At Arısoy Law, we provide strategic advisory and litigation support across all areas of employment law to a wide client base, from companies ranked in Turkiye's ISO 500 to international investors and family businesses. Across sectors including technology, mining, food production, construction, textiles, logistics and export-oriented industries, we maintain long-term, multidimensional advisory relationships with our clients, from the development of human resources policies to collective bargaining negotiations, the employment law aspects of mergers and acquisitions to senior executive exit processes. Our experience in managing complex negotiation processes forms the foundation of our work in this field.
The most effective strategy in employment law is preventing disputes before they arise. We provide our clients with preventive advisory services covering the entire employment relationship, from recruitment to the termination of the employment contract.
The preparation of individual employment contracts and the updating of existing contracts in line with current legislation and case law form the basis of this work. The drafting of workplace internal regulations, disciplinary procedures, confidentiality and non-compete undertakings, the mapping of employer obligations under the Labour Code and related legislation, and the structuring of compliance processes are among our services. We provide regular training and briefings to human resources departments and senior management on employment law, occupational health and safety, and social security legislation. We also manage work permit processes for foreign personnel that our international clients bring to Turkiye.
The employment relationships of general managers, executive board members and C-level executives require a different approach from standard employment contracts. Remuneration and bonus structures, share option plans, non-compete undertakings, confidentiality obligations and the scope of the role each require separate negotiation and structuring.
We advise our clients on the preparation and negotiation of senior executive contracts. In executive appointments, we structure the contractual framework in alignment with the company's commercial objectives and governance principles. In executive exit processes, we manage the process while protecting our client's rights on matters such as mutual termination agreements, severance and notice pay structuring, and the scope and duration of non-compete and confidentiality obligations. Reputational risk and internal communication strategy are also factors we take into account in these processes.
Collective labour relations carry dynamics that differ from individual employment law. Union authorisation processes, collective bargaining negotiations and strike-lockout procedures require both legal knowledge and negotiation capacity.
We represent our clients in collective bargaining negotiations with unions, structuring the provisions relating to wages and social benefits, occupational health and safety, vocational training and employment policies in alignment with our client's operational realities. Following the entry into force of the agreement, we advise on interpretation differences that arise in practice and represent our clients in mediation and judicial proceedings in collective labour disputes. In non-unionised workplaces, we also guide our clients on the management of relations with employee representatives.
Disputes arising from the employment relationship have a direct impact on a company's operational continuity and reputation. We represent our clients at every stage, from the effective management of mandatory pre-litigation mediation, a prerequisite under Turkish law, to the litigation phase.
Claims relating to severance and notice pay, overtime, annual leave pay and other employment receivables, reinstatement cases, workplace psychological harassment (mobbing) claims, compensation claims arising from occupational accidents and diseases, and service determination and insurance premium disputes fall within the scope of this work. We provide our clients with both pre-dispute advisory and representation in litigation on matters such as the application of the valid reason and last resort principles in the termination of employment contracts, and the conduct of termination notices and defence-taking procedures in compliance with legislation. In collective redundancy processes, we conduct a separate risk assessment for each employee to ensure the legal and operational integrity of the process.
Corporate mergers, acquisitions and restructuring processes bring with them critical questions for employees regarding the transfer of employment contracts, changes to working conditions and job security. If these questions are not properly managed, they can put the transaction itself at risk.
At Arısoy Law, we manage the employment law aspects of mergers and acquisitions from the inception of the transaction to closing. At the due diligence stage, we map the target company's employment contracts, collective bargaining agreements, ongoing litigation, employment liabilities and social security obligations. We develop solutions appropriate to the structure of the transaction on matters such as workplace transfers, changes in the employer and material changes to working conditions. In restructuring processes, we have experience in the preparation and negotiation of settlement agreements with employees in downsizings, collective redundancy plans and factory closures. Our coordinated work with our mergers and acquisitions and debt restructuring practices enables us to provide an integrated service in this area.