Sponsored briefing: Looking to the future

Sponsored briefing: Looking to the future

Mehmet Selim Yavuz and Murat Uyanık of Yavuz Uyanık Attorney Partnership discuss how the legal market has been affected by the country’s economic climate and their expectations for areas of growth

Given Türkiye’s current economic problems including the devaluation of the currency and high inflation, how has this been affecting your firm throughout 2023 and into 2024?

Our attorney partnership has managed to grow in a delicate manner during 2023 which could be defined as one of the most economically devastating years. The exchange rate and inflation crises caused by the interest cuts of the Central Bank of Türkiye had significantly damaged Turkish Lira which deeply affected the purchasing power of our employees. We unfortunately needed to revise our rates and we adjusted our ongoing arrangements with our clients. New business opportunities have also emerged as economic problems have affected contractual relationships, which later turned into legal proceedings. Therefore, it could be stated that even with macroeconomic conditions we managed to grow our business. Unfortunately, the year 2023 did not start very well for the Turkish people and economy. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Looking to the future”

Sponsored briefing: A guide to NFT and metaverse-related trade marks

Sponsored briefing: A guide to NFT and metaverse-related trade marks

Over the past year, each of us started to become more familiar with the terms such as non-fungible tokens (NFT), blockchain, digital assets or metaverse and it is obvious that we will be using these terms even more. Despite the growing popularity of the matter, there are either no or limited regulations available on the same while the virtual world will be a host of numerous legal issues.

Although it is interpreted as possible to obtain legal protections in other legal remedies, considering the advantages of trade mark registration, it is advisable to file a trade mark application which will also be able to provide protection in the metaverse based on Article 7 of the Turkish Industrial Property Code (IPC), which prescribes as follows: ‘Trade mark protection provided by this Code shall be acquired by registration.’ Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: A guide to NFT and metaverse-related trade marks”

Sponsored briefing: Enforcement law in Türkiye: Discovering the elusive world of debt collection

Sponsored briefing: Enforcement law in Türkiye: Discovering the elusive world of debt collection

Though often perceived as neither a glamorous nor exciting field, enforcement law has been and will continue to be the somber reality all legists eventually face. Whether you’re an independent attorney successfully negotiating a favourable deal in mediation proceedings or filing a claim for compensation as an international firm representing a multinational conglomerate, sooner or later, all paths lead to enforcement, because: What happens when they refuse to pay?

Developing a firm grasp on enforcement proceedings and debt collection allows for the uncertainty of financial gain to dissipate, ensuring tangible results for both attorneys and clients. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Enforcement law in Türkiye: Discovering the elusive world of debt collection”

Sponsored briefing: Sustainable finance instruments: green bonds

Sponsored briefing: Sustainable finance instruments: green bonds

Over the last decade, considering global warming and climate change issues, one of the most significant financial innovations in the sustainable finance area has been the development of green bonds. The demand for green bonds, to a large extent, is attributable to the growing prominence of climate issues. As public and private institutions around the world are necessarily more attentive in terms of adoption of sustainable and socially responsible policies, the investors and shareholders are now more aware of the risks of climate change. Likewise, corporates are considering alternatives to create economic value while also contributing to safeguard of the future. Therefore, although sustainable financing methods were already on the rise prior to the pandemic, they are now even more significant instruments for raising funds for green and sustainable recovery projects.

European Investment Bank (EIB) and the World Bank pioneered the first green bonds, with EIB issuing its Climate Awareness Bond in 2007, as a structured bond with proceeds dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and the World Bank issuing its first green bond in 2008 to raise funds from fixed-income investors to support lending for eligible climate-focused projects. Since then, the market for green bonds has grown considerably. According to a report by Climate Bonds Initiative, annual green bond issuance topped half a trillion in 2021 for the first time, which represented a 75% increase on prior year volumes. Recently, green bonds have been issued by issuers in more than 50 countries and the United States of America has the largest source of green bonds. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Sustainable finance instruments: green bonds”

Sponsored briefing: Interview with Mustafa Yelligedik, legal affairs president at AG Anadolu Grubu Holding

Sponsored briefing: Interview with Mustafa Yelligedik,  legal affairs president at AG Anadolu Grubu Holding

AG Anadolu Grubu Holding AŞ (Anadolu Group) has more than 80,000 employees working in approximately 80 group companies operating in 19 countries across a variety of sectors (eg, beer, soft drink, retail, agriculture, automotive, energy, fast food and stationery). These include Anadolu Efes, the fifth-largest brewery in Europe and 11th in the world, and Migros, one of Türkiye’s largest supermarket chains, as well as Coca-Cola’s Turkish operations.

