If you need legal assistance in Türkiye but communicate and make decisions in English, language ability is only the starting point. You need a lawyer who is admitted to practise in Türkiye, understands the relevant area of Turkish law, explains risks without unnecessary jargon and remains directly responsible for your matter.
Av. Emre Arslan is an independent lawyer based in Istanbul. He advises and represents foreign individuals, families, investors and companies in Turkish legal matters. Consultations are available in English, Turkish and Spanish, and many matters can be assessed remotely before a client travels to Türkiye or issues a power of attorney.
Legal support is available in areas including immigration, real estate, inheritance, family law, criminal law, commercial matters, contracts, litigation, enforcement and debt recovery. Each enquiry begins with an assessment of the facts, documents, deadlines and practical objective. No lawyer can guarantee an outcome, but a clear initial assessment can identify the available routes, immediate risks and evidence required.
Speak directly with Av. Emre Arslan
- Istanbul-based independent lawyer
- Admitted to practise in Türkiye in 2023
- Member of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations
- Law degree from Istanbul Okan University, full scholarship, 2022
- LL.M. in Public Law at Istanbul Gedik University, ongoing
- Consultations in English, Turkish and Spanish
- Phone and WhatsApp: +90 544 171 3673
- Email: info@emrearslan.av.tr
Request an initial consultation or read more about Av. Emre Arslan’s professional background.
When do foreign clients need a lawyer in Turkey?
Foreign clients usually look for an English-speaking lawyer in Turkey when a legal step must be taken before a Turkish court, notary, land registry, bank, company registry or administrative authority. The client may live abroad, may not speak Turkish or may be unfamiliar with local deadlines and procedures.
Common instructions include:
- Buying, selling, leasing or inheriting property in Türkiye
- Residence-permit, citizenship, deportation or entry-ban matters
- Establishing, investing in or managing a Turkish company
- Reviewing a contract governed by Turkish law
- Starting or defending court and enforcement proceedings
- Divorce, custody, maintenance and other international family matters
- Criminal investigations, police statements and urgent protective work
- Recovering a debt or enforcing a foreign or Turkish decision
- Administering an estate that includes assets in Türkiye
The correct legal route depends on the documents, deadlines, authority involved and the client’s practical goal. A useful first consultation should therefore do more than provide general information: it should identify what must be checked next and whether urgent action is required.
About Av. Emre Arslan
Av. Emre Arslan is an independent lawyer based in Istanbul and has been in private practice since 2023. He provides litigation and legal-advisory services to individuals, families, companies, foreign nationals and Turkish citizens living abroad.
His working approach is based on direct responsibility. The matter is not passed between unrelated intermediaries: the lawyer who assesses the file remains the client’s point of contact for strategy, written work, hearing preparation and material updates. Available routes, procedural risks, likely stages, expected costs and evidential weaknesses are discussed as clearly as possible from the beginning.
His education and professional information include:
- Istanbul Okan University, Faculty of Law — full scholarship, 2022
- Istanbul Gedik University, LL.M. in Public Law with thesis — ongoing
- Istanbul Okan University, International Trade, second bachelor’s degree — ongoing
- Membership of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations — since 2023
- Working languages — Turkish, English and Spanish
Professional registration should always be independently verified. The official Union of Turkish Bar Associations Lawyer Search allows clients to check whether a person is registered as a lawyer in Türkiye.
Why clear English communication matters in a Turkish legal case
An English-speaking lawyer does more than translate words. Legal advice must explain what a document means, which assumptions are unsafe, what evidence is missing and what may happen if a deadline is missed.
A foreign client should be able to understand:
- The legal and factual basis of the matter
- The available options and their main risks
- Which documents must be translated, legalised or notarised
- Whether personal attendance is necessary
- What a power of attorney will authorise
- The expected procedural stages and possible delays
- Legal fees, taxes, court fees and third-party expenses
- Which decisions belong to the client and which procedural steps belong to counsel
Important advice, scope and payment terms should be recorded in writing. Clear written communication reduces misunderstandings and helps the client make informed decisions from abroad.
Legal services for foreigners in Turkey
Immigration, residence and citizenship matters
Foreign nationals may need assistance with residence permits, citizenship applications, administrative refusals, deportation decisions, entry bans or other immigration-related procedures. Each matter should be assessed against the current decision, service date, available evidence and applicable review route.
See the office’s Immigration and Citizenship Law services.
Real estate and tenancy matters
Before buying property in Türkiye, a foreign buyer should understand the title record, restrictions, zoning position, contractual structure, payment conditions and completion process. Legal assistance may also be required for leases, rent disputes, eviction, title cancellation, construction issues or inherited property.
See Real Estate and Tenancy Law.
Company formation, investment and commercial contracts
Foreign founders and investors may require advice on choosing a company type, preparing corporate documents, allocating management powers, transferring shares, documenting shareholder funding or resolving a commercial dispute. A contract should reflect the intended transaction rather than rely on a generic template.
See Commercial and Corporate Law and Obligations and Contract Law.
Divorce and international family matters
Cross-border family matters can involve jurisdiction, service abroad, recognition of foreign decisions, custody, maintenance, evidence and urgent protective measures. Early advice is especially important where proceedings or assets exist in more than one country.
Inheritance and estates with assets in Turkey
Foreign heirs may need to obtain or recognise inheritance documents, identify Turkish assets, deal with land-registry or bank procedures, resolve disputes between heirs or arrange representation from abroad.
See Inheritance Law.
