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    Contributors Gökçe

    Gökçe is an independent law firm with full-service capacity based in Istanbul. Gökçe offers a broad range of legal services with a pragmatic and business-minded approach to meet the needs of its diverse client base, ranging from the most reputable international banks to rapidly expanding international companies. Since its establishment in 2010, Gökçe has been experiencing constant progress. Established mostly with the aim to specialize in technology law, Gökçe has garnered a solid reputation for its expertise in technology and media. Moreover, Gökçe has become a go-to law firm for high-profile commercial disputes.

    Gökçe is the Turkish representative of Interlaw, a highly-ranked international law firm network.

    Gökçe is also a member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide, a global resource of locally respected law firms.

    As the last groundbreaking progress, the Gökçe team published the first E-Sports Law book in Turkey. Gökçe has bolstered its IP, media and entertainment practice in 2021.

    Main Areas of Practice

    Technology, Media, Communication & Privacy

    Gökçe’s TMC & Privacy team’s reputation is built on delivering commercial and practical legal advice to clients active in the digital sphere in various industries, ranging from multinational Global 2000 enterprises to venture capitals and start-ups. With a highly qualified team, Gökçe’s scope of services covers broad range of matters including matters of IT law, internet law, cybersecurity law, telecommunications law, intellectual property law, consumer law, e-commerce and data protection.

    Team members frequently provide mentoring to emerging growth companies at leading start-up incubators and accelerators including İTÜ Çekirdek and Endeavor Turkey. Clients such as Hilton, N11, Nimo.tv (HUYA), All Stars Music, Eternal Fire, Onedio, Inofab, Evreka, Figopara are all widely recognized game changers in their respective industries; and Gram Games (a Zynga company), Masomo, Miniclip, and Codeway Games, all prominent actors in the e-gaming industry.

    The TMC & Privacy team is led by Turkish IT and Privacy Law “star” Dr. Bedii Kaya, along with his deep expertise in data analysis, data protection, cybersecurity, and internet law. In 2021, Gökçe strengthened its Media, Entertainment, and IP practice with representing and providing legal consultancy to its international and domestic clients for their IP-related projects including cross-border licensing, IP portfolio management, linear channels and VOD platforms, NFT projects, IP/IT related dispute resolutions, due diligence processes, merger & acquisitions in media & entertainment sectors, data protection requirements in Turkey, local compliances and so on.

    Corporate, M&A & Venture Capital

    Corporate, M&A and Venture Capital team focuses on large to middle-market cross-border and domestic corporate transactions in various industries. Gökçe advises on a range of corporate issues including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, venture capital transactions, corporate restructurings, spin-offs and corporate governance. Clients include Farasis Energy (Ganzhou), Figopara, Gedik Yatırım, hiVC, WorleyParsons, and Çelebi Holding. Team members are also highly adept in growth investment transactions and represent founder-led technology companies, from the early stage all the way up to growth phase and exit.

    Gökçe advised:

    • FIT Solutions (Foriba) founders on the sale of their shares to Sovos, a leading global tax compliance and regulatory reporting software company
    • Gram Games, a leading Turkish mobile game company on the acquisition by Zynga Inc
    • Four Mobile (Masomo) in the acquisition by Tencent owned mobile games developer Miniclip
    • Gameguru on the sale of one of its most downloaded hyper-casual games (namely, Slap Kings) to Lion Studios
    • HI Venture Capital a licensed venture capital investment company in its establishment
    • Various emerging growth companies on financings by private equity giants and growth/venture capital investors such as EBRD, IFC, Revo Capital, Endeavor, 500 Startups and Growth Circuit
    • Evreka, an outstanding waste collection solutions SaaS company
    • Neo Auvra, a pioneering medical health company
    • Figopara, a major fintech company acting as intermediary for trade finance transactions
    • Inofab, an innovative medical device company
    • Onedio, a prominent Turkish online content provider

    Banking & Finance & Capital Markets

    Gökçe has extensive experience in banking & finance and capital markets transactions, particularly in project financings.

