The partners, attorneys and staff of Merit Law LLP.
Nora Busra Turan and Beyza Candelen are admitted in the United States. The firm's Istanbul Bar members advise on Turkish law.
Partner · Attorney
Nora Busra Turan's work covers business, immigration and international matters. She holds an LL.M. from Boston University and an LL.B. from Marmara University, and works from the principal office in Houston, Texas. She is the responsible attorney for the firm's advertising.
Partner · Lawyer, Istanbul Bar (Turkey)
Murat Erdoğan is based in Virginia. He handles client relations and Turkish business matters, and is a point of contact for Turkish businesses and U.S. companies with operations in Turkey.
Partner · Lawyer, Istanbul Bar (Turkey)
Murat Akkoç's work covers criminal law, human rights and international proceedings.
Former judge, Court of Cassation (Turkey) · International law, Ph.D.
Dr. Özbey provides academic analysis, consulting support and written opinions in cases involving Turkish law, international human rights, constitutional law and criminal law.
His earlier career in Turkey included service as a judge of the Criminal Chambers and of the Criminal General Assembly of the Court of Cassation, as a Rapporteur Judge at the Constitutional Court, as a public prosecutor and as a lecturer at the Justice Academy. He has written five books and academic articles.
Attorney
Beyza Candelen's practice is immigration law, with an emphasis on asylum and removal defense. She handles asylum applications, removal defense proceedings and related immigration matters for individuals and families.
Lawyer, Istanbul Bar (Turkey) · Turkish law
Ramazan Bayar advises on Turkish law, including property law, intellectual property, information technology and cybersecurity law, trademark law and arbitration.
Network counsel · Turkish & European law, INTERPOL matters
Ali Yıldız is based in Brussels and is the founder of Ali Yildiz Legal, a separate firm. He works with Merit Law LLP on INTERPOL matters, the protection of personal data, and Turkish and European law questions.
Case Manager, immigration
Ruslan Tashkenbay is a case manager on immigration matters. He supports case preparation.
Chinese-language services · Case Manager
Bedii Gurcan coordinates Chinese-language services as a case manager and helps clients and the legal team communicate with each other.
Paralegal
Leyla Özbey is a paralegal on the team.
U.S.-law matters are handled only by U.S.-licensed attorneys. Turkish-law matters are handled by colleagues who are members of the Istanbul Bar. The admissions table below shows where each person is licensed.
Titles are shown as the firm uses them. The licence column lists where each lawyer is licensed: U.S. states, or Turkey (Istanbul Bar).
| Name | Title | Licensed in | Official record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nora Busra Turan | Partner · Attorney | Texas, New York, Maryland | Texas: No. 24130180 · Look up New York: No. 6169528 · Look up Maryland: No. 2310300012 · Look up |
| Murat Erdoğan | Partner · Lawyer, Istanbul Bar (Turkey) | Turkey (Istanbul Bar) | – |
| Murat Akkoç | Partner · Lawyer, Istanbul Bar (Turkey) | Turkey (Istanbul Bar) | – |
| Dr. Özcan Özbey | Former judge, Court of Cassation (Turkey) · International law, Ph.D. | – | – |
| Beyza Candelen | Attorney | New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania | New York: No. 6268247 · Look up New Jersey: Look up Pennsylvania: Look up |
| Ramazan Bayar | Lawyer, Istanbul Bar (Turkey) · Turkish law | Turkey (Istanbul Bar) | – |
| Ali Yıldız | Network counsel · Turkish & European law, INTERPOL matters | – | – |
| Ruslan Tashkenbay | Case Manager, immigration | – | – |
| Bedii Gurcan | Chinese-language services · Case Manager | – | – |
| Leyla Özbey | Paralegal | – | – |
Merit Law LLP collaborates with these independent law firms on cross-border matters. They are separate firms and are not part of Merit Law LLP.
Reviewed October 2026
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., office local time. We reply in English, Turkish and Chinese.