‘Among the standout financing firms’, Bezen & Partners is a popular choice for multilateral development banks, with the EBRD and Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank among its representative clients. The group also acts for project owners and borrowers, with strong recent experience in the energy and natural resources, infrastructure and real estate spheres. UK-qualified founding partner Yeşim Bezen is recognised for her expertise in banking, structured finance and project finance transactions and co-heads the department alongside fellow transactional specialist Banu Bölükemini. Aykut Bakırcı spearheads the regulatory side of the practice.

Highlighted for its ‘exceptional expertise and experience in projects’, Çakmak Attorney Partnership is widely revered as a force in the market. Equally adept at representing lenders and sponsors, the group packs a punch across the full projects life cycle, from development and construction, through to financing and dispute resolution. Mesut Çakmak is a go-to expert for large-scale projects and co-heads the group together with energy and infrastructure specialists Mustafa Durakoğlu and Zeynep Çakmak. The deep bench also draws on Gökhan Okan, who joined in February 2023 from Verdi Hukuk Bürosu, next-generation partner Ayşe Eda Biçer Özen, and associate Nazli Başak Ayık.

CIFTCI Attorney Partnership in association with Clifford Chance houses a dominant projects group, which routinely advises on sophisticated, often cross-border, projects in the infrastructure, healthcare, and energy and natural resources spheres. Particularly acclaimed for its finance prowess, the group additionally represents an impressive roster of government bodies, sponsors, investors and others on project development, secondary market transactions, and energy trading matters. Next-generation partner Sait Eryılmaz ‘effectively finds solutions’ and heads a group that also includes talented counsel Gökçe Uzun. Also providing support are associates Başar Kırka, Ali Can Altıparmak and Pelinsu Demircan.

Noted for its illustrious record in large-scale projects, Hergüner Bilgen Üçer Attorney Partnership has a hand in many of the country’s most high-profile matters. Most notably, firm co-founder Ümit Hergüner is leading the projects advice to South Stream Transport on the region-shaping TurkStream pipeline, which will connect Russian natural gas reserves to Turkey and to Europe. Other key names include managing partner Senem Denktaş, who specialises in PPPs; transactional banking and finance head Piraye Kuranel Başol; and projects and infrastructure partner Aslı Budak. Finance-focused senior associate Sertaç Coşgun recently joined from Güner Law Office.

‘Swift, responsive and easily accessible’, ASC Law Office’s project finance and infrastructure investments group specialises in representing debtors, sponsors and lenders across all core energy and infrastructure sectors. The team’s robust position in the area was recently evidenced by its takeover of Istanbul Grand Airport’s entire legal portfolio. Co-founding partner Okan Beygo steers the practice with strong support from increasingly prominent banking and finance specialist Levent Yetkil and finance partner Fulya Sert Topçu.

Founded in 2016, Ergün Avukatlik Bürosu has quickly established itself as a key player in the field on the back of its ‘extensive knowledge of the project finance market in Turkey’. Distinguished by its close relationships with a broad range of lenders, government entities, project companies and investors, the group contributes particularly strong experience in the energy, transportation and healthcare spheres. Çağdaş Evrim Ergün is widely regarded as a leader for projects and PPP work and co-heads the practice alongside managing partner Burcu Baltacıoğlu.

As evidenced by its multinational client list, Esin Attorney Partnership, Member Firm of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein’s team forms a key part of the wider firm’s global projects offering. The group acts for an array of domestic and international lenders and energy, mining and infrastructure companies on the full scope of related work, including project development, financing and operational matters. Muhsin Keskin spearheads the overarching banking and finance department. Finance specialist Simon Morgan recently relocated from Baker McKenzie‘s Moscow office. Since publication, Nigar Gökmen left the firm.

GKC Partners (in professional association with White & Case)’s projects group impresses sources with its ability to provide ‘great commercial contributions’. Striking a balance between lender and sponsor-side mandates, the team’s recent experience spans the transportation, healthcare, and energy and natural resources sectors. Managing partner Güniz Gökçe anchors the practice and is noted for her particular expertise in cross-border financings. The group also includes up-and-coming projects specialist Ateş Turnaoğlu, banking and finance partner Gökçe Uluç and senior associate Baran Abur.

KILINÇ LAW & CONSULTING houses a broad projects and infrastructure practice that covers a wide mix of energy law, project finance, capital markets and M&A-related matters. The three-partner group is particularly noted for its close relationship with Arz Venture Capital Investment Fund, for which it has undertaken several projects over the past year. Key contacts include founding partner Levent Lezgin Kılınç; M&A and projects head Seray Özsoy Yavuz; maritime specialist Duygu Doğan Şahiner; and senior associate Gülenay Çapkınoğlu Kavcar.

