The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2017

With finely honed legal expertise and an operation that runs like clockwork, Alfa Patent earns praise from peers for its “extremely high-quality work” on a broad range of prosecution mandates. A mainstay of the domestic market, the firm increasingly draws instructions from multinational companies seeking effective protection of their innovations in Turkey.

Tried and tested agency Ankara Patent Bureau has been acquiring watertight IP rights for half a century: its productive team acts for thousands of satisfied clients and the firm’s leaders have helped to shape the country’s evolving patent laws in consultation with government. Making use of its deep bench of patent agents, business advisers and engineering experts, the illustrious outfit not only drafts faultless applications, but also provides peerless strategic counsel for those seeking to maximise the commercial impact of their intellectual assets. Unique automated systems ensure smooth and reliable rights management throughout the patent lifecycle. Seasoned Turkish and European attorney Ekin Dericioğlu Kurt is a safe pair of hands for the most complex non-contentious briefs; her sister Aysu Dericioğlu Egemen is valued for farsighted portfolio development. Working hand in hand with its sister law firm, Deriş Patents & Trademarks functions as an “excellent one-stop shop” for foreign and domestic innovators. Its well-versed agents have a flair for obtaining unassailable IP rights at the Turkish and European patent offices; while its battle-hardened litigators provide robust, technically informed advocacy when contentious circumstances arise. Pillar of the practice Mehmet Nazim Aydin Deriş is a multi-talented professional who is deeply knowledgeable about all facets of intellectual property and operates adroitly across the contentious/non-contentious divide. Fluent in English, French, Italian and German, he is especially popular with international patrons. Destek Patent makes light work of the weightiest prosecution briefs. Its well-oiled team – including 50 IP attorneys and 120 support staff – possesses the wide-ranging expertise to protect inventions in all disciplines, while bases in Turkey’s 10 largest cities ensure an effective interface with patrons across the country. Serving a diverse clientele, the agency knows how to tailor its approach to the needs of local start-ups, worldwide corporations and everything in between. Ersin Dereligil is a key contact. Full-service powerhouse Gün + Partners is pre-eminent in the Turkish IP market. It is hailed as the “the top firm for high-stakes patent litigation”, especially in the pharmaceuticals sector, in which it represents many global innovative brands. “Its experienced team has comprehensive knowledge of the law, as well as great technical and regulatory capabilities. Its professionals are business savvy, creative, responsive and fully committed. For critical cases, Gün + Partners is the only option.” At the helm is Mehmet Gün, an IP trailblazer for the past 30 years and – according to many – the “first-choice litigator in Turkey”; having been involved in many key decisions throughout the development of the nation’s patent law, he is intimately familiar with its provisions. Selin Sinem Erciyas is another potent force in disputes; a regulatory expert and staunch advocate for pioneering drug companies, she also represents many big players in the high-technology space. The firm also boasts an active, high-quality prosecution practice, which draws upon a deep well of know-how in biotechnology, chemistry and medicine, and processed over 100 applications last year. Leading the non-contentious operation is Uğur Aktekin, a shrewd portfolio manager who performs ably before patent offices around the world. Newly featured in the IAM Patent 1000, gilt-edged boutique INVOKAT has forged a glowing reputation for patent prosecution since its establishment in 2013; excellent at drafting patents and representing clients before the patent office, it also adds real value by developing strategic roadmaps for portfolio development. Though proficient across the technology spectrum, the firm’s well-drilled team shines particularly brightly in the life sciences and automotive sectors, attracting an enviable client roster of industrial big hitters and prestigious research institutions. Captaining the “first-rate, dependable” ensemble is Aydin Mutlu, a perceptive and polished adviser who navigates IP pitfalls with ease; he is one of the few Turkish practitioners to have passed the European Qualifying Examination. While its patent service is comprehensive, Istanbul Patent is most highly esteemed for its polished non-contentious offering, which is “among the very best prosecution practices in Turkey”. Whether obtaining fortress-like IP rights or assisting patrons embroiled in contentious matters, the firm demonstrates impressive scientific and technical acuity. Providing “inspired leadership” to the team is Erkan Sevinç, an engineering buff and prime pick for innovators in the vehicle safety, construction, medical equipment and manufacturing technologies fields; he is a skilled drafter and also shows great composure when serving as a court-appointed expert in patent trials. Widely celebrated for its trademark offering, IAM Patent 1000 debutant Kenaroğlu is now making a splash with its burgeoning patent practice. With rounded contentious skill sets, the firm’s elite lawyers are formidable in must-win court battles, especially on behalf of global generic drug companies; they have cutting-edge knowledge of developments in IP law and pharmaceuticals regulations. The dynamic, dedicated and determined squad is led by Yasemin Kenaroğlu, who is “responsive and takes a made-to-measure approach to each instruction. She is experienced, cool under pressure and a great communicator; she can be recommended without hesitation”.

Multinationals flock to Moroğlu Arseven for its deft handling of all manner of patent briefs. The commercially clued-up general service firm is a leading force in IP commercialisation, showcasing ingenuity and sure-footedness in transactional matters; it is also an indomitable champion of innovative pharmaceuticals corporations in hard-fought disputes. Whatever the instruction, Moroğlu’s attentive practitioners devise bespoke solutions shaped to every contour of the client’s needs. The hands-on Işik Özdoğan leads from the front; her wide-ranging experience translates into perceptive counsel and well-executed enforcement campaigns. Flanking her are newly minted partners Gökçe İzgi and Ezgi Baklacı Gülkoka ,who have a panoramic understanding of IP matters.

Intellectual property is a central plank at commercial law firm NSN, which combines specialist insight and substantial resources – seven partners, three counsel and 30 associates – to execute with poise on the most challenging multi-faceted instructions. The patent team is in hottest demand for its contentious firepower, although its capabilities run the gamut; it has fought valiantly in many of the country’s must-win pharmaceuticals battles. Former head of IP and life sciences at Gün + Partners Selma Ünlü is at the helm. A leading representative of healthcare providers for some 25 years, she has an unsurpassed grasp of industry regulations; IT law is another forte. Ünlü is considered “a standout IP lawyer, who has a great way of doing business; she really knows how to litigate. She has deep knowledge, an acute understanding of the details of each case and an ability to explain them in simple terms. Her strategic guidance is clear and makes decision making easier.” Versatile professional Gülay Göksu is another weapon in the firm’s arsenal who can be relied upon for sage advice in the trickiest circumstances. Established in the 19th century, Stock has long served as a beacon for international innovators seeking to orientate themselves in the Turkish IP landscape; it dispatches prosecution mandates with particular relish, showing clients the best routes to patent acquisition. Exemplary professional Kazim Dundar illuminates the most obscure IP matters with his incisive counsel and is quick to spot potential problems on the horizon.