Onur ÇALIŞICI
Managing Partner
Corporate, Commercial, Real Estate & Citizenship
Istanbul · Türkiye — Counsel for Foreigners & Investors
Full-Service English Speaking
Law Firm in Istanbul
We act for foreigners, expats and investors across Türkiye — property, citizenship, company and criminal matters. In English, and usually without you having to fly here.
- Working in English & Türkçe
- Remote Power of Attorney
- Kağıthane, İstanbul
- Istanbul Bar Association
Recognized in National Media
Registered at Istanbul Bar Association
Member of Union of Turkish Bar AssociationsPractice
What we handle
Turkish Citizenship & Residency
Citizenship by investment from a $400,000 property or $500,000 bank deposit — plus residence permits, work permits and family reunification for expats.
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Corporate & Commercial Law
LLC, JSC and branch office setup, shareholders’ agreements, M&A and cross-border structuring through our Lexin Legal network.
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Recognition & Enforcement
Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, divorce decrees and arbitral awards under Law No. 5718 and the New York Convention.
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Real Estate & Property Law
Land Registry (Tapu) due diligence, bilingual purchase contracts and representation at title deed transfer for foreign buyers.
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Criminal Defense
Same-day response at police stations, prosecutor interviews and Criminal Courts of Peace — fraud, cybercrime and white-collar matters.
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Family & Divorce Law
Contested and uncontested divorce, child custody under the Hague Convention, alimony and division of matrimonial property.
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Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Debt recovery through Turkish enforcement offices (İcra), contract and shareholder disputes, mediation and ICC/ISTAC arbitration.
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Inheritance & Wills
Notarised Turkish wills, inheritance certificates (veraset ilamı) and cross-border estate administration for foreign asset holders.
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The people on your file
Four lawyers, not a call centre. The partner who replies to your first message is the one who runs the file and the one who stands up in court.
Oruç AYGÜN
Founding Partner
Criminal Defense, Enforcement & Fraud
Enes SOYSAL
Attorney
International Divorce & Inheritance
Lokman AYGÜN
Trainee Lawyer
Litigation & Dispute Resolution
Tell us where you stand. We will show the way.
Choose the situation closest to yours. You will see the first concrete steps, the governing Turkish statute, and how to reach the attorney at our firm who handles that work.
Buying property in Türkiye
Land Registry Law No. 2644- 01
Title deed and encumbrance check
Before any deposit is paid, we verify the tapu record at the Land Registry: ownership, mortgages, liens, zoning status and any annotation that could restrict transfer to a foreign buyer.
- 02
Contract review and valuation report
The preliminary sale contract is reviewed or drafted in both languages, and the mandatory official valuation report for foreign purchasers is commissioned from a licensed appraiser.
- 03
Transfer at the Land Registry
We accompany or represent you by power of attorney at the Land Registry Directorate, with a sworn interpreter where required, until the deed is registered in your name.
Facing a criminal matter
Criminal Procedure Code No. 5271- 01
Do not give a statement alone
You have the right to remain silent and the right to counsel before and during any statement to the police or prosecutor. Exercise both, in any language, before answering questions.
- 02
Appoint defence counsel formally
A notarised power of attorney lets us act immediately — attend interrogations, apply against custody measures and communicate with the prosecutor's office on your behalf.
- 03
Obtain and analyse the case file
We access the investigation file through the national judiciary system, map the accusations and evidence, and build the defence strategy before the first hearing.
Applying for Turkish citizenship
Citizenship Law No. 5901- 01
Confirm your eligibility route
We assess which acquisition route fits your position — investment-based acquisition, marriage, long-term residence or exceptional acquisition — and what each requires in documents and timing.
- 02
Secure the qualifying investment
For the investment route, the purchase or deposit is structured to meet the statutory thresholds, and the Certificate of Conformity is obtained from the competent ministry.
- 03
File and follow the application
We prepare the residence-permit and citizenship files, submit them to the Provincial Directorate, and track the application through fingerprinting to the final decision.
Starting a company in Türkiye
Commercial Code No. 6102- 01
Choose the right entity
Limited liability company (Ltd. Şti.) or joint-stock company (A.Ş.) — we compare capital requirements, liability, governance and exit options against your business plan.
- 02
Draft and register the articles
Articles of association are drafted, filed through the MERSİS system and registered with the Istanbul Trade Registry; foreign shareholders can be represented by power of attorney.
- 03
Activate tax, banking and permits
Tax registration, corporate bank accounts, signature circulars and any sector-specific licences are completed so the company can trade from day one.
Divorce & family matters
Civil Code No. 4721- 01
Establish jurisdiction and applicable law
For international couples we first determine whether Turkish courts have jurisdiction and which national law governs the divorce, maintenance and property regime.
- 02
Assemble the family file
Marriage certificate, residence records, asset inventory and evidence relevant to custody or fault are collected, with certified translations where documents are foreign.
- 03
File before the Family Court
The petition — contested or by mutual agreement with a settlement protocol — is filed at the competent Family Court, and interim measures for custody or support are requested where needed.
Enforcing a foreign judgment
Law No. 5718 (MÖHUK)- 01
Prepare the judgment for Türkiye
The foreign court decision must be final, apostilled (or legalised) and translated by a sworn translator before it can be presented to a Turkish court.
