Business lawyer: U.S. company formation, contracts, trademarks
U.S. company formation for foreign companies, contracts and partnership agreements, trademarks.
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What we handle
Business law for companies, founders and investors with ties to Turkey: setting up and protecting a U.S. business.
- U.S. company formationLLC or corporation formation in the U.S. when the owners live in Turkey or elsewhere abroad.
- Contracts and partnershipsPartnership, shareholder and operating agreements, and U.S.–Turkey contracts.
- Trademark and copyrightTrademark registration and protection for brand names and creative works in the U.S.
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Guides
Trademark and copyright
- U.S. Trademark Registration: A Guide for Brand Owners
- Trade Dress Protection in the U.S., and How Certification Marks Differ
- Getty v. Stability AI: Trademark and Copyright Lessons
- Group Registration of Unpublished Works (GRUW)
- Copyright Infringement and the Substantial Similarity Test
- Copyright Registration Benefits for Your Original Works
Nora Busra Turan
Partner · Attorney
Murat Erdoğan
Partner · Lawyer, Istanbul Bar (Turkey)
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Business Law: questions people ask
Do I need a lawyer to start a business?
You do not need a lawyer to file a Texas LLC, but a lawyer helps where mistakes cost money. A foreign-owned single-member LLC must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120, and missing it carries a $25,000 penalty. Merit Law LLP attorneys review the structure first.
What is the difference between a trademark and a copyright?
A trademark protects a name, logo or other sign that identifies goods or services, while copyright protects original creative work such as text, images and software. A USPTO trademark application costs $350 per class and a U.S. copyright registration $45 or $65 online (October 2026). An attorney reviews which protection fits.
LLC vs. C corp for a foreign owner: which is better?
An LLC or a C corporation is the usual choice for a foreign owner, because an S corporation cannot have a nonresident alien shareholder (26 U.S.C. 1361(b)(1)(C)). A Texas LLC costs $300 to file as of October 2026; a C corporation pays federal income tax at 21%. Merit Law LLP reviews the structure with your tax adviser; see company formation.
Can a US contract be enforced in Turkey?
A U.S. court judgment is enforced in Turkey only after a Turkish court grants a tenfiz decision and checks reciprocity (MÖHUK Arts. 50–51). Arbitration awards follow another route: both the U.S. (since 1970) and Turkey (since 1992) apply the New York Convention. An attorney reviews the forum clause; see contracts.
Sources and review date
Reviewed October 2026
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Talk to the firm
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., office local time. We reply in English, Turkish and Chinese.