SRP-Legal > Istanbul, Turkey > Firm Profile
SRP-Legal Offices
Sakayikli Sokak
No:10 Levent
34330 Istanbul
Turkey
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SRP-Legal > The Legal 500 Rankings
Turkey > IT and telecoms Tier 3
A firm with specialist knowledge of fintech, telecoms, AI, blockchain and data protection law, SRP-Legal caters to a mixture of public and private sector clients, and is known as 'a leading law firm in IT law.' The practice is co-led by firm founder, Dr Cigdem Ayozger Ongun, whose expertise includes licensing, compliance and legislation matters, alongside Deniz Erkan.Practice head(s):
Cigdem Ayozger Ongun; Deniz Erkan
Testimonials
‘The team consists of dedicated and hard-working individuals who are able to work in a diverse environment.’
‘The SRP Legal team’s solid knowledge in the fields of financial technologies and banking regulations makes SRP Legal a leading law firm in IT Law. The SRP Legal team follows not only legal developments, but also technological developments.’
‘Dr Ongun is a a true professional and her team consists of experts on IT and Telecoms law.’
‘SRP Legal has provided us with exceptional legal support on IT and Telecoms matters, and presented us with the best solutions.’
‘SRP legal follows the legal developments closely and ensures that our company is in line with all relevant legislation. We feel safe in terms of legal issues, due to SRP’s legal support and are glad to be working with them.’
‘Dr Ongun has a firm understanding of technological developments from a legal perspective. She has played a key role in our company’s development, and she has enabled us to achieve our business goals. We are glad work with Dr. Ongun and her team and will continue to do so in the future.’
‘Having worked in the fields of telecommunications and technology for many years, Dr Ongun has created a great team with her experience. They are the best at finding accurate and fast solutions. We look forward to working with them on our future projects!’
‘SRP-Legal team can open every door and they are making difference with their experience in the field of technology. In every project we work on together, Dr Ongun was with us from the very beginning, and she was always attentive to our needs. SRP-Legal team provide the consultancy that everyone working in the field of technology should have.’
Key clients
Turkiye Cumhuriyeti Cumhurbaskanligi Finans Ofisi (Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, Finance Office)
Ozan Elektronik Para A.S.
Paynet Odeme Hizmetleri A.S.
Gantek Teknoloji Bilisim Cozumleri A.S.
Blockchain Turkey Platform (BCTR)
Turk Sanayicileri ve Is Insanlari Dernegi (Turkish Industry and Business Association, “TUSIAD”)
Teknolojide Kadın Dernegi (Association of Women in Technology, “Wtech”)
Felixo Teknoloji ve Yazilim A.S.
NomuPay Odeme Ve Elektronik Para Hizmetleri A.S.
Fibabanka A.S.
Globizi Elektronik Hizmetler A.S.
İleti Yonetim Sistemi A.S.
NN Hayat ve Emeklilik A.S.
Orange Business Turkey Bilisim A.S.
The Parliament of the Republic of Turkey
Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Turkish Jewish Community
Eliptik Yazilim ve Ticaret A.S.
Work highlights
- Advising Fibabanka on its business transformation, including a shift to digital banking and banking as a service model, which will be one of the first examples of said fintech services in the Turkish banking industry.
- Providing consultancy services to the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey Finance Office, consisting of including but not limited to co-design of regulations, determination of strategic steps, contribution to policy-making and pre-evaluations for implementation.
- The provision of legal consultancy services to Orange on a cross-border basis is consist of advising on compliance programs, product counselling, responding to data protection and privacy issues and regulatory inquiries, advising on business modelling, and supporting large, strategic alliances.
Turkey > Competition
Turkey > Dispute resolution
SRP-Legal > Firm Profile
SRP-Legal Law Office (“SRP-Legal”) provides legal consultancy, dispute resolution and compliance services for its clients in a wide variety of fields, including areas transformed by related technologies, new business models and information technologies. SRP-Legal is best known for legal merits covering state of the art IT and Telecoms Law, Technology Law issues such as Data Protection and Privacy Law, Artificial Intelligence Law, FinTech and InsureTech Law, Blockchain Law, Corporate Law and Commercial Law including E-Commerce Law.
