CBC Law > Istanbul, Turkey > Firm Profile

CBC Law
CEBECI CAD. 24
AKATLAR, BESIKTAS 34335
ISTANBUL
Turkey

Turkey > Compliance Tier 2

CBC Law was established in 2020 and fields a proactive compliance department that support clients in complying with specific sector regulations, as well as more general business procedures. The pharmaceutical sector is a particularly strong area for the team. Kemal Altuğ Özgün oversees the practice and is well-versed in the design and implementation of tailor-made compliance programmes for major multinational businesses.

Practice head(s):

Kemal Altuğ Özgün

Testimonials

‘Team of Çetinkaya always a client oriented group of professionals. One of the first companies in Turkey which started to implement a global compliance and KYC standards. Also team is implementing a gender equality in all levels.’

‘Kemal Altuğ Özgün is a talented lawyer who understands the needs of his clients. He was also very successful at communicating with our workers which enabled the training to be more efficient.’

‘Çetinkaya compliance team consists of highly educated consultants who have legal backgrounds and their seniorities vary which makes a unique diversity in terms of expertise. Compliance team appears to be dynamic, cooperative, solution oriented, up to date, practical as well as handling matters with holistic approach which enables the clients work smoothly within strict deadlines. Services are provided within a reasonable budget.’

‘Leader of the compliance team (Altuğ Özgün) is one of the consultant of a reputable Association (Turkish Ethics and Compliance Association) on the very subject and has significant experience within different industries and regions. As per his career achievements, he can sense the nature of the client, detect the lacking requirements, come up with a tailor made plan and detailed procedure which will directly fit the corporate structure of the client.’

‘Çetinkaya compliance team consists of highly educated consultants who have legal backgrounds and their seniorities vary which makes a unique diversity in terms of expertise. Compliance team appears to be dynamic, cooperative, solution oriented, up to date, practical as well as handling matters with holistic approach which enables the clients work smoothly within strict deadlines. Services are provided within a reasonable budget.’

‘Leader of the compliance team (Altuğ Özgün) is one of the consultants of a reputable Association (Turkish Ethics and Compliance Association) on the very subject and has significant experience within different industries and regions. As per his career achievements, he can sense the nature of the client, detect the lacking requirements, come up with a tailor-made plan and detailed procedure which will directly fit the corporate structure of the client.’

Work highlights

    Turkey > Dispute resolution Tier 4

    Regarded by one client as 'one of Turkey's real rising stars in the commercial litigation and international arbitration space', CBC Law has an international presence in dispute resolution. The firm has strong links with a number of international firms and can provide services in Turkish, English, German, and French. It has offices in both Ankara and Istanbul, facilitating direct access to courts in commercial and administrative matters. Lale Defne Mete, Törehan Büyüksoy and Ural Özbek share leadership duties, while Ekinsu Cebi and Atakan Gungordu are 'standout associates'.

    Practice head(s):

    Lale Defne Mete; Törehan Büyüksoy; Ural Özbek

    Other key lawyers:

    Testimonials

    ‘The firm is one of Turkey’s real rising stars in the commercial litigation and international arbitration space, known for its standout work in the enforcement of foreign judgments and awards.’

    ‘Ekinsu Cebi and Atakan Gungordu are standout associates.’

    ‘We have been working with the firm for over two years and this is a pragmatic and responsive team of professionals. The disputes team understands our objectives and adopts a practical and cost-effective approach to achieving such objectives.’

    ‘Very dedicated and strong team. Always receiving adequate support and commercial advice. Very delighted working with them. The team provides a knowledgeable and experienced service at affordable rates.’

    ‘Ural Ozbek is a highly skilled and efficient lawyer. Always receiving a great support from him. Lale Defne Mete is another key individual. They are very bright and competent specialists.’

    ‘The team is a responsive, international-facing team that provides valuable assistance in the Turkish aspects of international litigation, including the enforcement of arbitral awards.’

    ‘The team works well as a cohesive unit. They have great problem solving abilities, often approaching urgent and unique problems with creative solutions. They have an intimate understanding of the Turkish legal landscape and culture, which makes them an asset for navigating issues of Turkish law.’

