Lauded as a 'powerhouse across maritime law matters', Ersoy Bilgehan Lawyers & Consultants is a trusted advisor to shipowners, P&I Clubs, H&M insurers, and cargo owners, handling complex disputes in the shipping and transportation sectors. The team is also a key player in ship finance, regularly advising international lenders on major loan facilities. Its contentious expertise spans civil and criminal cases, including pollution incidents, injuries, and narcotics investigations. Zihni Bilgehan plays a pivotal role in the firm’s transactional success. With over 35 years of experience, Ergun Ersoy offers unmatched expertise in wet shipping matters. Mehmet Raci Alper handles a diverse range of disputes, including collisions, groundings, salvages, crew injuries, and cargo damage. Emre Ersoy is praised for his 'exceptional expertise' and excels in both contentious and non-contentious shipping law.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Emre Ersoy stands out for his exceptional expertise, strategic mindset, and unwavering dedication to clients.'
‘The team is highly efficient and competent.’
‘Ersoy Bilgehan is a powerhouse across maritime law matters but particularly in maritime litigation matters, although we have also had a very good impression of them in ship finance matters.’
‘Partners and associates at the firm are efficient, knowledgeable, approachable and well respected in the industry.’
‘Ersoy Bilgehan team is highly skilled, extremely professional and ambitious in delivering the best-class service. I have worked with the team in multiple transactions and always received high-level service and great attention with a sense of urgency.’
‘Mehmet Raci Alper assisted us in a potential demurrage claim and we were very fascinated by his competence and expertise.'
‘We were very impressed with Mehmet Raci Alper's service. He was highly knowledgeable in the field of Turkish maritime/admiralty law, extremely prompt in dealing with urgent matters, and made himself available through various communication channels in a live matter.'
‘Emre Ersoy is very skilled and accessible.'
Key clients
- Holman Fenwick Willan
- Willis Towers Watson
- Wk Webster & Co
- Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation
- Orient Overseas Container Line
- Shourai Marine
- MMSL Pte
- Mitsui Simutomo Insurance
- Warstila Finland Oy
- Hiscox Mga
- Aston FFI Suisse
- DVB Bank SE
- Sidra Maritime
- Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co
- TT Club
- DNV
- American Bureau of Shipping
- Oldendorff Carriers
- CMA CGM
- Drydocks World
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Apollo Underwriting
- NorthStandard
- Turk P&I Insurance
- Synergas Srl
- Arcadia Hellas
- Kalimbassieris Maritime
- Cosco Shipping
- Eren Holding A.S.
- The Swedish Club
- Aurora P&I Club
- Gard P&I Club
- Genel Denizcilik Nakliyati A.S.
- Ekol Lojistik A.S.
- Kyla Shipping
- Genimar Shipping & Trading SA
- Ignazio Messina & C
- Aare Lines
- LTA Shipping FZCO
- Molla Navigation
- Micoperi S.R.L.
- Kefalonia Shipping S.A.
- Ocean Network Express
- Alpha Mare SA
- Dima Shipping & Trading Co
- Grampus Marine Co
Work highlights
- Assisting insurers and charterers of YM WITNESS with matters surrounding a collision incident with three shore cranes.
- Representing the shipowners, bareboat charterers, P&I club, and insurers of M/V BENITAMOUR in matters concerning a collision.
- Assisting the charterers of a container vessel that ran aground.
Lawyers

Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Ergun Ersoy, Zihni Bilgehan, Mehmet Raci Alper, Emre Ersoy