Ankara · Türkiye

Legal counsel for matters that move between Iran and Türkiye

Our bicultural law firm, based in Ankara, advises Iranian individuals and companies on real estate, corporate setup, residency, and family matters in Türkiye — and Turkish clients on their affairs in Iran — in Persian, Turkish, and English.

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There is always a way

English Türkçe فارسی
01 / About

One office,
two jurisdictions,
native counsel on both sides of the border

Cross-border legal work between Iran and Türkiye is rarely just document translation from one language to another. What's at stake is translation between two legal systems, two regulatory cultures, and two ways of structuring a transaction — without friction, delay, or the silent errors that surface months later as a stalled title, a frozen bank account, or a case filed in the wrong forum.

Himayet was built on a simple principle: clients who operate across the border deserve counsel who count as native on both sides. The firm is led by two partners — one admitted to the Tehran Bar, the other to the Ankara Bar — practising from a shared office in the Turkish capital.

Our work is conducted in Persian, Turkish, and English. Our clients include private individuals, family offices, companies, and foreign law firms looking for a reliable local partner.

02 / Practice areas

Eight practice areas,
grounded in the realities of bilateral work

Each of the areas below emerges from the particular issues that arise when the legal centre of gravity of a case is in one country and its practical centre of gravity in another. Our clients' matters often touch two or three areas at once.

01

Real estate
and property

For most Iranian clients, the first question is about real estate — an apartment in Çankaya, a villa on the Aegean coast, or a commercial property for rental income. Turkish law imposes specific conditions on foreign acquisition, and Iranian buyers encounter practical constraints often invisible from abroad. We handle every stage of an acquisition, from start to finish.

  • Title, encumbrance, and zoning review
  • Military security clearance for foreign buyers
  • Title transfer (TAPU) and notarial representation
  • Citizenship through real estate investment
  • Lease agreements and landlord-tenant disputes
  • Partition and inheritance of real property
  • Construction and revenue-sharing contracts
  • Valuation reports by SPK-licensed experts
02

Commercial law
and business

Iranian entrepreneurs increasingly channel their international activity through Turkish legal structures — limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, or branch offices. On the other side, Turkish trading counterparties maintaining commercial relationships with Iran need careful contract drafting and alert reading of systemic risks. We advise on company formation, commercial contracts, and the full operational cycle of a two-sided business.

  • LLC, joint-stock, branch, and liaison office setup
  • Shareholder and joint-venture agreements
  • Distribution, agency, and supply contracts
  • Import-export and customs documentation
  • Employment law for foreign staff and founders
  • Trademark and IP registration in Türkiye
  • Corporate governance and board advisory
  • Banking, payments, and regulatory compliance
03

Residency, citizenship
and immigration

A family's or founder's legal strategy is rarely complete without a clear answer to the residency question. Türkiye offers several routes — short-term residence, long-term residence, family residence, student residence, work permit, and citizenship by investment or ordinary residence — each with its own documents, timelines, and obstacles. We map the route and execute it.

  • Short-term and long-term residence
  • Family residence and dependants
  • Work permits for employees and founders
  • Turkish citizenship by investment
  • Citizenship acquisition through ordinary residence
  • Student and academic residence
  • Appeals against adverse decisions
  • Address registration and civil status
04

Family, inheritance
and personal status

Marriage, divorce, custody arrangements, and estates that cross the Iran–Türkiye border are among the most sensitive matters we handle. The two legal systems make different assumptions about jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of foreign judgments, and inheritance shares. Our task is to reduce that complexity to a clear roadmap for those affected.

  • Registration of foreign marriages and divorces
  • Divorce and jurisdictional analysis
  • Child custody across two legal systems
  • Inheritance and estate planning in two jurisdictions
  • Powers of attorney valid in both jurisdictions
  • Name change and correction of civil records
  • Wills, trusts, and family settlements
  • Apostille and consular certification
05

Dispute resolution
and litigation

When negotiation is not enough, litigation or arbitration becomes necessary. Our work covers filing suit in Turkish courts, arbitration under ICC and ISTAC rules, recognition and enforcement of Iranian court judgments and arbitral awards in Türkiye — and, where appropriate, in the reverse direction. We prefer settlement, but we are ready for trial.

