Biography

Specializes in M&A, corporate law, and banking and finance transactions, including corporate finance, project finance, acquisition finance, and real estate finance.
Focuses on cross-border private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and international joint ventures across the energy sector, including oil and gas, and renewables.
Advises on a wide range of corporate matters, including governance, regulatory compliance, and commercial contracts.
Provides pro-bono legal advice to support women and students in Türkiye.

Cemre Demirkaya Baykal is a Partner at Baykal|Saris Law Firm, specializing in M&A, corporate law, and banking and finance transactions. Based in Istanbul, she has a proven track record of providing exceptional legal services to both international and domestic clients. With extensive experience in the legal field, Cemre is known for her strategic thinking, attention to detail, and negotiation skills.

Before her current role, Cemre served as Regional Legal Counsel for an international company, handling mergers, acquisitions, and divestments, and providing legal support for various business units. She also worked as an Associate at one of the leading law firms, advising foreign clients on M&A, project finance, and real estate deals.

Representative Work

Advised bp International Limited on the sale of bp’s downstream retail business in Türkiye.
Advising bp Türkiye on day-to-day corporate law matters including but not limited to drafting contracts, regulatory compliance matters, aligning with the senior leadership team on deals and legal matters
Advised Castrol on divestment of Castrol Ukraine business.
Advised Smartex on local presence in Türkiye.
Advising Arkema and Bostik on day-to-day corporate law matters including but not limited to drafting contracts, regulatory compliance matters, aligning with the senior leadership team on complex deals and legal matters
Advised İskenderun Demir ve Celik Anonim Şirketi (İsdemir) (biggest iron and steel company in Türkiye) on the incorporation of a joint venture with Linde Grup to build a new air separation unit at İskenderun premises of İsdemir
Advised Crescent Capital on its acquisition of Akocak HEPP, a power plant located in Trabzon Türkiye from Akenerji, a Türkiye-based companyengaged in the power and steam generation as the buyer’s counsel and such project won the M&A acquisition finance deal of the year which was given by Bonds&Loans
This deal has been awarded M&A/Acquisition Finance Deal of the Year Award in Bonds & Loans Türkiye Awards

*List may include matters worked prior to incorporating Baykal|Saris.

Credentials

Education

Koc University, Graduate School of Business, Modular Master of Business Administration (MBA), (2018)
Koc University, Faculty of Law (with honors) (2013)
American Collegiate Institute, High School (2009)

Bar Admission

Admitted to Istanbul Bar (2014)

Languages

Turkish (Native), English (Advanced), French (Beginner)

Recognitions

Judge, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition – Turkish National Rounds, 2024
bp Delegate, One Young World, 2021
Best Oralist, Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, 2012

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