Full-service firm Mehmet Gün & Partners has one of the country's leading contentious IP practices. In both patents and trade marks it has highly experienced and skilled litigators. The firm handles prosecution work, and on the trade mark side is said to be very good. Patents are only a small part of this area of the business, but it is developing in this capacity. The IP practice also advises on the enforcement and protection of copyright, designs and domain names. The firm has a large team of 33 lawyers and six attorneys based in Istanbul. Its client base is largely international – it represents large brands from the clothing, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, technology and automotive industries.
Pharmaceuticals is one of the firm's specialities. Recently, it was involved in several big cases, representing innovators and filing preliminary injunctions to stop the actions of generics.
Trade marks has been a particularly active area for the firm. It assisted a US confectionery client with a successful cancellation action against a competitor, and it was also in court on behalf of a large beverage producer, filing an infringement suit against a Turkish rival that it felt was attempting to profit off its name.
Clients are impressed by the firm. One, who considered the service "wonderful", says: "The firm was referred to us at a time when we were having some frustration with our current local counsel and it was able to come in and take over. The lawyers' language skills are perfect, and they are also more practical and strategic than some others we've worked with in Turkey."