Now in its  ninth edition, the legal handbook introduces Türkiye  to the global business community and provides key information about the current economic outlook, investment climate and general business framework of Türkiye. Intended both for investors entering the market and those seeking to expand their presence, this publication provides an outline of the principal legal tenets of Türkiye's corporate and investment environment, and seeks to aid businesses in understanding and navigating the Turkish market.

All information in this publication is current as of January 2024.

Norton Rose Fulbright extends its thanks to Gamze Şulen and other members of its Istanbul team for their valuable contributions to the preparation of this publication. Pekin Bayar Mizrahi extends its thanks to Alp Yılmaz Çelenk, Aslı Kucuroğlu Alkan, Deniz Altınay, Duygu Özmen, Fatoş Otcuoğlu, Ferhat Pekin, Galya Kohen Benbanaste, Hande Alp, Maral Celepyan Avşar, Utku Ünver, Özer Arda and Senem Gölge Yalçın.

Norton Rose Fulbright and Pekin Bayar Mizrahi have a professional alliance to provide clients with access to top-tier cross-border legal consulting and Turkish law advice. Norton Rose Fulbright’s global network of international lawyers collaborate seamlessly with Pekin Bayar Mizrahi lawyers to counsel international and domestic clients on complex business transactions covering a variety of issues, including corporate, M&A, securities, banking and finance, capital markets, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution work.

Norton Rose Fulbright has been active in the Turkish market for more than 25 years and opened its Istanbul office in 2011. Norton Rose Fulbright provides a full scope of legal services to the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions. The global law firm has more than 3,000 lawyers advising clients across more than 50 locations worldwide, including Houston, New York, London, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg, covering the United States, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. Norton Rose Fulbright ranks first in Chambers Global 2023, among all law firms, in the guide’s global-wide practice rankings. The firm is ranked 21st in the 2023 American Lawyer Global 200 and 16th in the Am Law 200.

Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including Istanbul, London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. 

Pekin Bayar Mizrahi is one of the oldest and largest law firms in Türkiye. Established in 1946, Pekin Bayar Mizrahi is a full service law firm that has been advising clients globally on matters of Turkish law for more than 75 years. With  approximately 35 lawyers, the firm is led by Selin Bayar and leading disputes partner Ergin Mizrahi.
 
Chambers Global 2023 recognizes Pekin Bayar Mizrahi as a leading Corporate/M&A firm in Türkiye, while The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa 2023 ranks the firm as a leader in Türkiye in these areas: banking, finance and capital markets; dispute resolution; and commercial, corporate and M&A. 


Introduction

  • Introduction
  • An overview: geography and population
  • Economic overview
  • Legal system

Read


Corporate environment

  • Corporate environment
  • Corporate structures
  • Fiduciary duties
  • Accounting and audit
  • Minority rights
  • Termination

Read


Protection of foreign investments

  • Protection of foreign investments
  • Domestic legislation on foreign investment
  • International treaties
  • International dispute resolution
  • Istanbul Arbitration Centre (ISTAC)

Read


Property rights

  • Property rights
  • Acquisition of title and ownership rights
  • Non-ownership rights to property
  • Intellectual property

Read


Banking and finance

  • Banking and finance
  • Banks
  • Available financing structures
  • Security and collateral
  • Enforcement of security interests
  • Foreign exchange control
  • Hedging and derivatives
  • Costs of financing

Read


Capital markets

  • Capital markets
  • Regulatory framework
  • Offering of securities
  • Trading of securities
  • Disclosure requirements
  • Corporate governance requirements
  • Crowdfunding
  • Capital markets activities

Read


Financial insolvency and restructuring

  • Financial insolvency and restructuring
  • Financial restructuring (finansal yeniden yapılandırma)
  • Concordat (konkordato)
  • Bankruptcy (iflas)
  • Restructuring through consensus (uzlaşma yoluyla yeniden yapılandırma)

Read


Environmental law

  • Sanctions
  • Environmental permits and assessments

Read


Labor law

  • Labor law
  • Elements of employment
  • Termination of employment
  • Subcontracting
  • Transfer of business by the employer
  • Unions and collective bargaining agreements
  • Temporary employment
  • Remote employment
  • Work health and safety
  • Employment of foreigners

Read


Competition law

  • Competition law
  • Prohibited actions and exemptions
  • Abuse of a dominant position
  • Merger and acquisition transactions; prior approvals
  • Clearances
  • Investigations and complaints

Read


Anti-corruption

  • Anti-corruption

Read


Data protection

  • Data protection

Read


Environmental, social and governance (ESG)

  • Environmental, social and governance (ESG)

Read


Sector highlights

Appendix: Table of defined terms

lighted bridge over water at night time

Inside Türkiye



作者

Global Head of Corporate, M&A and Securities

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest legal news, information and events . . .