The trusted bridge between Türkiye and the DACH region.
We are recognised for our expertise in Turkish law, particularly in Germany and the German-speaking countries of Europe. Between our Berlin and İstanbul offices, we serve with a team well versed in both legal cultures.
Years of trust between the DACH region and Türkiye
For many years we have served as a trusted bridge in commercial relations between the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and Türkiye. Our client portfolio consists of mid-sized and large European companies that invest in or trade with Türkiye and Northern Cyprus.
Our entire team in Türkiye, Germany and Cyprus speaks German, English and Turkish fluently. This way, our clients work with experts who speak their own language, without feeling out of place in legal processes.
Services Offered by the Desk
Actionable and coordinated advisory at every stage of cross-border work.
Investment & Market Access
Advisory on company formation, structuring and foreign direct investment for German and DACH companies entering Türkiye and for Turkish companies entering Germany.
Explore →Contracts & Commerce
Drafting and negotiation of cross-border supply, distribution and commercial agreements in compliance with both legal systems.
Explore →Disputes & Arbitration
Representation in arbitration and before the Turkish courts in commercial disputes between Germany and Türkiye; representation before the German courts is carried by activelaw, with trade-fair matters run by the two firms together.
Explore →ESG & Supply Chain
Compliance and risk-management advisory for Turkish suppliers under the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG).
Explore →Residence & Work Permit
Support with residence permit, work permit and citizenship processes for foreign investors and senior employees.
Explore →Tax & Accounting
Management of tax obligations between the two countries, full-service accounting and payroll services.
Explore →Related Focus Areas
Germany Desk brings several strategic focus areas together under one roof.
Expansion into Germany
For Turkish companies expanding into Germany and the DACH region, we manage company formation, contracts, tax, workforce, compliance and dispute processes from a single point of contact.
Explore the focus area →Expansion into Türkiye
For foreign investors entering the Turkish market, we structure company formation, investment incentives, contracts, employment arrangements, tax and compliance processes.
Explore →Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)
Advisory on due diligence, transaction structure, contracts, closing and integration processes in merger, acquisition, joint-venture and investment transactions.
Explore →ESG & Sustainability
End-to-end advisory for Turkish and DACH companies on supply chain due diligence, LkSG/CSDDD, sustainability reporting, and ESG compliance.
Explore →Related Practice Areas
Germany Desk works with the firm’s relevant legal disciplines on cross-border matters.
Sectors We Serve
A selection of sectors this desk works with most often.
Automotive
Contract, compliance, investment, and dispute advisory across the automotive value chain for OEMs, suppliers, distributors, and investors.
Explore →Iron & Steel
Advisory services on industrial production, raw material supply, energy, exports, ESG, occupational safety, and commercial disputes.
Explore →Logistics
Advisory on contracts, liability and disputes in transport, warehousing, customs, CMR and cross-border delivery processes.
Explore →Technology
Legal advisory on licensing, SaaS, data, intellectual property, investment, scaling, compliance, and product law for technology companies.
Explore →Banking & Finance
Advisory services in banking, fintech, payments, lending, collateral, investment, regulation and financial dispute processes.
Explore →Selected Matters
A selection of representative matters handled by this desk. Client names are anonymised for confidentiality.
Cross-border acquisition of a manufacturing facility in Türkiye
End-to-end representation of the buyer in a multi-jurisdictional acquisition, from due diligence to closing.
Uninterrupted legal counsel for a multinational supplier
Retainer-based support across day-to-day commercial operations, contract management and compliance processes.
Representation of a Turkish manufacturer in ICC arbitration
Strategy, case management and representation in a dispute arising from a cross-border supply contract.
Structuring an incentivised manufacturing investment
Management of company formation, the incentive certificate and compliance processes in a greenfield investment.
Two legal cultures from a single point
We offer the capabilities of large organisations with the quality of our boutique structure. With direct communication at partner level and the one-on-one attention of senior experts, we bring the utmost care to every file.
- Physical offices and local teams in Berlin and İstanbul
- Fluent service in German, English and Turkish
- Membership of RA-Kammer Berlin and the İstanbul Bar Association
- Active membership in the AHK, NUMOV and DACH networks
- Proven experience in billions of dollars of investment
Desk Team
Meet the multilingual core team working on this desk.
Our Local Partner
With our local legal partner on the ground in this region, we offer our clients a single-team experience.
activelaw
We run our Germany Desk together with Hannover-based activelaw. In our "Türkei-Desk" collaboration, the two firms work as a single team: matters relating to Turkish law are handled by Köksal in İstanbul, and matters relating to German law by activelaw in Germany. This way, in German–Turkish trade, clients receive integrated advisory from a single point of contact, well versed in both legal and business cultures.
activelaw is a German commercial law and notary firm that has been operating since 1960 and provides full-service advice with around 40 lawyers and more than 20 areas of specialisation. Headquartered in Hannover, it also has offices in Düsseldorf and Berlin, and stands out in corporate law, foreign direct investment, skilled-labour migration and ESG / supply chain compliance.
activelaw.de →
- Integrated advisory in German and Turkish law under a single coordination
- A culturally local team fluent in German, English and Turkish
- In-person meetings at four offices in Germany
- End-to-end coverage across investment, contract, labour migration and ESG processes
Hannover (Headquarters)
CTH Tower, Hans-Böckler-Allee 26, 30173 Hannover
+49 511 54747-0[email protected]Open on the map →Related Publications
Germany Desk — related insights and guides.
ESG & Supply ChainsProduct compliance when selling into the EU: GPSR, accessibility, and the new packaging regime
Read more →Tax & IncentivesBeing a marketplace seller: 7 legal topics, from account suspension to the 1% withholding
Read more →Tax & IncentivesE-commerce from Türkiye to the EU: VAT, OSS/IOSS and GDPR checklist
Read more →In the Press
Germany Desk — related news, interviews and commentary.
We are recognised for our expertise in Turkish law in Germany and German-speaking Europe. Between our Berlin and İstanbul offices, we offer a single point of contact with a team well versed in both legal systems.
We design the processes of choosing a company type, incorporation, tax registration, banking and compliance with local legislation according to your commercial objectives, and coordinate them with local experts.
Yes. In litigation, arbitration and trade-fair law proceedings, we act with our Berlin and İstanbul teams and coordinate the process with the counterparty and local authorities.
Your German customers' due diligence obligations may be passed on to you through contracts. We make these obligations manageable through risk analysis, contract revision and compliance documentation.
We provide fluent service in German, English and Turkish from our Berlin and İstanbul offices.
The right legal partner for your work in Germany.
DACH · Berlin · İstanbul · Regional Desk