Europe

Cross Border Law Firm of the Year Turkey

Firm Profile

Karaca & Associates Attorneys at Law is a full service international law firm with offices in Istanbul and London. The firm has been involved within the business life in Turkey and abroad extensively since 1996. The firm has got the mission to balance the reality of commercial life with the requirements of stringent legal norms in the midst of a day by-day changing and developing economy.

Karaca & Associates is a boutique law firm dedicated to tailor made business structures whether or not it is a sole investor or a multi- million corporation managed. The firm is well experienced in Turkish and international business contracts and commercial litigation. Its realistic approach to business issues to pave the way for its clients and its strength in its professionalism. Karaca & Associates is determined to guide its

clients all over the world. In order to achieve this goal, the firm extended its international geographic coverage by becoming a member of Mackrell International, a global network of independent law firms, having active members in 67 countries and Lexicom, which is a network of independent commercial law firms based in Europe.

Considering the international activities and legal consultancy practice, the Firm has advised numerous Turkish and foreign clients from various countries particularly in the sphere of domestic and international commercial law. Many of the international cases in which the firm acts arise out of cross border business disputes and Karaca & Associates has built up a depth of specialist expertise in contract negotiation and private international litigation.

A.Zafer Karaca - Founding Partner

The Firms Founder Zafer Karaca has been engaged in multi- jurisdiction project finance, litigation and arbitration cases for 16 years. Zafer Karaca has advised international companies in more than 30 countries including the United Kingdom, EU member states, Russia,

Ukraine, Azerbaijan and India.

Zafer Karaca regularly works on corporate practice and advises on M&A projects that, he also works as a lawyer and a board member in the fields of company law and corporate governance. Zafer Karaca assisted the biggest M&A transactions of airline catering business in Turkish market in 2007.

He also handled M&A projects in health industry for purchase of hospitals, oil industry, project finance in iron & steel industry and construction projects. Zafer Karaca is an international contract negotiator in international trade contracts, construction projects and in government tender projects as well as PPP (Public Private Partnership) projects.

Zafer Karaca has advised companies active in construction, iron and steel, shipping and oil businesses concerning corporate governance,

business contracts, corporate fraud and economic crime cases and dispute resolution. He has experience of working thoroughly with the multidisciplinary aspects of clients. He has extensive experience in corporate and investment law matters and currently he serves as a board member for the client companies.

He is also experienced for EU law as employed by the European Commission DG-XXI, for in-service training , Zafer Karaca is a Ph.D. candidate in Istanbul University, on European Law.

Languages: English

Education: • Admitted in Istanbul Bar Association,1992 • LLB, Marmara University, Law Faculty, 1990

• LLM, University Of London, Queen Marry College, 1993;

• Ph. D, University Of Istanbul, Faculty Of Law, (pending in EU Law)

Member: Mackrell International, Turkish Economic Law Research Foundation, Turkish American Business Association (TABA /AmCham), Turkish British Chamber of Commerce and Industry(TBCCI), Lexicom International.

Areas of Expertise • CORPORATE & COMPANY LAW • CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

• CONTRACT LAW AND COMMERCIAL DISPUTES

• COMPETITION AND EUROPEAN LAW

• CONSUMER PROTECTION • SOCIAL SECURITY & LABOR LAW • FOREIGN INVESTMENT LAW • HEALTH LAW

• MARITIME AND TRANSPORTATION LAW

• REAL ESTATE AND PROPERTY LAW

• ADMINISTRATIVE & FINANCIAL SERVICES LAW

• GOVERNMENT TENDERS & RELATIONS LAW

• PROJECT FINANCE AND M&A TRANSACTIONS

• INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

• LITIGATION AND COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION

Contact:

Mr. Zafer Karaca, LL.M London, Founding Partner

Email: z.karaca@karacalaw.com Telephone Number: 0090 212 347 1031-32

Mrs. Selva Akkas Karaca, LL.M London Associate Lawyer, London Office Email: s.akkas@karacalaw.com

Telephone Number: Istanbul: +905325050905 UK:+447500041081

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Lawyer Monthly Legal Awards 2012