies, including offering potential litigation options related to unauthorized use and disclosure of personal information by third-parties.
• Legal advice and practical suggestions relating to data security incidents.

Anti-Dumping and Anti-Subsidy Investigations

Our experienced team works in close collaboration with international law firms and domestic and international clients to develop strategies throughout an anti-dumping investigation.

We provide efficient and rapid coordination of information flow, while developing strategies and defenses to represent the interests of our clients throughout the investigation process.

ELIG Gürkaynak has a skilled team providing legal assistance and representation to domestic and international manufacturers, importers and exporters in anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations in a variety of industries.

In close collaboration with international law firms and our clients’ domestic in-house counsel teams, ELIG Gürkaynak provides advice and coordination on anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations taking place in Türkiye and in Türkiye’s export partners including the European Union, Russia, US, UAE and Iraq, to maintain alignment on an on-going basis during the course of an investigation process.

ELIG Gürkaynak also represents international clients in domestic investigations. One of the essential missions of the Turkish General Directorate of Imports is to defend domestic producers’ interests against imports which cause serious injury to the domestic industry. With a view to protect the industry, Türkiye has developed and adopted national legislation on the prevention of unfair competition in imports. In this respect, the Turkish General Directorate of Imports is authorized to initiate investigations and apply and enforce trade defense instruments (anti-dumping and anti-subsidy) in compliance with the World Trade Organization rules and national legislation, where there is a material injury or threat of material injury and a causal link between dumped or subsidized imports and the injury.

We provide assistance and represent clients in all stages of investigations, including collecting and coordinating data to wrap up questionnaires, compile information petitions, confidentiality statements, additional petitions or information requests by the Turkish General Directorate of Imports, provide comments and opinions on the investigations, including preliminary and final determinations, review final disclosures and develop injury defense, and provide assistance on public hearings and on-site inspections.

Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Regulatory

ELIG Gürkaynak advises pharmaceutical, healthcare, medical device and life-sciences multinationals on all regulatory framework aspects.

Our growing practice offers broad industry knowledge regarding regulatory requirements and practices of Turkish healthcare institutions.

ELIG Gürkaynak provides legal consultancy to a wide range of sectors including healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical device and life-sciences companies in their day-to- day operations, regulatory issues and contracts. Our dedicated team provides legal advice to healthcare and pharmaceutical clients on matters relating to re-structuring, licensing, intellectual property, management of sector related transactions and regulatory and governmental issues.

We closely monitor developments in the Turkish regulatory environment triggered by government agencies and inform and assist our clients so that they may adapt and benefit from the changes in legal and regulatory areas.

Our team of attorneys has extensive experience with the standards, principles, forms and requirements of various Turkish healthcare institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the Medicines and Medical Devices Agency and the Social Security Institution.

The support offered by ELIG Gürkaynak extends to a wide range of areas including all aspects of the regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, pharmacies, hospitals, healthcare professionals, and pricing, promotion, labeling, safety, advertising and marketing principles of medicines and medical products. We guide our clients through numerous complex guidelines and practices of the Ministry of Health, for example, compassionate use, procurement from abroad, scientific and product promotional meetings, Good Distribution Practice (GDP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), samples, adverse effects, pharmacovigilance, clinical research and donations.

Using our renowned expertise in competition law, M&A, anti-corruption, employment, intellectual property, dispute resolution, public procurement and administrative law, we ensure our clients receive high quality legal advice and assistance throughout the entire business cycle of a life sciences and healthcare product or service.

• License Agreements,
• Toll Manufacturing Agreements,
• Confidentiality Agreements,
• Revenue Sharing Agreements,
• Subscription Agreements,
• Advertising Agreements,
• Services Agreements,
• Facility Management Agreements,
• Rental Contracts,
• Construction Agreements.