What has been the number one challenge that has impacted you over the past year?

My team operates in a fairly large region with different dynamics, cultures, and challenges.  One common challenge in many of those jurisdictions was the fact that we need to navigate through volatile economies, and support our production partners that may be experiencing financial difficulties among other issues.  We acted quickly to offer various vehicles to ensure financial stability for our ongoing projects, all of which were met with very positive feedback.

In your opinion, what areas should in-house lawyers focus on over the next few years to prove value to their organisations in Türkiye?  

I believe the role of an in-house counsel is gearing towards the role of a business leader in the sense that it is absolutely essential that the in-house counsel fully understands the business and the jurisdiction they operate in, addresses the needs of the business with agility, pace, curiosity, passion and most importantly, with “reality-based decision making” (a term coined by our chief legal counsel).  At Netflix, we work cross-functionally, which gives us more empowerment, accountability and, to be frank, more fun.  In my current role, my ambit extends past legal and encompasses aspects of business development and growth.  I need to be the best partner for the business, so I prioritise collaborating cross-functionally to support my ‘clients’.  Being a business partner means you must be challenged to do things outside your scope (of services) and be directly involved in the development and growth of business.  This, in turn, has a knock-on effect on your career’s growth.  Together with other partners, I brainstorm even when faced with issues that are not directly legal.  This, I believe, has been a key to success.  Curiosity about affairs and courage to challenge are two important qualities for an in-house lawyer.  We must remind ourselves that things are not black and white and it is OK if the advice you gave turns out to be wrong a couple months later as long as you trust that you made a reality-based decision.