Melissa Balıkçı Sezen

Biography

Melissa Balıkçı is a Senior Associate in the Corporate and Dispute Resolution departments of Erdem & Erdem. She provides legal advice mainly on matters relating to corporate law, contract law and business law.

She advises clients on a range of corporate and commercial matters across a number of sectors and has particular expertise in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and share transfer transactions. Melissa regularly advises on EPC contracts, including FIDIC contracts and has experience in drafting various types of contracts.

Melissa also specializes in international commercial arbitration. She represents parties from diverse backgrounds as counsel in arbitration proceedings conducted under various institutional rules such as the ICC, LCIA, ISTAC, ITOTAM and UNCITRAL and acts as tribunal-secretary.

Service Areas

Arbitration

An alternative to courts is an arbitrator-led method of dispute resolution.

Corporate Advisory

It covers all stages of a company's life cycle, from incorporation to liquidation.

International Commercial Contracts

Agreements to which international actors are a party.

International Commercial Transactions

Complex international economic transactions that focus on international legal systems.

Mergers and Acquisitions

The merger of two or more companies and the acquisition of one company by another.

Representative Matters

Corporate Advisory

Arbitration

Preparation of the due diligence report of a port-operator company, negotiation of the share purchase agreement, providing consultancy on the process
Providing consultancy regarding the process of purchasing the shares of a company in the climatization sector based in the UK
Providing consultancy regarding the process of purchasing the shares of a solar panel production company based in Hungary
Preparation of the due diligence report of a mining company, preparation and negotiation of the share purchase agreement, providing consultancy on the process
Advising on the establishment of a solar plant, preparation and negotiation of the EPC contract
Advising on the establishment of a soda ash factory to be established in Kazakhstan and providing consultancy on the process, preparation and negotiation of the EPC contract
Preparation of the due diligence report of a pipe manufacturing company
Advising on the establishment of a urea plant, preparation and negotiation of the EPC contract
Preparation of EPC contract to a leading port company related to expansion of a port
Providing consultancy to the renewable energy company during the installation of wind projects
Preparation of the construction contract within the scope of a port construction project and providing consultancy on the process
Preparation of the construction contract within the scope of the Slab Stock Building construction project and providing consultancy regarding the process
Preparation of all tender documents, including the road construction contract, within the scope of a road project
Providing consultancy regarding the coal-fired power plant to be established in Turkey
Negotiating service and maintenance contracts on wind projects to Turkey's leading energy company
Preparation of the due diligence report of 4 different Turkish companies operating in the field of transportation and logistics, providing consultancy regarding the due diligence of foreign subsidiaries
Review of a leading port company's contract and security package
Acquisition of the shares of five companies in Turkey and Russia and its partner in joint-venture to a holding operating in the construction sector
Preparation of the FIDIC Short Form Contract to an international bank and consultancy on the process
Advising on a share and trademark pledge to a leading bank

Representation of the respondents and counterclaimants in an arbitration proceeding arising out of an electricity sales agreement before ISTAC
Providing consultancy regarding the lawsuit to be filed before ICSID, execution of third-party financing works
Acting as the secretary of the arbitral tribunal in an arbitration case under the ITOTAM Arbitration rules related to the establishment of a hydroelectric power plant
Representation of BMC Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş, the Respondent in an arbitration proceeding regarding breaches of contract for sale and know-how under the ICC Rules
Representation of Enerjeo Kemaliye Enerji Üretim A.Ş, the Respondent in an arbitration proceeding regarding breaches of a contract for sales and maintenance under the ICC Rules
Representation of the Respondent in an arbitration proceeding regarding breaches of an investment agreement between Ukrainian and Cypriot parties under the LCIA Rules
Representation of the Mauritius Respondent in an arbitration proceeding regarding breaches of a deposit advance agreement under the LCIA Rules
Representation of the Respondent against a world-wide freezing order before the English Courts
Providing legal assistance to a Venezuelan company regarding jurisdictional challenges under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules

Education

Queen Mary University of London, LLM in Comparative and International Dispute Resolution

King’s College London, Pre-Master’s Programme Law Pathway

Galatasaray University, Faculty of Law

Publications

Tahkimde Yargılama Giderleri ve Masrafları, Tahkim Yargılaması, Tahkim Okulu Paneller Serisi Cilt - 2, November 2021
16th ICC Turkey Arbitration Day, ICC Dispute Resolution Bulletin 2021-2.
Enforceability of Emergency Arbitrator Orders in Turkey and Take-Aways from the 15th ICC Turkey Arbitration Day, Kluwer Arbiration Blog, March 2020 (co-author)

60 Years of the New York Convention

Arbitration

A Recent Decision from the High Court of England and Wales: Confidentiality of Arbitration v Public Interest

Arbitration

Challenging Arbitrators and LCIA Challenge Decisions

Arbitration

Employer’s Remedies under FIDIC Silver Book

Commercial Law

Enka v Chubb: Law Applicable to the Arbitration Agreement

Arbitration

IBA Rules on Taking of Evidence in International Arbitration 2020

Arbitration