As SRP-Legal, our target is to provide tailor-made legal, regulatory, policy, and strategic advice that fits the specific purposes of the clients’ requirements and needs. We offer advice to clients on legal and regulatory matters in highly regulated markets and industries, as well as public policy support vis a vis the government in Ankara. We have been acting as the top advisory legal consultants for industry and government on financial affairs from a legal point of view, in particular for technology related issues.
True to its name, in SRP-Legal, the S stands for Strategy, the R stands for Regulation, and the P stands for Policy. Although many law offices stand on their founding partners’ names, Dr. Ongun always aimed to establish a law office where the most qualified and distinguished lawyers and professionals gather for the same vision. In order to succeed this vision, the law office was named as SRP-Legal.
As SRP-Legal, we provide pioneering and innovative legal services that go beyond the rapidly changing needs of our clients. In this regard, we actively contribute to organisations that require national and international professional expertise.
As SRP-Legal, with our solution-oriented approach, we provide a comprehensive legal consultancy and compliance services tailored to the needs of our diverse client portfolio.
SRP-Legal, with a solution-oriented approach, provides comprehensive legal consultancy services tailored to the needs of a diverse and international client portfolio.
We are personally/individually committed to our clients, listen to their expectations and needs, and welcome their opinions and feedback.
We:
- Understand the current and forthcoming needs of clients and know the key factors that contribute to their success.
- Define the right strategy, utilise ideas that have potential and develop strategies that add value to the business of our clients.
- Create an environment for the generation of new ideas.
- Establish efficient and clear communication.
- Truly recognise progress that makes a difference and collaborate fully with all stakeholders.
- Question all inputs from our clients to determine the appropriate solutions.
- Quickly respond to rapidly changing and transformative economic and legal conditions.
- Always aim for the most viable business results.
SRP-Legal is well-known and respected in business circles both at a national and international level. Not surprisingly, SRP-Legal’s practice has earned its well- deserved reputation for “excellence in representation”, with many satisfied clients as testimony to that.
While the interests of multinationals are often represented by local offices of international law firms, SRP-Legal, from its earliest days, has been successful in engaging with well-respected multinational law firms from its base in Istanbul. The result is that clients see SRP-Legal as both local but on a par with international law firms.
SRP-Legal offers clients applicable solutions to achieve their commercial goals within the applicable Turkish Law. SRP-Legal provides unique client experience, with the motto “Regulating Future”.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
FOUNDER/ MANAGING PARTNER | ATT. DR. CIGDEM AYOZGER ONGUN | cigdem@srp-legal.com | + 90 212 401 4 401 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr ALP GOKHAN ADIGUZEL | Associate | View Profile | |
Dr CIGDEM AYOZGER ONGUN | FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER | View Profile | |
Ms DENİZ ERKAN | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
Mr Ayhan Kilinc | CEO & PARTNER | View Profile | |
Ms FILIZ PIYAL | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
PARTNER : 3 SENIOR COUNSEL : 2 SENIOR ASSOCIATE : 1 QUALIFIED ASSOCIATE : 1 ASSOCIATE : 3 TRAINEE ASSOCIATE : 3 OF COUNSEL : 5 FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER : 1 OFFICE ASSISTANT : 1 SUPPORTING STAFF : 2Languages
English TurkishMemberships
IAPP Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) Istanbul Bar AssociationInternational Capabilities
SRP-Legal Law Office (“SRP-Legal”), with a solution-oriented approach, provides comprehensive legal consultancy services tailored to the needs of a diverse and international client portfolio. We offer them applicable solutions to achieve their commercial goals within the applicable Turkish Law. SRP-Legal provides unique client experience, with the motto “Regulating Future”.
The Team
SRP-Legal has a highly experienced and reputable team; managing both the leading clients and matters across Turkey and internationally. The team has an international background having studied in various countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, France, Netherlands, the United States of America.