  • Commercial litigation in Turkish courts
  • Domestic and international arbitration
  • Enforcement of foreign court and arbitral awards
  • Debt collection and enforcement proceedings
  • Filing or defending criminal proceedings
  • Pre-litigation mediation and negotiation
  • Interim measures and asset preservation
  • Representation before prosecutors and investigative bodies
06

Contract law
and commercial agreements

At every stage of a commercial contract — from preliminary protocols and contract documents to negotiation and final signature — we provide comprehensive legal support. Our bicultural command of Turkish and Iranian business and legal culture allows early identification of risks and ambiguities, and helps clients avoid disputes, financial loss, and breach of contract. In the event of a breach, we act decisively through counsel, mediation, arbitration, litigation, enforcement, termination, damages claims, and restitution of funds or goods.

  • Partnership agreements
  • Purchase and sale agreements
  • Investment agreements
  • Franchise and agency agreements
  • Construction and contractor agreements
  • Consultancy and services agreements
  • Employment and commission agreements
  • Distribution and dedicated cross-border contracts
07

Enforcement
of court judgments

Obtaining a judgment in the client's favour is only the first step in securing their rights — what makes justice real is the effective enforcement of that judgment. We initiate and pursue enforcement proceedings before Turkish Enforcement Offices (İcra Daireleri); we handle the recognition and enforcement (tanıma ve tenfiz) of foreign court judgments and arbitral awards before Turkish courts; and where a debtor refuses to comply, we take all necessary steps — asset tracing, attachment, interim measures, and forced execution — to protect the client's interests.

  • Initiating and pursuing enforcement proceedings
  • Enforcement of court judgments and writs
  • Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments
  • Asset discovery and collection strategies
  • Attachment of movable and immovable property
  • Enforcement of receivables (bank accounts, wages, third-party claims)
  • Objections and defence against enforcement actions
  • Negotiation and settlement at the enforcement stage
08

Education
and academic pathways

For many individuals and families, access to quality education is the first step to building a future in Türkiye. From university admission to student residency and long-term settlement, this path requires careful planning, correct documentation, and familiarity with educational and immigration frameworks. We design a clear roadmap and manage each stage with care.

  • University admission and application strategy
  • Equivalency (denklik) and diploma recognition
  • Preparation and certification of academic documents
  • Student residence and its renewal
  • Transfers between universities and programmes
  • Academic appeals and administrative procedures
  • Transition from student status to work permit
  • Long-term residence and citizenship pathways
03 / Partners

Two founding partners,
two bars, one shared practice

Maedeh Erfani
Maedeh Erfani
Founding Partner · Iranian Counsel
Admissions: Alborz Bar Association (Iran)
Languages: Persian · English · Turkish
Education: Ph.D. in Public Law, Shahid Beheshti University · Postdoctoral Researcher, Middle East Technical University (Ankara)

With over twelve years of legal practice in Iran before relocating to Ankara, Maedeh Erfani specialises in civil and commercial litigation, contracts, public-law disputes, and family matters. She has particular experience handling files for clients based abroad and acting as legal representative for Iranian companies in Türkiye, delivering cross-border legal services with a strong command of enforcement and contractual issues.

Fatih Yamen
Fatih Yamen
Founding Partner · Turkish Counsel
Admissions: Ankara Bar Association (Ankara Barosu)
Languages: Turkish · English (basic) · German (basic)
Education: Ankara University Faculty of Law, 1988

Fatih Yamen graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Law in 1988 and, after practising in Kocaeli, Gebze, İstanbul, and İzmir, co-founded Denge Hukuk Bürosu in Ankara — now operating as GFD Hukuk. He specialises in private-law matters, with extensive experience in damages, contract, and real-estate law, as well as administrative and tax disputes and employment law. Over many years he has served as long-term counsel and adviser to national and international companies including Colorobbia-Bittosi (Italy), Alarko Holding, Akfen Holding, Inductotherm İndüksiyon Sistemleri, Plascam Plastik, and Metrotel, among others.

