Lex Lata is a boutique, full-service international law firm advising foreign investors, companies and private clients across Türkiye — with a particular focus on corporate and commercial law, in English and Turkish.
We read the fine print so our clients can think in bigger pictures.
Laser-focused cross-border litigation, emergency asset freezing, and high-value corporate defense before Turkish courts.
Aggressive B2B trade debt enforcement across 81 provinces. Securing emergency ex-parte bank and real estate freezing orders (İhtiyati Haciz) before debtors dissipate assets.
Exequatur (Tenfiz) proceedings in Turkey for UK, US, European, and Gulf court judgments and international arbitral awards (ICC, ISTAC, LCIA).
Forensic asset tracing, director embezzlement prosecution, and emergency criminal asset blocking before funds cross borders.
Representing foreign patients in cosmetic, bariatric, and dental surgical negligence claims before Consumer Courts with 100% remote POA.
Protecting foreign minority shareholders, appointing Special Auditors (Özel Denetçi), challenging oppressive resolutions, and breaking corporate deadlocks.
Full-service counsel, with a particular focus on corporate and commercial law.
The firm's core focus: structuring, growing and transacting Turkish and cross-border businesses.
10 practice areasProtecting, enforcing and monetising ideas, brands and inventions.
9 practice areasRegulated finance, fintech and tax matters for companies operating in Türkiye.
2 practice areasCustoms, import-export and trade compliance for companies trading across Türkiye's borders.
4 practice areasHiring, contracts, working time, termination and workplace disputes for companies employing staff in Türkiye.
4 practice areasRecovering what you are owed and enforcing rights before Turkish courts.
4 practice areasCitizenship by investment, residence permits and relocation to Türkiye.
2 practice areasData, AI, health and criminal-defence advice for a regulated world.
4 practice areasThe firm's core focus: structuring, growing and transacting Turkish and cross-border businesses.
View areasProtecting, enforcing and monetising ideas, brands and inventions.
View areasRegulated finance, fintech and tax matters for companies operating in Türkiye.
View areasCustoms, import-export and trade compliance for companies trading across Türkiye's borders.
View areasHiring, contracts, working time, termination and workplace disputes for companies employing staff in Türkiye.
View areasRecovering what you are owed and enforcing rights before Turkish courts.
View areasCitizenship by investment, residence permits and relocation to Türkiye.
View areasData, AI, health and criminal-defence advice for a regulated world.
View areasTürkiye sits where Europe meets Asia — and so does the work. Investment, brands, trade and disputes cross into the Turkish market through one hub, with direct partner access at every step.
Illustrative diagram — the firm's cross-border corridors converging on Istanbul. Not live data.
We are small enough that a partner knows your matter by name, and connected enough to handle it wherever it leads. Latin for "the law as it is," lex lata is our promise: grounded advice, no theatrics — just the clear path forward.
A short, confidential conversation. We listen first.
Your options, the risks and a clear scope of work.
Partner-led execution, with plain-language updates at every milestone.
No surprises: you approve each step, and every document is explained.
Enforcing judgments against parent companies, controlling shareholders, and sister entities in Turkey through veil-piercing and avoidance actions.
Read moreComprehensive legal guide to enforcing bank guarantee letters in Turkey, obtaining emergency preliminary injunctions against fraudulent calls under HMK 389, and bank independent payment liabilities under TBK 128.
Read moreComprehensive legal guide for international investors, British expats, and property owners in Fethiye, Göcek, and Muğla: Title Deed (Tapu) due diligence, foreign heir inheritance & probate, yacht registration & marina disputes, and Fethiye Courthouse litigation.
Read moreComprehensive legal guide for international corporations, foreign investors, and expatriates on hiring English-speaking lawyers in Istanbul: Çağlayan & Anadolu courthouse jurisdictions, notarized Power of Attorney (POA) procedures, bar association fee tariffs, without-notice applications for precautionary attachment, and cross-border commercial litigation.
Read moreIn-depth corporate litigation guide for foreign investors, joint venture partners, and minority shareholders on General Assembly annulments (TCC 445), director personal liability (TCC 553), special audit orders (TCC 438), joint venture deadlocks, and court-ordered dissolution under TCC 531.
Read moreStrategic litigation roadmap for multinational corporations, foreign investors, and funds on aggravated fraud (TCK 158), emergency criminal asset freezing (CMK 128), director embezzlement (TCK 155 / TCC 553), MASAK transaction suspensions, and cross-border asset recovery in Turkey.
Read moreYes. Under the Foreign Direct Investment Law No. 4875, foreign investors are treated equally with Turkish investors and may own 100% of a Turkish company in most sectors, without a local partner. A limited number of regulated sectors — banking, insurance, energy, media and aviation — carry licensing or shareholding conditions.
Since 1 January 2024 the minimum capital is 250,000 TL for a joint stock company (A.Ş.) and 50,000 TL for a limited company (Ltd.). For a joint stock company, a quarter of the cash capital is paid before registration and the balance within 24 months; a limited company has no pre-registration payment requirement.
No. A company can be formed in your absence through a notarised and apostilled power of attorney granted to a local representative. Founders do need a Turkish tax number, and a Turkish bank account is required for the company.
Yes, foreign individuals and companies can generally buy real estate in Türkiye, subject to some limits — such as restrictions near military and security zones and country-based reciprocity rules. Title and due-diligence checks before purchase are essential.
Yes. Citizenship by investment has several routes, including a real-estate purchase (currently from USD 400,000, held for three years), a fixed-capital contribution or bank deposit (from USD 500,000), or creating employment for a set number of people. The thresholds change over time, so they should be confirmed before you commit.
Tell us what you're building or protecting. We will get back to you with a clear next step — in English or Turkish.