    ‘The dispute resolution team is very hands on and experienced. We currently have a complex case before Turkish courts and they know how to handle the sensitivities, have very good connections with the court clerks and will follow up every procedural step to make sure there is no delay. They consider and explain every strategic option before the most appropriate one is adopted.’

    Turkey > Employment Tier 4

    CBC Law covers the entire spectrum of employment issues including recruitment and termination of employment, day-to-day HR issues, contracts and policies. The firm regularly supports clients with reactive employment solutions and in negotiations with trade unions. Kemal Altuğ Özgün focuses on compliance and third party risk management, while Törehan Büyüksoy specialises in employment litigation.

    Practice head(s):

    Kemal Altuğ Özgün; Törehan Büyüksoy

    Testimonials

    ‘Highly experienced legal team in various related disciplines and able to respond quickly and provide to the point advice and representation. This professional approach makes us feel safe and safeguarded.’

    ‘What I experienced so far is a hands-on, results driven partner involvement. They ensured us that advice and support is always available.’

    Work highlights

      Turkey > Commercial, corporate and M&A

      CBC Law, which has a broad commercial and M&A practice, was established in early 2020.

      CBC Law is a full-service law firm based in Istanbul servicing local and international clients. With extensive expertise in dispute resolution, white-collar crime, technology, data protection, and IT, the team has a broad perspective with the commercial and technical understanding needed to help you meet the challenges of a fast-paced world. CBC Law takes pride in a clear and straightforward approach that helps you to navigate the legal framework of today’s intense regulatory environment. Guided by the entrepreneurial spirit and consistent high standards set by its founders, the team strives to forge close relationships, tailor effective solutions, and help you meet your long-term business goals.

      Areas of practice
      Litigation and dispute resolution: CBC Law is a market leader advising contentious matters. Regularly acting in high-value and precedent-setting cases, the team has successfully represented clients in disputes relating to construction, insurance, tax, media, and a variety of employment and intellectual property matters in Istanbul and Turkey. Alongside numerous commercial litigation cases, CBC Law excels in domestic and international arbitration, representing clients in connection with commercial and investment arbitrations while maintaining a network of leading lawyers and specialists around the world. In recent years, the firm’s lawyers have been at the forefront of business human rights litigation, acting for clients internationally and in Turkey. The team also has comprehensive sectoral knowledge that gives an unparalleled insight into industries such as construction, infrastructure, textiles, and food manufacturers that frequently use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods.

      Corporate: CBC Law provides comprehensive, tailored legal advice, guiding clients’ business decisions and strategies in relation to legal, regulatory and compliance requirements in Turkey. Assisting through all stages of corporate development, across a broad range of sectors, the firm’s strength in regulated markets in Turkey and strong compliance practice ensures clients operate within local and international regulations, and soft laws. CBC Law has extensive risk prevention, crisis management, litigation, and white-collar crime capabilities, successfully safeguarding a range of corporate clients against commercial risks in Turkey. Recent work highlights include the acquisition of a Turkish technology business by a Swedish company; ongoing guidance for a Turkish construction company’s international projects in countries such as the UK, Canada, and Nigeria; and the restructuring of a software development company in Turkey.

      Privacy and data protection: CBC Law understands that the global economy is increasingly driven by, and reliant upon data. Considerable data protection experience and an in-depth understanding of many industries allow the firm’s lawyers to focus on the specific requirements of a business, providing a range of support such as designing and implementing compliance programs, evaluating data breaches, and representation before the Turkish Data Protection Authority. CBC Law’s team tracks developments in data protection globally, in order to provide the most satisfactory long-term solutions, focusing on recommendations that integrate current requirements and anticipate future trends, such as privacy by design and cross-border data transfer considerations.