    On the banking side, Gökçe provides international and local banks with legal advice on daily operational issues, multilateral and bilateral institutional support, equity fund investment and credit enhancement. On the finance side, Gökçe acts for both Turkish and foreign banks in a large spectrum of financing transactions, including domestic and cross-border transactions. On the capital markets side Gökçe’s practice covers the full range of transactions.

    Team members have represented İş Bankası, Vakıfbank, Ziraat Bankası, OdeaBank, TSKB, T-Bank, Fibabanka, Gedik Yatırım, Worldpay, CBH Compagnie Bancaire Helvétiqueand Nurol Holding on various project finance and financial restructuring transactions including energy sector, infrastructure, real estate project financing, acquisition financing and other types of asset financing.

    Dispute Resolution

    Gökçe has profound knowledge and experience in litigation, especially in commercial and IP-related disputes. Gökçe represented N11(Doğuş), NRC International, FIT Solutions, Celebi Aviation, BBraun, V-Count, Onedio, Trendbox, ASB Modern, and Seacor Holding on various commercial disputes.

    Employment

    Gökçe’s employment team has extensive expertise in handling the full spectrum of employment and labour law issues. It advises numerous clients including Biopipe, Evreka, Gram Games (a Zynga company), Codeway Games, Alba Prestige, Alictus, and various company directors/managers on:

    • Employment Contracts
    • Termination of Employment
    • Employment Disputes
    • Settlement of Disputes
    • Social Security Disputes

    Debt Recovery & Debt Collection

    Gökçe has a wide practice of debt collection activities including foreclosure proceedings, primarily conducted for high-volume commercial receivables of its clients. Gökçe represents Çelebi Aviation, Alpla, Seacor Holding, Geniks Kongre, Özak Global, B-Braun.

    Criminal Law

    Gökçe’s criminal law team represents clients in complex criminal law matters in relation to commercial fraud, white collar, financial, cyber, reconstruction crimes, and data protection offenses. Gökçe’s criminal law clientele includes well-known individuals in Turkey.

    Key Contacts

    Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance
    Fintech, Media & Entertainment, Startup Law & Entrepreneurship and Technology & Telecoms
    Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Fintech

    Awards

    Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Banking and Finance
    Fintech, Media & Entertainment, Startup Law & Entrepreneurship and Technology & Telecoms
    Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Fintech
    Commercial & Corporate, Startup Law & Entrepreneurship
    Commercial & Corporate, Startup Law & Entrepreneurship
    Fintech, Media & Entertainment, Startup Law & Entrepreneurship, Technology & Telecoms
    Fintech, Media & Entertainment, Startup Law & Entrepreneurship, Technology & Telecoms

    Anonim Şirket ve Limited Şirketlerdeki Asgari Sermaye Tutarları Artırıldı

    25/11/2023 tarihli ve 32380 sayılı Resmî Gazete’de yayımlanan 7887 sayılı Cumhurbaşkanı Kararı[1] (Cumhurbaşkanı Karar) uyarınca, anonim ve limited şirketlerin 6102 sayılı Türk Ticaret Kanunu’nda (TTK) düzenlenen asgari sermaye tutarları artırılmıştır.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Nazlı Nehir Sertbaş

    Minimum Capital Amounts for Joint Stock Companies and Limited Liability Companies Increased

    Pursuant to the Presidential Decree No. 7887 published in the Official Gazette dated 25/11/2023 and numbered 32380 [1] (Presidential Decree), the minimum capital amounts of joint stock and limited liability companies regulated in the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 (TCC) have been increased.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Nazlı Nehir Sertbaş

    eIDAS 2.0 Efforts Gain Momentum at the European Commission

    Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 910/2014), known as the eIDAS Regulation, is a regulation that brings a set of rules and standards for electronic identification and trust services in European Union member states. This regulation has been under revision for some time and a new version, known as eIDAS 2.0, has been expected to be published.
    Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bedii Kaya
    Elif Aksöz

    Advertising Board’s “We Asked ChatGPT” Decisions

    Recent breakthroughs in technology have also started to have an impact on advertising. Accordingly, we are encountering statements in various advertisements where AI can be seen to confirm or support the claim in the advertisement and promotion.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Yağmur Yollu