The Clients
SRP-Legal provides consultancy services including legal advice regarding the legal and regulatory structuring and modelling, to the world’s leading multinational companies of their industries. SRP-Legal works with a diverse range of clients including:
- world’s top social media and web platform,
- one of the world’s largest FinTech companies,
- one of the world’s leading technology platform operators, including gaming, messaging, payment facilitation, and entertainment facilities,
- one of the world’s leading telecommunication companies,
- an international leading soft drink company,
- world’s leading fair organization company,
- the world’s leading manufacturers of articulated haulers and wheel loaders, and one the world’s foremost manufacturers of excavation equipment, road development machines and compact construction equipment,
- leading global organization governing connected services and solutions of a group company in heavy good vehicles,
- a global market leader in specialty minerals, mineral based synthetic mineral products and related systems and services,
- one of the worlds’ largest international women forums.
The Network
While the interests of multinationals are often represented by local offices of international law firms, SRP-Legal, from its earliest days, has been successful in engaging with well-respected multinational law firms from its base in Istanbul. The result is that the clients see SRP-Legal as both local but on a par with international law firms. SRP-Legal is a close collaborator with some of the global law firms.
Client Testimonials
“SRP-Legal is the best in the field of Fintech in every sense, not only within the scope of Turkish legislation, but also EU Law. In every legal service we receive from them, their approach to the case at hand is extremely detailed. We do not think that any other law office in Turkey can compete with them, with the knowledge they have, not only in the legal but also in the technical sense, regarding the newly developed payment services in Turkey. By following every
legal and administrative development, they have never failed to inform us on the issues that concern us.”
“SRP-Legal team’s knowledge ensures that they are able to provide excellent legal support to their clients. They provide legal consultancy services tailored to the needs and demands of their clients. Top expertise on competition
law and excellent understanding of client’s business needs makes a perfect match here.”
“By understanding our business activities, they have provided legal advice regarding data protection compliance matters in a way that is effective both in terms of law and in terms of our company’s needs. It is an inevitable fact that they always stay in professional communication, and that they are the best in their fields with strict follow-up from the beginning to the end of each of our projects.”
“Established under the leadership of Dr. Cigdem Ayozger Ongun, SRP-Legal is a law firm that makes gender equality a principle while providing legal services. SRP-Legal, which plays an important role in strengthening the place of women in society has made great contributions in every field. By working with SRP-Legal, you can be sure that you will receive the best and fastest response to any of your legal questions.”
“SRP-Legal team, which closely follows current developments with an intense pace, adds value to us with its working discipline in every subject we ask for support. The inclusive and business-oriented legal service offered by SRP-Legal, which has made a forward-looking perspective a philosophy, allows us to move forward with confident steps in the sector. The business discipline of its professional team is the key to providing a qualified service to its clients.”
“Dr. Cigdem Ayozger Ongun is one of the pioneers in IT law and data privacy, their experience in these fields and previous clientele are impressive. The lawyers are committed to provide efficient legal services and working with SRP-Legal has helped us take our projects one step further with their know-how. They worked very diligently and lead us very carefully. Their consultancy was far beyond our expectations. We appreciate it.”
“The SRP-Legal team, which takes an active role within the scope of Competition Law practices, guides us in making the right decisions. In particular, Dr. Cigdem Ayozger Ongun’s project support in the field of Competition Law allows us to achieve the best results. However, SRP-Legal does not only take a close interest in us, but also convey their views and thoughts in line with our needs. We are pleased to receive legal support from this team, which is always punctual.”
“SRP-Legal gave us great guidance in Turkey regarding the legal dispute. SRP-Legal is a law firm that you can trust in every sense with its successful and talented team, especially Dr. Ongun’s contributions were unique. SRP-Legal
has been extremely proactive and successful in managing the dispute. They can take on an extremely difficult case.”
Interviews
Att. Dr. Cigdem Ayozger Ongun, Founder, Managing Partner
Founder, Managing Partner Att. Dr. Cigdem Ayozger Ongun explains how the firm is adapting to clients’ changing needsWhat do you see as the main points that differentiate SRP-Legal from your competitors?
As SRP-Legal, true to its name, in SRP-Legal, the S stands for Strategy, the R stands for Regulation, and the P stands for Policy. Although many law offices stand on their founding partners’ names, I always aimed to establish a law office where the most qualified and distinguished lawyers and professionals gather for the same vision. In order to succeed this vision, the law office was named as SRP-Legal. Under SRP-Legal, we have been providing consultancy services to clients, not only in legal matters but also in regulation strategies and regulation policies.
