YUKSEL SAHIN
AttorneyLLB, Istanbul University
Faculty of Law (2000).
Yüksel Şahin is a commercially minded lawyer with extensive expertise in commercial law, specializing in maritime and shipping law (wet and dry), marine insurance and reinsurance, international trade and transport, commodities, shipping finance, and commercial litigation and arbitration. He regularly appears before Turkish Commercial Courts, the Court of Appeal, and in domestic and international arbitrations. He also accepts appointments as an arbitrator and has represented clients in courts across multiple jurisdictions.
Yüksel founded Şahin Law Firm in Istanbul in 2000 and has since built a strong practice advising shipowners, charterers, operators, cargo interests, and shipbrokers, particularly from the Black Sea region. He also acts for a number of commodity trading companies on the sale and transportation of steel, metals, timber, and other commodities. His litigation practice is broad and deep, with the majority of cases governed by Turkish law. However, his substantial experience in Russia, combined with in-depth knowledge of English law—gained through UK legal education and training at leading City firms such as Ince & Co, Hill Taylor Dickinson, and the London P&I Club—provides a significant advantage. The 2012 amendments to the Turkish Commercial Code, which aligned closely with English law principles, further enhance the value of this dual expertise.
He has extensive experience collaborating with foreign counsel (particularly from Russia and the UK) on cases governed by foreign substantive law, especially English law. This diverse background gives him a unique insight into shipping, international trade, and commercial matters that is rare in the profession.
His clients come from a wide range of jurisdictions, including Ukraine, Bulgaria, Russia, Austria, and the UK. Yüksel advises on the drafting and negotiation of charterparty terms, shipbuilding contracts, ship sale and purchase agreements, joint ventures, ship management and shipbroking contracts, commission agreements, and pooling agreements.
Recent Cases- Acting for shipowners and charterers in total loss claims.
- Advising on the acquisition of a chemical tanker fleet (5 vessels) for a Turkish shipowner.
- Representing shipowners and charterers in a wide variety of charterparty disputes.
- Acting for freight forwarders in Ukraine-Russia cargo theft claims.
- Representing buyers and sellers in shipbuilding disputes.
- Acting for buyers and sellers in ship sale and purchase disputes.
- Elementary education in Russia, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
- LLB, Istanbul University Faculty of Law (1990).
- Part-time studies, Moscow State University (MGU) (1991).
- LLM in Legal Aspects of Marine Affairs, University of Wales, Cardiff (2000).
- Postgraduate studies at University of London institutions (LSE, UCL, King's College) (2000).
- PhD research programme (part-time), University of Wales, Cardiff – Corporate & Shipping Finance (focus on mezzanine finance in ship finance).
- Founder & Managing Partner, Şahin Law Firm, Istanbul (2000–present).
- Training/paralegal roles at leading London firms: Ince & Co, Hill Taylor Dickinson, and London P&I Club (2000).
- Import-Export Branch Manager, LUK-oil, Kogalym (1993–1996).
- Assistant Manager, ENKA, Moscow (1992–1993).
- Attorney-at-Law, Istanbul Bar Association.
- Member/Arbitrator, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), London.
- Bulgarian (mother tongue).
- Russian (fluent).
- English (fluent).
- Turkish (native).
Additional Certifications (Önerilen Ek – Kripto Stratejisi İçin) Yüksel holds the ACAMS Certified Cryptoasset Anti-Financial Crime Specialist (CCAS) certification, Chainalysis Reactor Certification (CRC), and Chainalysis Know Your Transaction (KYT) Certification, providing advanced expertise in blockchain investigations, transaction monitoring, and sanctions compliance in digital assets.