İsmail Mert Şanlı

Practice Areas

Litigation, Capital Markets, Asset Tracing & Recovery, Financial Crimes & Investigations, Energy

Career

Mert is a founding partner at Vardar Şanlı, focusing on international litigation, arbitration, and complex dispute resolution. He represents corporate and individual clients in high-stakes cross-border disputes. His work frequently involves coordinating legal strategies across jurisdictions and managing sophisticated enforcement processes. He also advises clients in regulated and capital-intensive sectors, including renewable energy, where disputes often arise in relation to investment structures, regulatory compliance, and project development.

In addition to his dispute resolution practice, Mert has significant expertise in financial crime and global asset recovery. He advises clients on fraud investigations, compliance failures, misconduct management, and cross-border asset tracing strategies. His practice also includes conducting internal investigations and assisting companies in strengthening their compliance and risk management frameworks.

Mert is also active in the crypto-assets sector, advising service providers on licensing, regulatory compliance, investigations, and disputes involving digital assets. He regularly assists clients in navigating the evolving regulatory landscape of crypto-assets and blockchain-based financial systems.

Prior to founding his own firm, Şanlı & Partners (currently known as Vardar Şanlı), in 2019, Mert worked at reputable law firms where he gained extensive experience in restructurings, M&As and financings, including project and acquisition financings in particular. He is fluent in English and French.

Mert has been ranked as Up and Coming in litigation practice area by Chambers and Partners in 2026.

Professional Memberships

European Criminal Bar Association (ECBA), Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), International Bar Association (IBA), International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA)

Languages Spoken

Turkish, English, French

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Türkiye

Industry Sector Expertise

Energy, Financial Services, Digital Assets, Regulatory & Compliance