DLA Piper has made its debut in Turkey after agreeing an association with Istanbul law firm YukselKarkınKucuk (YKK).

The deal sees the international giant gain a foothold in one of Europe’s emerging economies via the 45-lawyer YKK, which was launched in 2006. Founding partners Melek Yuksel, Murat Karkin and Muharrem Kucuk left Birsel Law Office, Herguner Bilgen Ozeke and Pekin & Bayer respectively to open the firm.

YKK has acted on a number of notable instructions, including working for Turk Telecom on its $1bn IPO, the largest in Turkish history, representing Lukoil on its $500m purchase of Akpet and was counsel to Turkuaz on its $1.1bn acquisition of ATV-SABAH. The firm is also well regarded for its IP practice, with clients including Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson and Adobe.

DLA Piper has been active in Turkish matters for some time despite not having a presence in the jurisdiction. Last year the firm hired Marc Grossman, the former US Ambassador to Turkey, and also won the contract to lobby in the US on behalf of the Turkish Government. In addition DLA Piper is legal adviser to the Turkish Ministry of Health on the first every healthcare PPP in the country; the €250m Kayseri Integrated Health Campus.

Even so, local bar restrictions prohibit international firms from opening directly in Turkey so DLA Piper and YKK will have to operate as an association on Turkish law matters. These associations can only work on a legal consultancy basis and lawyers are not allowed to appear before the courts. A handful of international firms have established associations already, including White & Case, which has associations with Akol Avukatlik Buerosu (Istanbul) and Cakmak Avukatlik Buerosu (Ankara) and Denton Wilde Sapte, which is allied with Guener Law Office.