PRACTICE AREAS
Maritime & Shipping Law (Wet & Dry)
Şahin Law Firm offers unparalleled expertise in admiralty (wet) and dry shipping law, with a particular focus on Black Sea region shipowners. We regularly advise major regional clients on all aspects of maritime operations.
Key areas include:- Vessel and cargo arrest, including sister-ship arrest and piercing the corporate veil to identify ultimate beneficial owners.
- Charterparty disputes and carriage of goods under bills of lading.
- Ship sale and purchase (including Panamax oil/chemical tankers), using standard forms such as Norwegian Sale Form 1993, Singapore Ship Sale Form, and BIMCO SALEFORM 2012.
- Vessel acquisition advisory, with emphasis on chemical tankers.
- Flag selection, vessel registration (including bareboat charter registration), and change of flag implications.
- Marine insurance contracts, P&I coverage, and crew claims.
- Legal assistance in accidents, collisions, salvage, marine pollution investigations, and related disputes.
We have extensive experience collaborating with counterparts in the UK, Singapore, Russia, Ukraine, and Bulgaria.
Shipping Finance
We provide sophisticated advice to lenders, creditors, and shipowners on structured finance solutions, with particular expertise in ownership structures designed to minimize cross-liabilities and optimize tax efficiency.
Our services include:- Long-term charter analysis (hire rates, terms, and profitability assessment).
- Secured financing instruments: ship mortgages (including the 1993 Convention), refund guarantees, assignments of earnings, insurances, and compensations
- Innovative financial packages: mezzanine finance, leasing, hire-purchase, bareboat charter with equity participation (under Turkish law), and joint venture structures
- Advisory on foreign mortgages and flag change effects.
Yüksel Şahin recently advised a shipowner on the enforcement of a paid but unregistered foreign mortgage in a Turkish dispute.
International Trade & Transport
Led by Yüksel Şahin, who brings decades of hands-on experience in maritime, road, and air transport, we are recognized as one of Turkey's leading practices in multimodal and international carriage.
We advise freight forwarders, shipowners, carriers, logistics providers, commodity traders, agents, and industrial companies on:- All forms of carriage contracts, including multimodal transportation.
- Sale and transportation of commodities (steel, metals, timber, etc.).
- Logistics agreements and cross-border supply chains.
Dispute Resolution & International Arbitration
We excel in high-value, complex, multi-jurisdictional disputes, with particular strength in shipping, shipping finance, banking, and commercial matters. We handle litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution across Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and the UK
Yüksel Şahin leads the practice and serves as arbitrator (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators). Notable experience includes:- Advising on arrest of a fraudulently seized vessel in Syria and brought to Turkey for scrap (issues of foreign judgment recognition and IMO title).
- Representing foreign entities on liaison office authority limits and banking liability.
Commercial Law
We advise on complex, multinational commercial transactions,
Including:- Commercial agreements, joint ventures, agency, and distribution contracts.
- Logistics, licensing, contracts of carriage, technical/management agreements, concession agreements, sale of goods, and consultancy contracts.
Yüksel Şahin successfully represented a major client in the landmark Uber unfair competition case in Turkey (applicability of EU Court of Justice decision C-434/15).
Distribution & Commercial Agency
We regularly draft and advise on cross-border distribution and agency agreements. Yüksel Şahin has advised on long-term supply contracts and representation of Qatari companies in Turkey.
Enforcement & Bankruptcy Law
We handle non-performing loans, restructuring, insolvency, and asset protection, including enforcement of foreign arbitral awards and court judgments in Turkey, as well as obtaining injunctions and freezing orders.
Digital Assets & International Trade Compliance (New Section)
Leveraging our maritime and logistics expertise, we provide specialized advice at the intersection of international trade and digital assets. Yüksel Şahin holds ACAMS Certified Cryptoasset Anti-Financial Crime Specialist (CCAS), Chainalysis Reactor Certification (CRC), and Chainalysis KYT Certification.
Services include:- Sanctions compliance (OFAC, EU, MASAK) for USDT/stablecoin payments in shipping and logistics.
- Digital bill of lading (e-B/L) and blockchain tokenization in trade finance.
- Regulatory risk management for cross-border crypto transactions and account recovery.