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Benan advises major foreign, domestic and multinational Fortune 500 companies on all aspects of launching and managing their daily operations in Turkey, as well as provides end-to-end advice during disputes. He specialises in supporting in-house legal teams around the world, taking the role of an external general counsel. Many of Benan’s clients are household names which he has advised for many years. He has particular experience supporting clients in the manufacturing, industrial and energy sectors.

Benan’s work revolves primarily around significant corporate transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, or joint ventures, along with corporate counselling, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution and employment issues. His experience in corporate issues is valuable during disputes, and vice versa.

Benan adopts a holistic approach, meaning that specific advice and legal strategies are developed based on strong experience in related practice areas, as well as a deep understanding of how each client operates. As a result, Benan provides pragmatic and reality-based recommendations, risk assessments and negotiation strategies. His practical approach aims to support each client’s best commercial interests while taking into account industry dynamics and specific legal risks, as well as maintains a steady focus on minimizing business interruptions.

His advice often looks beyond strict black and white legal rights and obligations, involving recommendations that consider the commercial and operational realities of operating a business in Turkey. Benan’s broad, business-focused perspective is particularly useful during disputes. It enables Benan to quickly identify the critical commercial risks, negotiation strategies, as well as potential resolution opportunities. He spends a significant portion of time focused on dispute mitigation, settlement, litigation, and enforcement work.

Benan’s broad experience in corporate and commercial law, as well as related dispute resolution, means he regularly helps clients to negotiate, structure and amend their contracts, distribution, agency and other business arrangements to suit their Turkish operations and regulatory obligations. He has particular experience assisting with agency and distributor arrangements, including restructures, terminations, as well as complex portfolio compensation lawsuits.

Benan assists with a full spectrum of issues in the energy context, including regulatory, administrative, compliance, licensing and transactional matters, primarily focused on renewables. He supports with expropriations, portfolio acquisitions, regulatory relations, along with tailored contract arrangements and share transfers. Benan has significant experience helping clients navigate energy-specific contracting approaches, such as EPC or O&M arrangements.

He has an established track record supporting sports clients in Turkey with contract and dispute-related issues, including representation before international tribunals.

ADMISSIONS

  • Istanbul Bar Association (1997)
  • Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Attorney (1997)

EDUCATION

  • LL.B. Law, Istanbul University, Faculty of Law (1996)

LANGUAGES

  • Turkish
  • English

MEMBERSHIPS

  • AmCham Turkey
  • International Bar Association
  • International Sports Lawyers Association
  • Union Internationale des Avocats
  • Turkish Industry and Business Association