      Compliance: CBC Law provides tailor-made compliance solutions supporting corporations in increasing customer confidence, controlling internal policies, building a solid reputation for stakeholders, and reducing legal and regulatory risks. From internal investigations and interviews, to speak-up hotlines and pre-trial strategy, the team recognizes how to fight misconduct, design accurate risk assessments, and maintain strong company culture and organizational justice. CBC Law understands the global compliance environment, the regulatory regime in Turkey, and the requirements of extraterritorial legislation such as FCPA, UKBA, Loi Sapin II, Sanctions, UN Guiding Principles, etc. Recent client work includes monitoring, risk assessment, and third-party due diligence for international clients.                                                                                                 

      IP: CBC Law provides a comprehensive range of legal services for intellectual property owners in Turkey, including trademark owners from the food and beverage, entertainment, media, and technology sectors. Advising clients on matters relating to false advertising, unfair competition, trademark, and trade dress issues, the firm protects clients in copyright infringement, injunctions, mediations, and settlements. With particular expertise in designer and architects’ rights and in-depth insight into the media and entertainment industry, CBC Law also regularly acts as counsel in trade secrets cases and internet-related disputes. Recent work highlights have included advising on copyright transfers for a foreign production taking place in Turkey.

      DepartmentNameEmailTelephone
      Compliance, Employment, Privacy & Data Protection Altug Ozgunaltug.ozgun@cbclaw.com.tr+90 212 351 3140
      Litigation & Dispute Resolution Torehan Buyuksoytorehan.buyuksoy@cbclaw.com.tr+90 212 351 3140
      Corporate & Commercial, Litigation & Dispute Resolution Lale Defne Metedefne.mete@cbclaw.com.tr+90 212 351 3140
      PhotoNamePositionProfile
      Torehan Buyuksoy photoMr Torehan BuyuksoyManaging Partner
      Lale Defne Mete photoMs Lale Defne MeteManaging Partner, Corporate & Commercial
      Altug Ozgun photoMr Altug OzgunManaging Partner, Head of Compliance & Business Ethics and International Services
      Cansu Ak Yilmaz photoMs Cansu Ak YilmazPartner, Corporate & Commercial
      Partner : 6
      Associate : 20
      English
      Turkish
      French
      Russian
      Kyrgyz
      Istanbul Bar and Turkish Bar Association
      British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey
      TEID
      AHK
      Society of Construction Law
      Yapay Zeka ve Teknoloji Derneği

      Diversity and Inclusion

      Diversity, inclusion, and well-being are essential parts of CBC Law’s culture and values. We support our colleagues and strive for the highest ethical culture within our organization through diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and look to hire talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, regardless of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, or disability. More than 50% of our lawyers and 50% of our leadership team are female. We comply with all relevant Turkish legislation and regularly review internal policies, making updates when necessary to continue working towards a diverse culture within the firm. We strive to create a fair and rewarding place to work that looks to fulfill everyone’s potential and together achieve personal and business goals. We do all we can to treat people fairly and with mutual respect, whether they are colleagues, clients, suppliers, or those from the wider communities we engage with.

      Corporate Social Responsibility

      Corporate social responsibility and sustainability are at the core of our business operations. Whether it be our team, clients, suppliers, or broader society there are always expectations on us to make the right choices in respect to how we conduct ourselves and our business operations. Inspired by our clients, our team, and our professional responsibility as lawyers, we strive always to do the right thing in every situation. Integrity is a key component of everything we do.

      CBC Law will continuously look to improve the way it operates so that it acts responsibly. We achieve this by taking a holistic approach, towards a range of issues including our own actions towards climate change, human rights, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, responsible corporate governance, business ethics, and our team’s health and wellbeing. We are always seeking ways in which we can reduce our own environmental impacts through energy and resource efficiency, waste prevention, sustainable travel, and supply chain engagement.

      Pro Bono

      Under our pro bono program which includes work carried out for non-governmental organizations in Turkey, we provide support mainly in the areas of compliance, employment law, and general business advice.

      For our support in compliance, we draft clarification texts in relation to personal data processing and provide training on local and international laws and processes that are relevant to our client’s operations.

      In terms of labor law, we provide legal opinions and advice on all employment-focused questions or processes our pro bono clients are facing and are on hand to provide advice relating to general business concerns and operations.