Event Report

On 13th October, The Legal 500 held its first-ever full-day conference in Turkey. The GC SUMMIT TÜRKIYE 2022 took place at the prestigious Ciragan Palace in Beşiktaş (Istanbul) and hosted over 200 in-house lawyers. Leading general counsel exchanged their views on cutting-edge topics including:

  • Data-driven operations and concerns in digital markets,
  • Internal investigations in the digital era,
  • Managing and protecting trademark rights and handling multi-jurisdictional IP disputes and litigation,
  • Employee retention and regulations for companies under Turkish law,
  • The impact of global and local economic developments on dispute resolution,
  • Corporate crime and illicit finance,
  • Turkish e-commerce law changes and its impact on different sectors.

Our impressive list of speakers included…

  • Mustafa Yelligedik, legal affairs president, Anadolu Grubu Holding
  • Hande Karakülah, legal and scientific director, L’Oréal
  • Serhat Demir, executive vice president – legal and regulation, Turkcell
  • Rana Hoffman, deputy chief legal and compliance officer, Koç Group
  • Dr. Faruk Bilir, president, Data Protection Authority
  • Başak Gürbüz, lead regional counsel, Visa (South Europe)
  • Faik Metin Tiryaki, vice president, Competition Authority
  • Seda Deniz Kasar, legal co-ordinator, SOCAR
  • Kerem Kuşcu, head of legal, Kraft Heinz Türkiye
  • Kadir Bas, associate professor, Marmara School of Law

… and many more joined the discussions.

The panel sessions were concluded by Serhat Demir, executive vice president of legal and regulation at Turkcell, who examined the central role played by in-house lawyers in driving their companies forward with their colossal knowledge and innovative thinking. Attendees continued the thought-provoking conversations over cocktails, wine and canapes, thanks to Acteton, which kindly sponsored of our networking reception.

The Legal 500 would also like to thank Aksu Çalişkan Beygo Attorney Partnership (ASC Law), Cetinkaya, Deriş Legal, Gökçe, Kılınç Law & Consulting, Moral-Kınıkoğlu-Pamukkale-Kökenek, Mustafa Tırtır Law Firm, and SRP-Legal for moderating the panel discussions, and Miran Legal for sponsoring our Q&A app. A special thanks as well to Barış Agun for chairing this incredibly successful Summit and to all companies and their in-house lawyers who continue to support the many events The Legal 500 host across Türkiye.

OVER 130 COMPANIES ATTENDED THE GC SUMMIT TÜRKIYE 2022

3M, adidas Spor Malzemeleri SAtıs ve Pazarlama A.Ş., Air Liquide, Ak Yatırım Menkul Değerler, Akbank, Alacer gold madencilik, Anadolu Grubu Holding, Aras Kargo, Arcelik Global, AvivaSA Emeklilik ve Hayat, Bankalararası Kart Merkezi, Beltur, Best Tobacco & Makro Paper, Bilgili Holding, Boğaziçi Elektrik Dağıtım Anonim Şirketi, Borusan EnBW Enerji, BP, Bristol Myers Squibb, Çalık Enerji, Çalık Holding, Ciceksepeti, Citibank, Cleopatra Ink, Coca-Cola İçecek A.Ş., Colgate Palmolive, Deva holding A.S., Dgpays, Domino’s, Eczacıbaşı Holding, Ekon Endüstri İnşaat ve Tic. A.Ş., Ericsson, EYG Group, FedEx Express Europe, Ferrero, FPS Flexibles Trading Holding, GAMA Enerji, Gama Güç Sistemleri Mühendislik ve Taahhüt A.Ş., GAMA Industry, Gap İnşaat Yatırım Ve Dış Ticaret, Garanti BBVA, Getir, Goodyear, Güneş Ekspres Havacılık A.Ş. (d.b.a. SunExpress), Hattat Holding, Henkel, Hitachi Energy, Huawei, ICBC Turkey Bank, Interconnector Limited, International Finance Corporation, İstanbul Ulaşım Hizmetler, Johnson & Johnson, Jupiter Group, Kale Holding, Kalyon Yatırım Holding, Kipas Holding, Koç Bilgi Grubu, Koç Holding A.Ş., Koçtaş, Kraft Heinz Türkiye, Kürüm Group International, LC Waikiki, LG Electronics, Limak Group of Companies, Limak Yatırım, L’oreal, LUKOIL, Marsh Sigorta ve Reasürans Brokerliği, Mastercard, Mavi, Media Markt Turkey, Mercedes Benz, Metag Holding, Migros, Mondelez, MSD, NEF, Nestlé, NN Global, Nokia, Novo Nordisk, Odeabank, Palmet Enerji A.Ş., Paycell, Pearson Egitim Cozumleri, Pegasus Airlines, Petkim Petrokimya Holding, Polat Enerji, Prokon Ekon Group, Reckitt Benckiser Health, Roche Müstahzarları, Roketsan AS, Sabanci Holding, Sahibinden.com, Sandoz Turkey, Santa Farma Pharmaceuticals, Siemens, Smart, Solar Energy, SOCAR Türkiye, Sofra/Compass Group Türkiye, SSRS, SST Technologies, Stellantis Otomotiv Pazarlama, TAB Gıda Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., TEİD, Teklas, Temsa, The Adecco Group, The Walt Disney Company, TotalEnergies, Turkcell, Turkey Wealth Fund, Turkish Airlines, Türkiye’nin Otomobili Girişim Grubu San. ve Tic., Unilever, Unmaş Unlu Mam. San. ve Tic., Vaillant Group, Vava Cars, VDF, Visa, Vodafone Telekomünikasyon AŞ, Watsons, Yapı Kredi Bankası, Yemeksepeti, Yıldız Holding, Zorlu Holding A.S.