What was it that made you want to become a lawyer? Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Interview with Mustafa Yelligedik, legal affairs president at AG Anadolu Grubu Holding”

Sponsor message: A new age begins for Moral as Moral | Kınıkoğlu | Pamukkale | Kökenek

Sponsor message: A new age begins for Moral as Moral | Kınıkoğlu | Pamukkale | Kökenek

We are thrilled to announce that our firm will officially be transforming from Moral & Partners to Moral | Kınıkoğlu | Pamukkale | Kökenek, an attorney partnership, as of July 1, 2022. Founded in 1968, Moral has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2013 and has grown into one of the preeminent law firms in Turkey. With the efforts of 70 + professionals, Moral now streering the legal market in Turkey. This could not have been achieved without the confidence of our esteemed clients in us and our dedicated team – thank you all.

A new age begins. We will now be providing legal services as Moral | Kınıkoğlu | Pamukkale | Kökenek Attorney Partnership. Building on our legacy since 1968, we will carry the firm into the future using our well-established, highest quality services combined with a proven, new generation approach. We will do our best to ensure a sustainable future for our team and clients. Continue reading “Sponsor message: A new age begins for Moral as Moral | Kınıkoğlu | Pamukkale | Kökenek”

Turkey focus: Chronology of a crisis

Turkey focus: Chronology of a crisis

Turkey is still defined as an emerging market economy; over the last 20 years, it established itself increasingly among the top-25 global markets, but could not maintain this upward trend in recent times. Recently, it has had to face a currency crisis due to the Turkish lira decreasing dramatically in value. At the same time, inflation levels are skyrocketing, which is especially reflected in high prices for food and drink. Adding a global pandemic to the mix is certainly another spanner in the works, but according to Osman Ertürk Özel, managing partner at ÖZEL Attorney Consultancy: ‘The economic recession in Turkey existed a year before the beginning of Covid. It just made this situation obvious. Serious fluctuations in currency along with over 100% inflation rate have deepened the existing economic crisis. This has caused a disruption in all kinds of production in the markets. The fact that banks kept up the markets through loans has greatly disrupted the balance.’

To blame for this development, at least in part, is Turkey’s president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. His name has dominated the Turkish political scene for a long time. In 2001, his party AKP (Justice and Development Party) was created, and it quickly rose to power. Even though Turkey’s constitution established the country to be a secular state, AKP is traditionally favoured by religious conservatives and is in western media often referred to as a (mildly or reformed) Islamist party. At the same time, the party pursued a pro-liberal market economy and is keen to join the European Union. It seemed to be the recipe for victory: only a year after its formation, it had a sweeping success in the 2002 election, gaining an outright majority in parliament. After having a moderate stronghold over the political landscape for several elections, Erdoğan finally became president in 2014. However, only five years later, local elections marked the beginning of the end for the current leader. He and his party lost significant footing in major Turkish cities due to accusations of mismanagement of the Turkish economic crisis, its shortcomings during the Syrian refugee crisis as well as rising authoritarianism. After year-long rule, AKP also lost all support with Turkey’s largest ethnic majority, the Kurds. Officially, 2023 is a year for new elections and opposition parties are gearing up for it, but Erdoğan is doing everything he can to hold on to power. Continue reading “Turkey focus: Chronology of a crisis”

Sponsored briefing: Q&A with ASC Law’s senior management

Sponsored briefing: Q&A with ASC Law’s senior management

What do you consider are the biggest achievements of ASC Law since being founded 21 years ago? (MA, ZC, OB)

Murat Aksu (MA): I think I can speak for all of us in that we are all thrilled, 20 years on, by what we have built. All three of us had been working for large organisations before we started ASC Law, and we all dreamed of starting our own business. And here we are. From just a handful of lawyers in 2001, ASC Law now has more than 70 lawyers, with total staff of some 170. It is now one of the top five largest law firms in Turkey. Continue reading “Sponsored briefing: Q&A with ASC Law’s senior management”