Partners

Murat KARKIN

Co-managing Partner

Mr. Murat Karkın is a co-managing partner at Karkın & Yüksel.

Mr. Karkın’s practice focuses on litigation and dispute resolution, pharmaceuticals, intellectual property, real estate, employment, maritime, international trade and European Union. Mr. Karkın represents international clients in major commercial, administrative and criminal cases before all degrees of courts in Turkey. He provides legal advice to clients on the necessities for all their day to day business activities.

He earned his LL.M. degree at the University of Leicester, England in European/International Trade Law in 2001. He also completed another LL.M. degree at Istanbul University School of Law in European Union Law in 1999. He graduated from Istanbul University School of Law in 1994.

He is a member of Istanbul Bar Association. He speaks fluent English.
Mr. Karkın was admitted to practice in 1995.

Education

University of Leicester, European Law and International Trade Law, LL.M., 2001
Istanbul University, European Union Law, LL.M., 1999
Istanbul University, Faculty of Law, BA, 1994

Languages

Turkish, English

What they are saying

According to sources, practice head Murat Karkın is “a strategic thinker who takes the initiative to get things done in a timely manner. He really comes up with great solutions to our problems.” He is praised for his high-end litigation and arbitration expertise, acting for multinational corporations and Turkish clients on a range of matters.
(Chambers and Partners, 2016)

Murat Karkın is a market-leading dispute resolution practitioner, whom clients consider “very knowledgeable, a strategic thinker, a quick decision maker and very persuasive.”
(Chambers and Partners, 2015)

The “knowledgeable, confident and strategically minded” Murat Karkın garners praise from across the market for his role in high-profile litigation and arbitration. He heads the dispute resolution department, and clients commend his “excellent” representation of them in court.
(Chambers and Partners, 2014)

Department head Murat Karkın instils trust in his clients through his calm and confident demeanour, say interviewees. He acted as party representative on several ICC arbitrations and has also been busy with commercial litigation.
(Chambers and Partners, 2013)

Band 1 in Dispute Resolution– Chambers & Partners, 2016

Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution– Legal500, 2016

Band 1 in Dispute Resolution– Chambers & Partners, 2015

Leading Individual in Dispute Resolution – Legal500, 2015

Cüneyt YÜKSEL

Co-managing Partner

Mr. Cüneyt Yüksel is a co-managing partner at Karkın & Yüksel.

Mr. Yüksel’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, privatizations and energy. Mr. Yüksel also holds extensive experience in arbitration and has represented multinational clients in major international arbitration cases. He has seconded in a major international law firm in the U.S. concerning a substantial cross-border litigation case before.

Mr. Yüksel was an International Law lecturer at Istanbul University School of Law between 1996 and 1998.

He earned his LL.M degree at the University of Leicester, England in European/International Trade Law in 1996. He graduated from Istanbul University School of Law in 1994.

He is a member of Istanbul Bar Association.

He speaks fluent English.

Mr. Yüksel was admitted to practice in 1996.

Education

University of Leicester, European Law and International Trade Law, LL.M., 1996
Istanbul University, Faculty of Law, BA, 1994

Languages

Turkish, English

What they are saying

Corporate and M&A head Cüneyt Yüksel is active on a range of the most significant cross-border and domestic corporate transactions in Turkey, and comes described as “a consummate deal maker” and “the best Turkish legal negotiator I have seen.” Sources note his “understanding of the client’s perspective and good handle on his team. He is always ready to make all resources available towards anything that the client requires.”
(Chambers and Partners, 2016)

Clients consider Cüneyt Yüksel “by far one of the best Turkish corporate lawyers, with an extremely commercial and to-the-point attitude.” Another interviewee adds: “He is very experienced and has strong social skills and persuasive abilities.”
(Chambers and Partners, 2015)

According to interviewees, Cüneyt Yüksel has “deep knowledge of the Turkish legal system, and an understanding of his clients’ needs,” in addition to “perfect negotiation skills.” He has particular strength in advising domestic and global energy clients on corporate and transactional matters.
(Chambers and Partners, 2015)

Group head Cüneyt Yüksel rises to the top band, following another year of acting on many leading M&A transactions in the Turkish market. He is valued by clients as being “smart, high-quality and committed.”
(Chambers and Partners, 2014)

Co-managing partner Cüneyt Yüksel is particularly appreciated for his “deep knowledge of the Turkish legal system, and ability to quickly understand his client’s needs.”
(Chambers and Partners, 2014)

Band 1 in Corporate/M&A– Chambers & Partners, 2016

Leading Individual in Corporate/M&A– Legal500, 2016

Band 1 in Corporate/M&A– Chambers & Partners, 2015

Leading Individual in Corporate/M&A– Legal500, 2015