Istanbul, Turkey Finance, M&A, Energy, Privatization, Arbitration & Litigation Law Firm

Bezen & Partners

Eski Büyükdere Caddesi No: 14
Park Plaza, Floor: 12 No: 29, Maslak
Istanbul 34398
Turkey

+90 212 366 6868

+90 212 345 1026

www.bezenpartners.com

Contact Mrs. Yesim Bezen

Law Firm Overview

Bezen & Partners is a full-service independent law firm providing legal services to domestic and international clients. Its partners have extensive experience in complex-cross-border transactions, gained through their employment in the London and Moscow offices of “Magic Circle” law firms and Turkish governmental authorities (i.e. the Turkish Privatization Administration).

The firm advises financiers, large to mid-sized corporations, private equity funds, investors, property owners and governmental entities. The Lawyer ranked the firm as Law Firm of the Year in Turkey for 2011.

Year this Office was Established: 2007

Languages: English, French, German, Turkish.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Public Procurement Law; Incentive Certificates; Infrastructure Law; Leveraged Finance; Industrial Property; Investment Property.

Practice Areas Description

Bezen & Partners provides advice to domestic and international clients on all aspects of finance law, corporate law, litigation and arbitration law. Our firm focuses on the following practice areas:

- Antitrust & Competition

Our firm offers a broad range of competition services, including advice on:

i) proposed mergers and acquisitions and on the likely treatment of such mergers and acquisitions
ii) restrictive agreements, and
iii) abuse of dominant position

We also assist clients in organizing and filing notifications with and obtaining clearance from the Competition Authority as well as in defending clients in merger investigations and antitrust & competition litigation.

- Finance

The firm advises on acquisition and leveraged finance, asset and structured finance, banking, debt restructuring, project finance and PPPs. Experience includes advising domestic borrowers on syndicated loans, domestic sponsors on project finance, and international financiers and lessors on asset financing /financial leasing. The firm has recently advised lenders in a US$1 billion secured financing for the restructuring of the debts of a major petroleum group. The firm also advised a non-domestic entity on US$200 million financing and an international financial institution on numerous financings for domestic borrowers and/or sponsors. Corporate International ranks the firm as the Best Projects Finance Law Firm in Turkey for 2011.

- Capital Markets

The firm assists in primary and secondary market transactions. It advises on IPOs and secondary offerings, derivatives transactions, regulatory, corporate governance and compliance matters. The firm’s experience includes advising a domestic petroleum company on numerous derivatives transactions.

- Energy

The firm advises the sponsors of the US$22 billion Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant. It regularly assists clients with obtaining licenses and the expropriation of land. It also assists in the financing and development of power projects, including acquisitions and sales, the development, construction, operation and restructuring of generation facilities, pipelines and gas storage facilities. The firm also focuses on renewable energy and has advised on the 135MW Osmaniye wind farm, the largest in Turkey to date. The firm has also recently advised a Turkish shareholder of a Bulgarian energy company on the development, construction and financing of a solar power plant project in Bulgaria. Corporate International ranked the firm as the Best Energy Law Firm in Turkey for 2010.

- Infrastructure

The firm advises on the development, restructuring, financing and construction of infrastructure projects in Turkey. It has experience in a range of infrastructure, such as procurement processes, concession agreements, engineering/construction contracts, and regulatory matters. The firm advised a subcontractor on the US$4.1 billion Marmaray Mass Transit project and a South African banking group on the financing, development, operation and maintenance of three Macedonian airports by a Turkish entity.

- Privatization

The firm advises on the privatization of state-owned companies and assets. The department is headed by the former head of the Turkish Privatization Administration, Aykut Bakirci, and so the firm’s lawyers have detailed knowledge of the privatization procedure and are also experienced in working with the responsible officials. The firm’s recent experience includes the privatization and financing of nine power plants, the largest in the electricity generation sector to date.

- Mergers and Acquisitions

The firm assists in complex cross-border M&A, including share sales/transfer of business assets, establishment of joint ventures, strategic investments and restructurings. The firm advises international clients on the acquisition of domestic and non-domestic companies, assists them in conducting due diligence and successfully negotiating and implementing the acquisition. The firm recently advised a Russian energy giant on the acquisition of an entire HEPP Portfolio (21 HEPPs) of a Turkish conglomerate, and an international renewable energy company on its acquisition and disposal program. The firm has also advised the management of a non-domestic media group in connection with the sale by the majority shareholder of its interest. Acquisition International ranks the firm as the M&A Law Firm in Turkey for 2011.

- Corporate and Commercial

The firm’s service ranges from company formations to the on-going matters of existing companies. The firm also provides advice to clients on multinational joint ventures, such as procurement received by joint ventures under the Public Procurement Law, TOR, BOT, BOO projects handled by joint ventures and obtaining the relevant licenses and incentive certificates for joint ventures. The firm has advised an entity in the automotive industry in relation to a corporate restructuring process including advice in relation to a shareholders agreement and project management companies on their investments in Turkey.

- Real Estate

The firm advises on commercial property, including industrial, investment, office, retail, shopping centres, healthcare, hotels and land for commercial use. It advises on buying, leasing, renting and selling commercial property (including the planning, financing and development of large-scale sites). The firm also assists in commercial property disputes.

- Dispute Resolution

In arbitration, the firm assists clients in drafting arbitration clauses/agreements, initiating proceedings and enforcing arbitral awards in the Turkish courts. The firm has particular expertise in insurance arbitration. Serdar Bezen is a listed arbitrator at the London Court of International Arbitration. In litigation, it assists clients in any proceedings before the Turkish courts. The firm is advising an international bank on the misappropriation of gold bullions and has recently advised a non-domestic finance institution on the enforceability of a foreign costs award.

Affiliations

International Bar Association
London Court of International Arbitration
International Chamber of Commerce
Law Society's International Division

Lawyers

	Mr. Aykut Bakirci Lawyer Administrative Law, Construction Law, Energy, Environmental Law, Government Contracts		Mr. Serdar Bezen Lawyer Banking and Finance, Business Law, Commercial Law, Contracts, Corporate Governance
	Mrs. Yesim Bezen Lawyer Banking and Finance, Banking Law, Construction Law, Energy, Finance		Mrs. Nadia Cansun Lawyer Business Formation, Commercial Law, Contracts, Corporate Finance, Corporate Governance