Criminal investigations and defence
A foreign national involved in a Turkish criminal investigation should understand the accusation, procedural status, immediate rights, available evidence and any travel or judicial-control restriction. Urgent legal assistance may be necessary before or during a police statement, prosecutor interview or court hearing.
See Criminal Law.
Litigation, enforcement and debt recovery
Before filing a claim or enforcement proceeding, the legal basis, evidence, jurisdiction, limitation periods, recoverability and expected cost should be assessed. Foreign judgments and documents may require separate recognition, enforcement, translation or legalisation steps.
See Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law.
Can you hire a lawyer in Turkey from abroad?
Yes. An initial assessment can usually begin remotely by email, telephone or online meeting. The client can first provide a concise chronology and the most important documents. Sensitive information should be shared only through an agreed and secure channel.
Formal representation may require a power of attorney. Depending on the client’s location and the intended legal act, it may be issued before a Turkish consulate or through an appropriate foreign-notary and legalisation process. The wording should match the actual task; an unnecessarily broad or unsuitable power of attorney can create delays.
Read the Power of Attorney Guide before arranging the document.
How to verify an English-speaking lawyer in Turkey
Before sending confidential documents or making a payment, take the following steps:
- Confirm professional registration. Search the lawyer’s name through the official Union of Turkish Bar Associations system.
- Identify who will handle the matter. Ask whether the named lawyer will remain responsible or whether the work will be passed to another person.
- Check the relevant experience. A lawyer may practise in several fields, but the proposed strategy should demonstrate an understanding of the type of matter involved.
- Request the scope in writing. The engagement document should identify the client, lawyer, work included, exclusions, legal fee and expected expenses.
- Verify payment details. Confirm the account holder and independently check any unexpected change to bank or contact information.
- Avoid guarantees. Court, administrative and negotiation outcomes depend on facts, evidence, law and third-party decisions. A professional assessment should discuss uncertainty rather than promise success.
- Protect confidential information. Do not send passports, financial records or sensitive case documents to an unverified intermediary.
What happens during the initial consultation?
The first legal assessment is used to understand the situation and decide what should happen next. It is helpful to prepare:
- Your identification and contact details
- A short chronology of events
- Contracts, correspondence, notices and payment records
- Court, enforcement or administrative documents
- The date on which each important document was received
- Existing case or reference numbers
- A clear description of the result you want to achieve
During the consultation, the available documents, urgent deadlines, possible legal routes, evidence needs, estimated stages and cost categories can be discussed. If representation is appropriate, the proposed scope and fee should then be recorded in writing.
Learn what to prepare for an initial consultation.
How much does a lawyer in Turkey cost?
There is no single fee for every legal matter. The appropriate fee depends on the type and value of the work, urgency, expected stages, number of hearings, volume of documents, language requirements and whether representation is limited or continuing.
Legal fees and anticipated expenses should be explained in a written agreement. Court fees, expert fees, translation, notarisation, travel and other third-party costs may be separate from the lawyer’s professional fee. Turkish minimum-fee rules may also apply.
Review the office’s current explanation of Legal Fees in Turkey.
Why choose direct representation?
International clients often lose time when information passes through multiple intermediaries. Direct communication with the responsible lawyer helps preserve context and makes it easier to understand who is taking each procedural step.
The office’s approach includes:
- Direct assessment and handling by the lawyer
- Written explanation of scope, fees and expected expenses
- Clear discussion of strengths, weaknesses and alternatives
- Attention to service dates, limitation periods and appeal deadlines
- Regular material updates in understandable English
- Remote consultation for clients outside Istanbul or Türkiye
- Confidential handling of documents and communications
The office is based in Istanbul and can advise or represent clients in matters before courts and authorities across Türkiye where the applicable procedural rules allow. Meetings are arranged by appointment. See the Istanbul office information.
Frequently asked questions
Is Av. Emre Arslan registered to practise law in Turkey?
The public professional profile states that Av. Emre Arslan was admitted to practise in Türkiye in 2023 and is a member of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations. Clients should independently verify every lawyer through the official TBB Lawyer Search before instructing them.
Can the consultation and legal advice be provided in English?
Yes. Consultations and client communications are available in English as well as Turkish and Spanish. Official submissions and proceedings must be handled in the form required by the relevant Turkish authority.
Do I need to travel to Turkey to start the process?
Not necessarily. Many matters can begin with a remote consultation and document review. Whether travel, personal attendance or a power of attorney is later required depends on the procedure.
Can an Istanbul lawyer handle a matter elsewhere in Turkey?
Turkish lawyers may act before courts and authorities throughout Türkiye, subject to the procedural requirements of the particular matter. Practical issues such as travel, local hearings and costs should be discussed in advance.
Will I work directly with the lawyer?
Yes. The stated working model is direct handling by Av. Emre Arslan, including the initial assessment, strategy, written work, hearing preparation and material client updates.
Can a lawyer guarantee that my case will succeed?
No responsible lawyer should guarantee the outcome of litigation, an administrative application, a negotiation or an enforcement process. Legal advice should identify the available options, evidence, risks and realistic next steps.
How can I request an appointment?
You can call or send a short WhatsApp message to +90 544 171 3673, email info@emrearslan.av.tr, or use the contact form. For urgent or time-sensitive matters, identify the relevant deadline in your first message.
Request legal assistance in English
If you need an English-speaking lawyer in Turkey, send a concise description of the matter, the main dates and the documents already available. The first assessment can identify whether urgent action is needed, what further information should be obtained and whether the office can assist with the required scope.
Request an initial consultation or contact the Istanbul office.
This page provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Every matter depends on its own facts, documents, deadlines and current law. Sending an enquiry does not by itself create a lawyer-client relationship.