- 02
File the recognition or enforcement action
A tanıma (recognition) or tenfiz (enforcement) lawsuit is filed before the competent civil court; the court examines jurisdiction, due process and public-policy conditions — not the merits.
- 03
Execute through the enforcement office
Once the Turkish decision is final, we pursue collection through the enforcement office: asset inquiries, attachment of bank accounts and property, and liquidation where necessary.
The steps and statutes shown are general information about Turkish law and procedure, not legal advice for a specific case. Istanbul Attorneys — Gürsel Mah. Karataş Sk. SNS Plaza Kat:3 No:6, 34413 Kağıthane / İstanbul.
Why us
Why clients keep our number
01 —
Multilingual Support
You explain the problem once, in English, to the lawyer who will actually handle it. No translator sitting between you and your own case.
02 —
Global Standards
Turkish courts run on local practice, not textbooks. We know the registries, the judges and the paperwork that stalls a file — and we work to the standards our clients are used to at home.
03 —
When It Cannot Wait
Detentions and airport problems happen at 3am. Message the same number then, and a lawyer answers then.
04 —
Result-Oriented
We will tell you when a case is not worth running. Most matters end faster and cheaper by settlement than by a three-year hearing schedule.
Process
How a matter runs
- 01
Initial Consultation
Reach us via WhatsApp, email, or phone — we respond within 2 hours during business days. We assess your situation, identify the legal issues, and provide an honest evaluation of your options and expected outcomes.
- 02
Case Assessment & Strategy
Our senior attorneys conduct a thorough legal analysis, review your documents, and prepare a tailored strategy. You receive a clear fee agreement before any work begins — no hidden costs, no surprises.
- 03
Legal Action & Representation
We execute with precision — filing applications at government offices, negotiating with opposing parties, drafting contracts, or representing you in Turkish courts. You receive regular updates in English via your preferred channel.
- 04
Resolution & Ongoing Support
We deliver all final documents, court decisions, and official certificates. Many of our clients retain us for ongoing legal support — from annual corporate compliance to new investment projects. We are your long-term legal partner in Turkey.
Writing
Recent guides
We write these when a question keeps coming up. No filler, no keyword padding — just what the rule is, what it costs you in practice, and where people usually get caught.
Family
Getting Married in Turkey as a Foreigner: 2026 Guide
Required documents, capacity certificate, health report, ceremony rules and residence effects.
Read the guide → ImmigrationEntry Ban & Deportation in Turkey: 2026 Appeal Guide
Facing an entry ban or deportation? How to appeal, lift tahdit codes, and protect your status.
Read the guide →Browse all legal guides
Visit Legal Guides →The firm
Practical details
EN · TR
Working languages
Every matter is handled directly in English. Court filings and official correspondence are prepared in Turkish by the same lawyers.
PoA
Remote representation
A notarised Power of Attorney lets us appear, file and sign on your behalf, so most matters do not require you to travel.
İstanbul
Where we practise
Our office is in Kağıthane. We appear before the Istanbul courthouses and, where a file requires it, courts elsewhere in Türkiye.
Bar
Registration
The firm's lawyers are registered with the Istanbul Bar Association and the Union of Turkish Bar Associations.
The firm
Inside the work
Questions
Asked before you call
Can I set up a company in Turkey remotely without travelling?
Yes. In most cases, you do not need to be physically present. By granting a Power of Attorney to our corporate lawyers, we can handle the entire company incorporation process, tax registration, and bank account opening on your behalf, typically within 5-7 business days.
Do I need to be physically present for my Turkish Citizenship application?
Generally no. With a notarised Power of Attorney we can complete the investment, valuation and application steps on your behalf. Most clients only travel for the final biometric and passport stage.
Is it safe for foreigners to buy property in Turkey?
It is safe when the transaction is checked properly. We verify the title deed (tapu) at the Land Registry, search for mortgages, liens and injunctions, confirm zoning and the occupancy permit (iskân), and only then prepare a bilingual purchase contract.
How long does a divorce process take in Turkey for foreigners?
An uncontested divorce with an agreed protocol can conclude in a single hearing, often within 1-3 months. A contested divorce involving custody or asset division usually takes 12-24 months, depending on the court's schedule and the evidence involved.
Do your lawyers speak fluent English?
Yes. Istanbul Attorneys is built for foreign clients. Every matter is handled directly in fluent English, so nothing is lost between you and the Turkish courts or authorities.
How do you charge for your legal services?
We agree a clear scope and a transparent fee before any work begins — either fixed-fee or staged by milestone. You receive the fee agreement in writing, with no hidden costs.
Why should I choose Istanbul Attorneys over other firms?
We are partner-led, English-speaking and built specifically for foreigners and investors. We act remotely under a Power of Attorney, stay reachable over WhatsApp — detentions and other true emergencies are treated as urgent whatever the hour — and combine local court experience with international standards through our partnership with Lexin Legal.
Request a Legal Consultation
Gürsel Mah. Karataş Sk.
SNS Plaza Kat:3, No:6, 34413
Kağıthane / İstanbul / Turkey
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If WhatsApp will not connect — airport wifi, a borrowed phone, a blocked network — call +90 544 809 1942 or write to info@istanbulattorneys.com.
Kağıthane · İstanbulAnswered in EnglishRemote Power of Attorney