    AYM’s Decision Affecting the Provision of Geographic Data License

    The Constitutional Court (AYM) issued a decision on case no E.2020/42 K.2023/99, which was filed for the annulment of some of the provisions in Law No. 7221 on Making Amendments in Geographical Information Systems and Some Laws (Law), on 18 May 2023. The decision was published in the Official Gazette on 4 October 2023.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Yağmur Yollu

    Critical Changes from TCMB for Payment and Electronic Money Institutions

    Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) published the “Regulation Amending the Regulation on Payment Services and Electronic Money Issuance and Payment Service Providers” and the “Communiqué Amending the Communiqué on Information Systems of Payment and Electronic Money Institutions and Data Sharing Services of Payment Service Providers in the Field of Payment Services” in the Official Gazette dated 7 October 2023.
    Yağmur Yollu
    Elif Aksöz

    Finteklerin Uzak Kimlik Tespiti Yapabilmesinin Önü Açıldı

    4 Kasım 2023 tarihli Resmi Gazete’de yayımlanan Mali Suçları Araştırma Kurulu Genel Tebliği’nde (Sıra No: 19) Değişiklik Yapılmasına İlişkin Tebliğ (Sıra No: 25) ile Mali Suçları Araştırma Kurulu (MASAK) mevzuatında finteklerin uzaktan kimlik tespitine (uzaktan müşteri edinimi) ilişkin beklenen değişiklik gerçekleştirildi.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Yağmur Yollu

    Remote Identification Made Feasible for Fintechs

    With the Communiqué on the Amendment to the General Communiqué of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (Serial No: 19) (Serial No: 25) (Communiqué) published in the Official Gazette dated November 4, 2023, the expected amendment to the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) legislation regarding remote identification (remote customer acquisition) of fintechs were realized.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Yağmur Yollu

    Konutların Ticari Amaçlı Kiralanmasına Yeni Engeller

    Bilindiği üzere, turizm sektöründe alternatif konaklama uygulamalarına talep her geçen gün artıyor. Özellikle son zamanlarda adından sıkça söz ettiren konutların kısa süreli kiralanması da kullanıcıların başlıca tercihlerinden biri haline geldi. Konutların kısa süreli kiralanmasına artan talepler, yetkili mercileri de harekete geçirdi. Kamuoyunda “Airbnb Yasası” olarak da adlandırılan, Konutların Turizm Amaçlı Kiralanmasına ve Bazı Kanunlarda Değişiklik Yapılmasına Dair Kanun (Kanun) 2 Kasım 2023’te Resmi Gazete’de yayımlandı.
    Başak Taş
    Elif Aksöz

    New Obstacles to Commercial Leasing of Residential Properties

    As known, the demand for alternate accommodation applications in the tourism sector is increasing day by day. Short-term rental of houses, which has made a name for itself recently, is among the most preferred applications by users. The increasing demand for short-term rental of houses has also prompted the authorities to take action. The Law on Renting Houses for Tourism Purposes and Amendments to Certain Laws (Law), also known as the "Airbnb Law", was published in the Official Gazette on 2 November 2023.
    Başak Taş
    Elif Aksöz

    BTK’dan Güncel Karar: İnternet/TV ve Sabit Telefon Aboneliklerinde Teyit Zorunluluğu

    Bilgi Teknolojileri ve İletişim Kurumu (BTK), elektronik haberleşme hizmeti almak isteyen tüketicilere eksik, hatalı ve yanıltıcı bilgiler verilerek tüketicilerin mağdur edilmesini engellemek amacıyla, yeni aboneliklere yönelik düzenleme getirdi. Bu kapsamda; 13.09.2023’te “İnternet/TV ve Sabit Telefon Hizmetlerine İlişkin Bireysel Yeni Abonelik Tesisi Öncesinde Teyit İşlemleri Yapılması Hakkında Usul ve Esaslar” (Karar) BTK’nın resmi sitesinde yayımlandı.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Yağmur Yollu

