The Legal 500

Legal Developments in Turkey

• Amendments Introduced through Law No. 7101 on Arbitration Proceedings

  State courts have very important functions concerning arbitration proceedings. These functions may aim to provide assistance to arbitration proceedings, such as collection of evidence through state courts, which would support the functions of the tribunal, or functions aimed at supervision of arbitration proceedings, such as set-aside actions. The legal provisions regulating these functions play an important role in the determination of whether a particular state has an arbitration-friendly legislation.
  - Erdem & Erdem Law Office

• Restrictions on Use of Foreign Currencies in Certain Agreements between Turkish Residents

  The Presidential Decree dated September 12, 2018, on the Amendment of Decree No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Lira (" New Decree "), introduced significant restrictions on the use of foreign currencies in certain agreements between Turkish residents. Below, we explain the scope of the New Decree and discuss possible issues and problems that may arise in relation to the implementation of the New Decree. We also assess the potential effects of the Communiqué (2018/32-51) on the Amendment of the Communiqué on Decree No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Lira (2008/32-34) (" Communiqué "), which was published in the Official Gazette on October 6, 2018, and lists the exceptions to the restrictions imposed by the New Decree.
  - ELIG, Attorneys-at-Law

• Amendment of ICSID Rules and Regulations

  At the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Administrative Council, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID") launched an amendment process on its' rules and regulations ("ICSID Rules and Regulations"). This has been the fourth amendment process since 1984, 2003 and 2006. As per Article 6 of the ICSID Convention, the amendments will only be effective upon the approval of two-thirds of the contracting states2. Hence, ICSID invited contracting states and the public3 to provide their amendment suggestions on topics worthy of consideration, which will be used as background papers throughout the process.
  - Erdem & Erdem Law Office

• Trust Liability in terms of Groups of Companies

  Article 209 of Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 ("TCC") has set forth obligations that are subject to damage caused by the trust and reputation of the parent company, as created with society and the consumer. Accordingly, "in the event that the reputation of the parent company and the group of companies reaches a certain level which provides trust to society or the consumer, the parent company is liable for the trust created by utilization of this reputation".
  - Erdem & Erdem Law Office

• Possibilities and the Results of Trademark Confusion

  Trademarks are the vehicles that are used to differentiate companies one from the other. They help to capture the consumers' attention. It is essential and necessary to protect trademarks that are created and improved with capital and effort, from unrightful use by third parties, and to prevent the encroachment of trademarks through confusion. One of the most efficient functions of intellectual property law is to encumber imitations, and to halt improper benefit by using the popularity of the trademarks to their consumers. On the other hand, in our daily lives, we often see trademarks that are similar, and may wonder how they co-exist at the same time. In this article, we will shed light on the reasons why similar trademarks can be registered, the criteria that cause trademark confusion, and the remedies to prevent and/or remove these infringements.
  - Erdem & Erdem Law Office

• Capital Markets Board Issues an Official Announcement on Initial Coin Offerings and Crowdfunding

  The Capital Markets Board (" CMB ") issued an announcement on September 27, 2018, on its website and addressed the much-disputed status of digital tokens and Initial Coin Offerings (" ICO "). In this announcement, the Capital Markets Board stated that it does not regulate or supervise ICOs, and also noted that it does not regulate or supervise most practices in which blockchain technologies are being used, such as cryptocurrency offerings and token offerings.
  - ELIG, Attorneys-at-Law

• Recent Measures to Support Financial Stability in Turkey

  The Banking Regulation and Supervision Authority (the “BRSA ”) and the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (the “Central Bank ”) introduced certain legislative changes, to support financial stability and sustain the effective functioning of markets, following the plunge in the value of Turkish Lira.>
  - Ergün Avukatlik Bürosu

• Non-liability of the Shareholders and Piercing the Corporate Veil

  1.      Introduction
  - ELIG, Attorneys-at-Law

• Non-liability of the Shareholders and Piercing the Corporate Veil

  1.      Introduction
  - ELIG, Attorneys-at-Law

• Quarterly Update on Trade Defense Cases in Turkey, June 2018

  In Turkey, the authority to initiate dumping or subsidy examinations, upon complaint or, where necessary, ex officio , is given to the Ministry of Economy ("Ministry"). Within the scope of this authority, the Ministry announces its decisions with the communiqués published on the Official Gazette.
  - ELIG, Attorneys-at-Law