SRP-Legal is a law firm operating in the unique areas of expertise such as Technology Law, IT and Telecoms Law, Competition Law, FinTech Law, Data Protection and Privacy Law. In other words, SRP-Legal prefers to operate in niche legal matters that do not fall within the expertise of many law offices. Therefore, I attach great importance to being in constant development to stay up to date in the mentioned areas of expertise; I also put a considerable amount of effort into creating opportunities for my colleagues working for SRP-Legal to improve themselves and significantly invest in human resources.
Within the scope of the legal consultancy services offered by SRP-Legal especially including the areas such as technology, blockchain, FinTech, AI, data protection and competition; SRP-Legal is keen to build business partnerships with the experts who have either economical or technological knowledge and competence within the same subjects.
SRP-Legal embraces a flexible structure in providing services according to the clients’ service requirements and needs. The basic approach we have set for SRP-Legal is to first understand the client and then design the service that is appropriate and specific to the identified needs of the client. In this context, the client experience processes rendered by SRP-Legal are defined as the “unique client experience” and carried out in accordance with satisfaction analysis of which client is happy and satisfied. In this sense, for instance, even in the pandemic period, the demands of some of our clients to work face-to-face are met despite the existence of all kinds of technological opportunities, and in that way, the highest possible level of satisfaction is provided.
My academic references provide me to involve in the drafting stage of many laws and regulations in Turkey. Since 2005, I have been involved in the design, development, policy determination, and enactment stages of technology-oriented legislation studies in Turkey as an expert and participated in the commission meetings at the Parliament mainly as the spokeswomen of the industries.
I am an active individual mostly at the management level in many NGOs. Accordingly, I have the privilege to understand and prioritize the needs of the industries that are member to these NGOs and design, consult, draft law, and regulations in line with the expectations of the relevant industries.
As the founding member and a board member of the Blockchain Turkey Platform (“BCTR”), I have been leading the legal, regulatory studies and governmental relations on behalf of BCTR as the President of the Law, Regulation and Governmental Relations Committee of BCTR. I succeeded to set up the Data Protection and Technology Law Commission at Turkish Industry & Businessmen Association (TUSIAD), with the TUSIAD Board of Directors’ support, where she chairs. I also ensured the establishment of sub – committees under the committee, which carried out studies specific to the topics such as Fintech, AI, and Insurtech Laws and Regulations. I am the only Independent Member of the FinTech Industry Council at the Turkish Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchange (TOBB). In addition, I am the Founding Board and Ethics Committee Member of the Women in Technology Association (Wtech), Board Member of the International Women Forum (IWF) Turkey, and Member of the Turkish Informatics Industry Association (TUBISAD), Turkey Informatics Foundation (TBV), International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and Endeavour Turkey’s Consultant Mentor.
As SRP-Legal, we have been setting the rules of the game in Turkey. Due to my expertise and knowledge on Fintech issues, I have been advising to the Presidency of Turkish Republic, Finance Office, and the only independent member of the FinTech Industry Council at the Turkish Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchange (TOBB) where only the governmental and FinTech institutions have memberships.
The knowledge and experience gained thorough all these activities made SRP-Legal team preferable for its clients.
Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?
Today, technology, digitalization, and AI applications show their effects in every industry and have become widespread. With the effect of technology, companies must transform their marketing strategies, business processes, products, and services, and even personnel management depending on technology. With this effect, it is not possible to talk about a sector or business area that has not been affected by technology.
Therefore, in the past, only technology companies needed the workforce of legal experts, but today, due to this technology-oriented influence, the need for technology law experts has arisen in each industry.
In this context, we designed and sponsored the “Young Conversion Training Program – Technology Law Certificate Program” which is co-organized by the Women in Technology Association and the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations. The 10-week Technology Law Certificate Program included the modules of,
- Personal Data Protection Law,
- Artificial Intelligence Law,
- Impact of Competition in Technology Law,
- Financial Technologies Law,
- E-commerce Law, Insurance Technologies Law,
- Blockchain Law,
- Technology Law in Capital Markets,
- Electronic Communication Law,
- Digitalization and Sector Analysis.
