Commercial Disputes and Debt Recovery in Türkiye

A Turkish customer does not pay, a distribution agreement is to be terminated, a separation from a managing director is due, or a business partner files for konkordato. We represent foreign companies and their Turkish subsidiaries in such disputes, out of court, in mandatory mediation, before the Turkish courts and in enforcement proceedings.

Key Facts

  • Enforcement without a prior judgment: Monetary claims can be pursued directly before the enforcement office in Türkiye; if the debtor does not object to the payment order within seven days, enforcement may proceed.
  • Mandatory mediation: Before filing a claim for payment in commercial matters and before most employment claims, an attempt at mediation is a procedural requirement.
  • Securing assets early: A preliminary attachment (ihtiyati haciz) allows the debtor's assets to be secured at the outset, generally against security.
  • Foreign judgments: Judgments of German, Austrian or other foreign courts become enforceable in Türkiye only after court recognition and enforcement proceedings (tenfiz).
  • Short deadlines: Whether a distributor's compensation claim, protection against dismissal or a claim filing in konkordato, many claims are subject to short and partly preclusive deadlines.

Our Advice and Representation at a Glance

  1. Debt recovery — notarial demand letters, enforcement with and without a title, attachment of bank accounts, receivables, vehicles and real estate, preliminary attachment and actions to set aside objections.
  2. Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments — review of the requirements, exequatur proceedings before the competent Turkish court and subsequent enforcement.
  3. Termination of distribution and agency agreements — termination, compensation claims, non-compete obligations and wind-down, on the side of the manufacturer as well as the distribution partner.
  4. Employment disputes and separation from managing directors — terminations, reinstatement and wage claims, dismissal of managing directors and representation before the labour courts.
  5. Insolvency and konkordato of the debtor — claim filing, representation of creditors' interests in the proceedings and review of the restructuring proposal.
  6. Directors' liability — liability claims against former managing directors and board members on behalf of the company.
  7. Mediation and settlement — representation in mandatory mediation and in settlement negotiations.

→ Preventing disputes: read about our ongoing support for your Turkish company »

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do we need a judgment to enforce in Türkiye? No. Turkish law provides for enforcement without a prior judgment, in which the enforcement office issues a payment order at the creditor's request. If the debtor objects, enforcement is stopped; the creditor may then have the objection set aside by the court, and an unjustified objection may give rise to compensation payable by the debtor.

Does a foreign creditor have to provide security in Türkiye? Under Turkish law, foreign claimants and creditors are in principle required to provide security for costs. This obligation, however, frequently does not apply on the basis of international conventions to which Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among others, are parties.

Can a German or Austrian judgment be enforced in Türkiye? Yes, after exequatur proceedings before the Turkish court. The requirements include a final judgment and reciprocity, which, depending on the state of origin, may be based on a treaty, on statutory provisions or on actual recognition practice. The court also examines, in particular, whether the defendant was duly summoned and whether the judgment is compatible with public policy.

Is our Turkish distributor entitled to compensation after termination? The Turkish Commercial Code expressly extends the commercial agent's compensation claim to exclusive distribution agreements and similar contractual relationships. The claim must be asserted within one year after the end of the contract; its amount depends largely on the customer base that has been built up.

Our debtor has filed for konkordato. What should we do? Once the moratorium is granted, enforcement measures against the debtor are in principle suspended. Creditors should file their claims with the commissioner within the published deadline and review the restructuring proposal, as it is put to a vote of the creditors.

How We Work

We advise and represent in English, German and Turkish and handle communication with courts, enforcement offices, mediators and the opposing party. In cross-border proceedings, as the Turkish member of the Schindhelm Alliance, we coordinate with the network's country offices; tax questions are handled in coordination with GEMS Serbest Muhasebeci Mali Müşavirlik A.Ş.

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Last updated: November 2026. This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice in an individual case.