GC SUMMIT TÜRKIYE 2022 TESTIMONALS

“I would like to thank Barış Agun and The Legal 500 (Legalease) for organizing such an important event and bringing together the legal counsels of Türkiye’s biggest companies.”

Mr Fatih Özdemir, Legal Counsel at TotalEnergies (delegate)

“It was a privilege to attend this amazing event.”

Ms Gülşah Ecir Tarlacı, Legal Manager & Trademark Attorney at UNO – UNMAŞ AŞ (delegate)

“It was privilege to join this great organisation in Çırağan Palace Kempinski Istanbul.”

Ms Ezgi Aksu, Attorney At Law at DEVA Holding A.Ş. (delegate) 

“It was an informative organization with great information in every panel. Thanks to The Legal 500 (Legalease) for organizing this amazing event.”

Ms Bilge Baykurt, Information Security & Privacy Senior Expert Information Security & Privacy Senior Expert, Paycell (speaker)

“Yesterday, I shared the stage with Sertac Kokenek (Moral | Kınıkoğlu | Pamukkale | Kökenek), Beliz Basaran (Citi) and Hande Karakulah (L’Oréal), at the GC Summit Turkiye 2022, in Istanbul; and we had a wonderful and dynamic panel discussion on employee retention and recent market trends.”

Mr Kerem Kuscu, Head of Legal Türkiye at The Kraft Heinz Company (speaker and delegate)

“I am pleased to be attending the GC Summit Türkiye 2022. Thanks to Barış Agun and The Legal 500 (Legalease) for organizing this amazing event.”

Ms Damlanur İpek, Legal Counsel at beIN MEDIA GROUP (delegate)

“Go Turkiye! Amazing panels! Thanks to all participants.”

Ms Başak Gürbüz, Lead Regional Counsel at Visa (speaker and delegate)

“Thank you Barış! That was a great event. Keep it up!”

Mr Ibrahim KIZILKAYA, Head of Legal and Compliance at Bristol Myers Squibb (delegate)

“Congratulations & thank you!”

Mr Okan Can, Partner at DERIS Intellectual Property Attorneys (sponsor)

“Great summit! Looking forward to the next one.”

Mr Fikret Sebilcioglu, Managing Partner at Cerebra CPAs & Advisors (speaker and delegate) 

“It was a pleasure to come together again in such a beautiful and effective event. We would like to thank The Legal 500 (Legalease) for organizing this summit.”

Mr Mustafa Aksaraylı, Founding Attorney at Miran Legal (sponsor)

“I would like to thank you for your hospitality and this brilliant Legal500 event once again. It was an amazing experience.”

Ms Dilara Mebrure Dalbay, Legal Counsel at OTOYOL YATIRIM VE İŞLETME A.Ş

In association with...