Master Destek has brought on Fatma Ozen Karaca as its Chief Legal Counsel in Istanbul.

“We should talk about politics and economy together, because they go hand in hand,” says Zeynep Cakmak, Managing Partner of the Cakmak law firm in Istanbul. “Despite the trend of having snap elections in recent years, Turkey has been stable for a while. However, that might change soon, since rumors have surfaced that we will have elections in the fall.”

Sofia-based Georgi Kanev has been appointed to lead Peterka & Partners’ newly-established Turkish desk.

Ahmet Bagci has joined GKC Partners in Istanbul.

Bezen & Partners has advised MB UAE Investment LLC on it buy-out of minority shareholders in the company's Turkish subsidiaries.

For our Checking In feature, we reach out to partners and heads of practice across CEE to learn how specific practice areas are faring in their jurisdictions. This time around we asked firm Energy experts: What, in your view, is the most effective scheme currently in place in your jurisdiction to attract investments in renewable energy? If you had to pick one, what additional step from the regulators do you believe would have the most positive impact?

Cakmak has advised Voodoo on an unspecified investment in Fabrika Games. Paksoy advised Fabrika Games on the deal.

BTS & Partners has advised the founders of Entekno Global and Diffusion Capital Partners on Croda International Plc.'s recent GBP 1.5 million acquisition of a minority stake in the company. The KS Attorney Partnership, the local legal arm of EY Turkey, advised Croda on the deal.

Former Clifford Chance Counsel Kemal Aksel has joined the Cakmak law firm in Istanbul as Partner.

As Europe begins a tentative re-opening following several difficult months of quarantining, social distancing, and working-from-home, we spoke to CMS’s Warsaw-based Employment Partner Katarzyna Dulewicz and Vienna-based Dispute Resolution Partner Daniela Karollus-Bruner for their perspective on the process.

Government institutions in Turkey are continuing to take various measures to mitigate the economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. At its meeting on April 2, 2020, the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA) adopted a new decision (the “Decision”) accepting the COVID-19 pandemic as a “force majeure” event under Article 35 of the Electricity Market Licensing Regulation (the “Licensing Regulation”) and Article 19 of the Regulation on Unlicensed Electricity Production in the Electricity Market (the “Unlicensed Regulation”). The decision was published in the Official Gazette on April 4, 2020.

Moral & Partners has advised the minority shareholders of Turquoise Yacht — formerly known as Proteksan — on the sale of 40% of the shares of Turquoise Yacht to the Al Barwani Group.

Moral & Partners have advised Taxim Capital on acquisition of all shares of Doganay Gida, a Turkish manufacturer of non-carbonated beverages, sauces, and vinegars. Gun & Partners reportedly advised the unidentified sellers.

Paksoy and Germany's Schulteriesenkampff law firm have advised Imerys on the acquisition of a 60% stake in the Haznedar Group, via its subsidiary Calderys Deutschland GmbH, from several individual shareholders. The AK Law Firm advised the sellers on the deal, which is expected to close in the last quarter of 2020.

BTS Partners has advised Qnbeyond ventures on an unspecified investment in Ikas, a software-as-a-services commerce platform for small-and-medium enterprises.

In Turkey, a local and centralized commercial electronic communication management system (IYS) for obtaining, exercising, and tracking opt-in/opt-out requests as well as complaints from recipients of electronic commercial communications was established under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade, the competent authority, in line with recent amendments to the Regulation on Commercial Communication and Commercial Electronic Messages. Also, a company has been incorporated solely for the establishment and management of IYS on behalf of the institution authorized by the Ministry (IYSCo).

White & Case and its associated Turkish firm, GKC Partners, have advised Zynga Inc. on its USD 168 million acquisition of an 80% stake in Rollic, a mobile games developer and publisher, from Mehmet Can Yavuz, Deniz Basaran, Burak Vardal, Volkan Bicer, Mehmet Ayan, and Yunus Emre Gonul. Caliskan Okkan Toker advised the sellers on the deal, which is expected to close on October 1, 2020.

The TOCC Attorney Partnership has advised Akbank subsidiary AKLease on its EUR 40 million financing from the EBRD. Dentons reportedly advised the EBRD on the deal.