04 / Why Ankara

Our practice is in Ankara, by design

Ankara is the city where the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre holds all Turkish real estate records. Central civil and criminal courts hear the most important cases; the General Directorate of Migration Management reviews all residence and citizenship files; and the Embassy and Consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran are located here. For a firm with clients of different nationalities, proximity to these institutions is not a luxury — it is an operational necessity.

01

Land Registry

Direct access to the land registry for title queries, encumbrance checks, and registration.

02

Migration Directorate

All residence and citizenship files run through Ankara. We are minutes from the review desk.

03

Iranian Consulate

Official documents, powers of attorney, and certifications arranged in the shortest time.

04

Central Courts

The central courts handling commercial, administrative, and family matters are all in this city.

05 / Working process

A process designed to produce no surprises

— 01 Consultation

First conversation

A meeting in the language of your choice; we understand the matter, identify the legal questions, and tell you honestly whether we are the right firm for this file.

— 02 Engagement letter

Scope and fee letter

A written engagement letter setting out scope of work, deliverables, timeline, and fees. We work on fixed fee wherever possible, hourly where necessary. No invoice will surprise you.

— 03 Execution

The work itself

A named partner will be your single point of contact, and with regular updates in your chosen language, documents are organised so that you can follow the file at any moment.

— 04 Afterwards

An ongoing relationship

Most of our clients return for their next matters. We keep files indefinitely, renew expired powers of attorney, and are ready for the next issue on either side of the border.

06 / Frequently asked

Questions we hear often

Can you represent me from Iran, before I come to Türkiye?

Yes. Most of our Iranian clients begin the engagement before entering Türkiye. With a valid power of attorney — drawn up at the Turkish Embassy in Tehran or at a Turkish notary during a short trip — we can carry out most real estate and corporate matters without your continuous presence.

Do you advise on sanctions?

We advise on the regulatory framework from a Turkish law perspective and on general international risks. We do not provide legal advice on US or EU sanctions based on those jurisdictions' domestic law; where these regimes are engaged, we coordinate with specialist foreign counsel and help structure the Turkish-law side of the case.

What language will our communication be in?

Your choice: Persian, Turkish, or English. Our partners work at native level in at least two of these languages. Official documents are drafted in the language required by the reviewing authority, with certified translation where necessary.

How are your fees structured?

Fixed fee for standard matters — title transfer, company formation, residency application, power of attorney. Hourly rate for litigation, transactions requiring extensive negotiation, and bespoke advisory. Before any engagement, a scope and fee letter is provided.

Can you refer me to lawyers in other Turkish cities?

Yes. We work continuously with trusted firms in İstanbul, İzmir, Antalya, and the southeastern provinces; when a local presence is required, we instruct them on your behalf — while remaining the single point of contact for the file.

Do you work with foreign lawyers?

Regularly. We often serve as local Turkish or Iranian counsel alongside international firms handling matters for a shared client. Counsel-to-counsel arrangements are transparent: we confirm scope, fees, and confidentiality protocols from the outset.

07 / Contact

Write to us.
Briefly. In any of our three languages

For a first consultation, please contact us with a brief description of the matter and your preferred language for communication. Our aim is to respond within one business day.

Office
Cinnah Caddesi, Kırkpınar Sokak No: 10–15
Çankaya, Ankara, Türkiye
Telephone
+90 543 184 75 77
WhatsApp
+90 543 184 75 77
Email
maedeherfani@gmail.com
Office hours
Monday – Friday
09:00 – 18:00 Türkiye time