About Us
Soner Alemdar is a leading Turkish law firm with a top-tier global reputation in both advisory and contentious matters.
Our team of international lawyers and advisors combines dynamism with a 40-year senior experience in legal practice. We offer an international approach when providing comprehensive legal services to our well-respected clients globally.
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European Real Estate Outlook for 2019
Despite the geopolitical uncertainties looming in the year ahead, the outlook forEuropean real estate remains positive with a broadly supportive economic backdropand bullish market sentiment. Even Spain, one of the hardest hit European countriesduring the 2008 financial crisis, has come back strongly and is now seen as one ofthe stable investment bets in the region.
“Germany replaces the UK as Europe's Number 1 safe haven’’A number of institutional investors are betting on Germany as one of the winninglocations and they are not alone. Transaction volumes in Germany overtook the UKfor the first time in 2016 since 2012, due to the cooling down of the London market inparticular. Thomas Barrack, CEO of US private equity company Colony Capital, andincidentally one of Trump’s key advisors, believes that Europe as a whole representsa big opportunity. Interestingly, his firm has also been targeting Germany, inparticular Berlin, as well as markets such as Ireland, our CapitalWatch editor RobinMarriott writes in his monthly.
For 2017, Hutchings sees room for prime yields in Western Europe to tighten by 30-40 bps while rents are set to rise by 2-3% across the board. Spain in particular is wellpositioned for the coming years, our Madrid briefing heard. Following its new-foundpolitical stability, the country is heading for a period of sustained and sustainablegrowth as it continues to move from being one of the most uncertain to the moststable market in Europe. As David Brush, chief investment officer of MerlinProperties, put it: ‘Spain is the adult in the room.’
Despite the many political and economic uncertainties clouding Europe’s future, thereal estate industry is upbeat about most of its major markets. But Brexit is re-shaping the European real estate map.
CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT
TURKISH CITIZENSHIP WITH INVESTMENT
Enacted on 12th January 2017, Ankara will grant citizenship to foreigners who buy atleast USD 250.000 worth of real estate or have at least USD 500.000 deposited inTurkish banks, under the condition that this money won’t be withdrawn and the realestate sold for at least 3 years. After the July 15th attempted coup there has been aslowdown in foreign sales, and the government hopes that this new policy will act asan incentive and attract foreign buyers.
https://soneralemdarlaw.com/turkey-citizenship.html
NEW TURKISH APPEAL SYSTEM INTRODUCED
On July 20, 2016, a new appeal procedure has entered into force in Turkey withrespect to the relevant articles laid down by the Turkish Civil Procedure Code, namedas “İstinaf Mahkemeleri” in Turkish. In this regard, 7 regional courts in major cities(İstanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Antalya, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Samsun) have beenestablished initially and the previous appeal system has been changed. Decisionsgiven by the Turkish Courts of First Instance prior to July 20, 2016 will however besubject to the former appeal system
https://soneralemdarlaw.com/new-turkish- appeal-system.html
EB-5 US Investor Visa / Green Card Program
The EB-5 investor visa is a green card option for a foreign entrepreneur who is willingto buy or start a business as direct Investment or to invest in a job-creating project inthe USA.
The bill regulating such program was originally due to lapse on September 30, 2015but was extended several times over the year. Prior to the expiration of the mostrecent extension until December 16th 2015, the US Congress was consideringvarious immigration bills that would renovate the EB-5 program. Some of thechanges that were being discussed within that scope was as follows;
- Minimum capital threshold requirement would be increased to $800,000 forhigh unemployment areas and $1,200,000 for other areas
- Targeted employment area definition would be amended in a way thateliminates important metropolitan areas from consideration
- Development of a system to ensure that new EB-5 capital investment projectsare pre-approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS) to provide security to investors with more predictable USCISprocessing of visa applications.
However, the EB-5 program has been renewed in its present state until September30, 2016 with no changes, as there were many controversies going on the proposedamendments and it became clear that certain points of the draft needed furthernegotiation, comment, and study.
The upcoming months will be critical in ensuring that members of the EB-5 industrywork together to ensure that meaningful reforms take place that will protect allplayers of the industry
https://soneralemdarlaw.com/us-eb- 5-program.html
TURKISH ENERGY NEWS
Turkey’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan has announced that the the Trans-AnatolianNatural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) Project is ahead of schedule, and its completion maylikely be earlier than the projected 2018 date. TANAP will bring natural gas primarilyto Turkey, but will also supply other European countries via the Trans-AdriaticPipeline (TAP).
The International Court of Arbitrage ruled in favor of Turkey over a gap price disputebetween Turkey and Iran, leaving Iran to pay USD 1.9 billion in compensation. In2012, Turkey sued Iran for overpricing on gas purchases during the four-year periodbetween 2011 and 2015. The two countries have also agreed on a 13.3 percentdiscount on gas prices delivered from Iran to Turkey.
Renewables to mark energy growth in next 25 years: IEA chief
The renewable energy sector will see the highest growth among all sectors in thenext 25 years, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said, whilewarning about a serious slowdown in the oil sector. “With the launch of ambitiousrenewable energy policies and the accompanying incentives by China and the U.S.,we expect the lowering trend in renewable energy costs to continue,” he noted
NEW JAPANESE INVESTMENTS IN TURKEY
Many Japanese companies have recently set their sights on investing in the Aegeanprovince of Izmir, a region seen as the opening gate to European, Middle Easternand North African markets. Investing companies include Japanese food giant NipponHam, spare automotive parts manufacturer Denso Corp and Yanmar Corp, andJapan’s Sun Chemical, which has started a factory in the Aliağa district in a USD 30million investment. Inci Holding, one of the Aegean’s largest conglomerates, andJapan’s GS Yuasa Corp signed a deal to collaborate in research and development toco-produce car batteries.
Publications
Turkish Citizenship by Investment in 2020
As the leading Turkish law firm advising on global and Turkish citizenship and Turkish immigration law, we are pleased to offer our assistance to our foreign clients...
Company Formation in Turkey
At Soner Alemdar we regularly assist foreign corporations and investors to form new companies and branches in Turkey. Thanks to the Turkish Direct Foreign Investment...
Renewable Energy in Turkey
The ever-increasing energy needs of a growing Turkish economy coupled with the environmentally damaging effects of fossil fuels has created a need for the development...
Turkish Citizenship with Investment Scheme from a Turkish Tax Perspective
According to the recently amended Regulation Regarding the Application of Turkish Citizenship Code, foreigners who qualify certain investment...
Tax Guide in Turkey 2020
Soner Alemdar provides advice on Turkish tax law and tax related matters to international and multinational clients in Turkey...
Doing Business In Turkey
We are mainly based in Istanbul, though we provide advice and legal services to our respected corporate and private clients in all over Turkey, its close region as well as on a global...
Obtaining Residency and Work Permit in Turkey
The foreigners who possess certain conditions in accordance with the Law on Foreigners and International Protection may obtain residency permit in Turkey...
Corporate Immigration in Turkey
An increasing number of people from various parts of the world are moving to Turkey to start a new life, to work or even to find peace of mind for their retirements...
Oil Gas Regulations in Turkey
Petroleum as one of the energy resources has great importance in human lives. Almost every sector in an economy directly or indirectly depends on petroleum...