Running a company in Turkey means dealing with the Turkish Commercial Code, contracts, employees, regulators and, sooner or later, disputes. A company lawyer in Istanbul helps you handle these issues before they become costly. This page explains what a corporate lawyer in Turkey does for an existing business, which services we provide to local and foreign-owned companies, and how our ongoing legal support works.
What Does a Company Lawyer Do?
A company lawyer advises a business throughout its life: drafting and negotiating contracts, keeping corporate records and decisions compliant, protecting the company in disputes and helping management make legally sound decisions. In Turkey, this work is governed mainly by the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102, the Code of Obligations No. 6098, the Labour Code, data protection law (KVKK) and sector-specific regulations.
If you have not yet set up your company, our guide on company formation in Turkey for foreigners explains the registration process step by step. This page focuses on legal support after registration.
Our Corporate and Commercial Legal Services
Commercial Contracts
We draft, review and negotiate the contracts your business relies on: supply and distribution agreements, service and agency contracts, sales and purchase agreements, leases, franchise and licence agreements, NDAs and shareholder agreements. As a contract lawyer in Istanbul, we pay particular attention to governing law, jurisdiction and arbitration clauses, penalty clauses and termination rights, which are frequent sources of dispute in cross-border deals.
Corporate Governance and Compliance
- preparing and registering general assembly and board resolutions,
- capital increases and decreases, including adjustment to the minimum capital amounts,
- share transfers in limited and joint stock companies,
- changes of managers, address and articles of association,
- data protection (KVKK) compliance, employment contracts and workplace policies.
Shareholder and Partnership Disputes
Disputes between partners are among the most damaging problems a company can face. We advise on and litigate shareholder disputes in Turkey, including challenges to general assembly resolutions, exclusion of partners, withdrawal for just cause, liability claims against managers and dissolution cases.
Commercial Disputes and Mandatory Mediation
Since 2019, mediation has been a mandatory pre-condition for commercial claims for payment of money (Article 5/A of the Turkish Commercial Code). As a commercial lawyer in Istanbul who is also a registered mediator, we handle the mediation stage strategically and, if no settlement is reached, represent your company before the commercial courts of first instance, enforcement offices and arbitration tribunals.
Mergers, Acquisitions and Investments
We conduct legal due diligence, prepare share and asset purchase agreements and support investors entering or expanding in the Turkish market.
Ongoing Legal Support for Businesses
Many companies prefer a fixed monthly arrangement instead of paying case by case. Under a retainer, your business lawyer in Turkey reviews contracts, answers day-to-day legal questions, monitors deadlines and registry obligations and is your first point of contact when a problem arises. The scope and fee are agreed in writing in advance.
Who We Work With
- foreign-owned companies and branches operating in Turkey,
- Turkish small and medium-sized businesses,
- start-ups and technology companies,
- foreign investors and their Turkish subsidiaries,
- individual shareholders and managers in disputes.
Why Work with Our Corporate Lawyer in Istanbul?
- Bilingual service: we work in English and Turkish, and prepare bilingual contracts where needed.
- Litigation and mediation in one office: our lawyer is also a registered mediator, which helps resolve commercial disputes faster.
- Practical advice: we focus on what your business needs to decide, not on legal theory.
- Remote work: most matters can be handled online and under a power of attorney.
Contact our corporate lawyer in Istanbul for a free short preliminary consultation. Related area: Legal Consultancy.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does my company in Turkey need a lawyer?
Not by law for every company, but under Article 35 of Attorneys’ Act No. 1136, joint stock companies whose share capital is at least five times the minimum set in Article 272 of the Turkish Commercial Code (currently 1,250,000 TL or more), and building cooperatives with 100 or more members, must retain a contracted lawyer. Companies that do not comply face an administrative fine for each month without a contracted lawyer. In practice, most companies benefit from having a lawyer review contracts and corporate decisions.
2. What is the difference between a company lawyer and an accountant?
An accountant handles bookkeeping and tax filings. A company lawyer handles contracts, corporate decisions, disputes and legal compliance. The two work together but do not replace each other.
3. Is mediation mandatory in commercial disputes in Turkey?
Yes, for commercial claims for payment of money or compensation, mediation is mandatory before filing a lawsuit.
4. Can you represent a foreign company in Turkish courts?
Yes. With a power of attorney issued abroad (apostilled and translated) or at a Turkish consulate, we can represent foreign companies before Turkish courts, enforcement offices and authorities.
5. How are company lawyer fees calculated?
Either per matter or as a fixed monthly retainer, depending on your needs. Fees cannot be lower than the minimum fee tariff of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. We provide a written proposal in advance.
6. Can a shareholder be forced out of a limited company?
A partner of a limited company can be excluded by court decision for just cause, or by a general assembly resolution if the articles of association provide for it. Each case needs careful legal assessment.
7. How do I transfer shares in a Turkish company?
In a limited company, share transfers require a written agreement with notarised signatures and general assembly approval, followed by registration. In a joint stock company, the transfer depends on the type of shares and any restrictions in the articles of association.
8. Do you help companies that are already registered?
Yes. This is our main focus on this page: ongoing legal support, contracts, corporate changes and disputes for companies already operating in Turkey.