The increasingly prominent team at ÖzmenYalçin has made significant inroads into the market since its establishment in March 2022. Acting for a mix of financial institutions and borrowers on project finance matters, the group has notched up a particularly strong run of involvement in energy projects. The team is led jointly by Ömer Gökhan Özmen, who specialises in banking, finance and corporate work, and Güneş Yalçın, who has an emphasis on banking, finance and capital markets law. Next-generation partner Damla Keskin Şerbetcioğlu is also recommended.

Lawyers at Paksoy strike the right note with their ‘excellent industry knowledge’. The team is well-equipped to handle energy and natural resources work, while it also advises on infrastructure-related matters, including airports, roads and healthcare projects. Sera Somay brings to bear extensive expertise in banking and finance, projects, and energy and natural resources – she notably heads all three practices. Counsel Zekican Samlı, who specialises in energy, infrastructure, PPPs and construction, provides support.

Balcioglu Selçuk Ardiyok Keki‘s projects practice leverages the wider firm’s top-tier banking and finance offering to specialise in representing lenders in project finance matters – though it also acts for borrowers. A trio of lawyers jointly steer the practice: Barlas Balcioğlu, who anchors the real estate, energy, and banking and finance teams; Günhan Yalçın, who specialises in debt finance; and Burcu Boso, who handles project finance, acquisition finance and ship finance, among other areas. Counsel Ceyda Aydın and senior associate Ceren Akkur Bayram provide support.

An energy powerhouse, Boden Law is noted for its track record in projects within the power, oil and gas, and mining and minerals spheres. The group predominantly acts for energy and construction companies, with significant experience in cross-border projects. The practice is co-led by energy and arbitration specialist Değer Boden; technology and arbitration partner Sinem Mermer; and İnanç Akalın, who focuses on real estate.

Drawing on its banking, real estate and corporate teams, DURUKAN+PARTNERS’ projects group demonstrates a recent focus on hotel development. It also contributes experience in energy and infrastructure-related matters. Corporate and finance partner Begüm Durukan Özaydin co-heads the department together with Hikmet Fadillioğlu, whose broad practice encompasses corporate transactions and real estate law.

Erdem & Erdem Law Office’s projects team enjoys a close relationship with glass producer Türkiye Şişe ve Cam Fabrikaları, but also brings experience in representing credit providers, joint venture partners and contractors on projects-related matters. Firm founder Ercüment Erdem jointly steers the practice alongside corporate and finance partner Ozgur Kocabasoglu. Managing associate Didem Adlığ provides support.

At Gen Temizer, Ömer Erdoğan is noted for his broad projects and finance experience, which spans matters in the energy, mining and infrastructure sectors. Since publication, Edmund Emre Özer left the firm.

Goksu Safi Isik Attorney Partnership is primarily active in representing sponsors and project companies on projects-related work, including bond offerings and finance transactions. Fatma Gozde Kardes is well versed across a range of project development, project financing, banking and capital markets matters. Kardes co-heads the group together with commercial, corporate and structured finance partner Ali Sefa Turkmen, who has a focus on energy and emerging markets.

Construction-related matters feature among Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli’s recent work, with the team also offering experience in advising energy and infrastructure companies on public procurement, project finance and administrative law issues. Okan Demirkan co-heads the energy and infrastructure group, as well as leading the dispute resolution team, and has a significant regulatory dimension to his practice. The department also draws on energy and infrastructure co-head Melis Öget Koç, real estate partner Serhan Koçaklı and managing partner Umut Kolcuoğlu.

Regulatory stalwart Lexist Law Firm specialises in advising on projects involving highly regulated industries, including energy, transport and healthcare. The group is also active in privatisation transactions, where it is currently advising the Turkish Privatisation Administration on the privatisation of three port assets. Murat Erbilen spearheads a group that includes co-founding partner Eyüp Kul, as well as Mesut Kaya, who focuses on energy, PPPs and privatisation work.

Over the past year, Tunc Firat Dereli Attorney Partnership advised a range of mining and energy companies, contractors and lenders on project financing transactions. Alongside its activity in traditional energy and infrastructure financings, the group also stands out for its experience in Islamic financing structures. Zeynel Tunç focuses on energy, infrastructure, mining and construction-related work and co-heads the department alongside energy and finance partner Nazlı Dereli Oba. Bengü Coşkun is also noted.

Yazici Attorney Partnership had a hand in several major projects during 2022/23, including advising on complex nuclear and mining matters. Equally equipped to represent lenders and borrowers, the group is additionally distinguished by its international expertise. The department is led jointly by Ankara-based energy and natural resources specialist Kerem Arıç, who is dual-qualified in Turkey and Switzerland, and Istanbul-based Ayşe Yazıcı Adanır, who is dual-qualified in Turkey and New York. Ankara-based construction partner Ceren Ak Güngör is also recommended.