We foresee that, the flexible and hybrid working model which includes both remote working and working from office will be applicable in many industries. SRP-Legal has already integrated technology to its in-house processes which enabled SRP-Legal to adapt more easily to the hybrid model before the COVID-19 pandemic.
We invest in people by providing opportunities to enable accreditation of our employees regardless of their seniority, in the fields of law in which SRP-Legal provides its services. We value on creating a diverse portfolio of people with different ideas and competencies.
What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?
As SRP-Legal, distinguishes from other law offices with its approaches both to the clients and cases. While providing legal consultancy and litigation services, SRP-Legal uses its expertise in building up regulatory strategies and making policies to leverage the content of the services with an integrated approach. SRP-Legal supports any case with its strategic vision and its policy approach.
In this sense, for example, we consider filing a lawsuit as the last option and work on other options to conclude the disputes in amicable ways. This approach enables SRP-Legal to offer clients more effective, practical, and short-term solutions, which is highly appreciated by clients and is among the most common positive feedbacks about SRP-Legal.
In addition, SRP-Legal’s participations in the NGOs enables us to take the pulse of the market dynamics and to keep up to date. In this way, we can provide our clients with more comprehensive and up-to-date consultancy services in accordance with their needs.
Thanks to the “unique client experience” processes that we have adopted within SRP-Legal, “tailor made” services which are directly suited to the needs of our clients are offered. This provides client satisfaction.
Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?
Technology makes us and our ways of doing business flexible, versatile, and phygital. Especially with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic communication and cooperation with our clients became more technological-based. Using high-tech standards in the business processes within SRP-Legal, provided the team the opportunity to work practically and rapidly.
Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?
- SRP-Legal provided legal advice regarding the legal and regulatory structuring and modelling for the world’s leading technology platform operator including gaming, messaging, payment facilitation, and entertainment facilities.
The Client Company wishes to enter the Turkish market to operate in payment services. The most distinctive feature of the Turkish payment services market is that it is highly regulated, and the authorization/permission mechanism established to operate in this market requires the operation of a very comprehensive process and the completion of legal requirements.
In principle, the relevant company carries out its activities at the global level through 3 basic business models and the company wants to start its activities in Turkey with one of these 3 business models. These business models were examined by SRP-Legal, but it was evaluated that all these three business models were either not applicable or extremely difficult and inefficient to comply with, in terms of the applicable laws and regulations in Turkey. When this was the case, a new business model has been designed by SRP-Legal to enter the Client Company into the Turkish market in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. Thus, a profitable business model was created in favor of the Client Company, and this business model, which was designed from the very beginning by eliminating the risks of regulation, was directly approved by the relevant institution. The Client Company continues its activities in the Turkish FinTech market with the developments made on the basis of the business model created by SRP-Legal.
- The Client is a professional organization representing payment and electronic money institutions operating in Turkey. The client was suffering anti-competitive behaviors of Turkey’s one of the largest private banks (“Bank”).
The Bank had an exemption decision from the Turkish Competition Authority regarding relicensing agreements, and collaborations of its credit card executed with other banks that operate in Turkey. However, these relicensing agreements and collaborations had exclusionary effect on the payment and e-money market. This exclusionary effect prohibited the payment and e-money players to enter the market and run their commercial activities.
Upon our application to the Turkish Competition Authority, for the first time in the EMEA region, a competition authority rendered a decision regarding the FinTech industry. The Bank’s exemption was nulled and certain revision on the relicensing agreements and collaborations became mandatory.
Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?
Since the year we were founded, we grew sustainably by proceeding a certain level every year. In the COVID-19 pandemic period which caused a recession, SRP-Legal managed to sustain its existing situation without downsizing and continued its activities.
SRP-Legal aims the unique client experience by working closely with clients, providing them up-to-date strategic advisory services with a sophisticated and versatile approach.
It is the diversity of knowledge and experience of SRP-Legal, and ability to act responsively and promptly that leads us to provide client satisfaction.
The life is changing and converting. Clients are forced to use technology to distinguish their business from others, to create a difference, and to secure the future of humanity. SRP-Legal aims to accord with the digital transformation that will work for the benefit of people by respecting their values under its motto “Regulating Future”.
- IT and telecoms