    Dijital Piyasalar Yasası Kapsamına Giren Şirketler Açıklandı

    Avrupa Birliği’nde 1 Kasım 2022’de yürürlüğe giren Dijital Piyasalar Yasası (DMA), dijital sektörde “geçit bekçisi” olarak hareket eden platformlar için kurallar getiriyor. Geçit bekçisi terimi DMA’da, iç pazarda büyük etkiye sahip olan, işletmelerin kullanıcılarına ulaşmaları için önemli bir aracı olarak görev yapan ve egemen ve kalıcı bir konumda bulunan platformlar olarak tanımlanıyor.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Elif Aksöz

    Ministry of Treasury and Finance’s Authority to Block Access is Revoked

    Law No. 7194 on Digital Service Tax and Amendments to Certain Laws and Decree Law No. 375 (Law) introduced new taxes such as digital service tax, accommodation tax, and luxury housing tax. The Constitutional Court (Court) found certain provisions of the Law related to their taxes unconstitutional in its decision E: 2020/11, K: 2023/98 dated 18 May 2023 (Decision) following an application to the Court.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Yağmur Yollu

    Turkish Advertising Board Examines Artificial Intelligence Advertisements

    The Advertising Board (Board), operating within the Ministry of Commerce, has issued a public announcement addressing advertisements containing harmful deceptive practices affecting citizens, along with advertisements that manipulate consumer perceptions and those created using artificial intelligence. With this announcement, Board has introduced artificial intelligence into its agenda for the first time.
    Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bedii Kaya
    Elif Aksöz

    Significant Legislative Amendments for Immovable Property and Secondhand Motor Vehicle Websites

    The Ministry of Trade introduced significant amendments regarding the sale of immovable property and second-hand motor vehicles. Accordingly, the “Regulation Amending the Regulation on the Trade of Immovable Property” and the “Regulation Amending the Regulation on the Trade of Second-Hand Motor Land Vehicles” (Amendment Regulations) were published in the Official Gazette dated 31.08.2023. These amendments, which affect multiple laws, particularly the Protection of Personal Data and the Law on the Regulation of Electronic Commerce, are in parallel.
    Yağmur Yollu
    Elif Aksöz

    Decision from BTK: Confirmation Obligation for Internet/TV and Landline Phone Subscriptions

    The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has introduced a regulation on new subscriptions in order to prevent consumers from being harmed by providing incomplete, incorrect and misleading information to consumers who intend to receive electronic communication services. In this context, the “Procedures and Principles on Confirmation Procedures Prior to the Establishment of New Individual Subscriptions for Internet/TV and Fixed Telephone Services” (Decision) was published on the official website of the BTK dated 13.09.2023.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Yağmur Yollu

    Companies Covered by the Digital Markets Act Announced

    The Digital Markets Act (DMA) which entered into force in the European Union on 01.11.2022, has been introduced to regulate digital platforms serving as “gatekeepers” in the digital sector. The term “gatekeepers” is defined in the DMA as platforms with substantial influence on the internal market, acting as vital intermediaries for businesses to reach their users, and maintaining a dominant and durable position. Which companies qualify as gatekeepers are determined by the European Commission by selecting companies that meet the following criteria.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Elif Aksöz

    Google Drive ve Google Dökümanlar’da E-imza Dönemi

    Elektronik imza (e-imza); başka bir elektronik veriye eklenen veya elektronik veriyle mantıksal bağlantısı olan, kimlik doğrulaması için kullanılan elektronik veriyi ifade eder. Bu kapsamda e-imza; bir bilginin üçüncü tarafların erişimine kapalı bir ortamda, bütünlüğü bozulmadan ve tarafların kimliklerinin doğrulanması suretiyle iletildiğini gösteren harf, karakter veya sembollerden oluşan bir elektronik veri.
    Yağmur Yollu
    Elif Aksöz

    Fenomenlerin ve Vloggerların Faaliyetleri Tehlikeli Sınıfa Alındı

    İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliğine İlişkin İşyeri Tehlike Sınıfları Tebliğinde Değişiklik Yapılmasına Dair Tebliğ (Değişiklik Tebliği) 11 Ağustos’ta Resmi Gazete’de yayımlandı. Değişiklik Tebliği ile ilgili düzenlemede yer alan İşyeri Tehlike Sınıfları Listesi’nde güncelleme gerçekleştirildi.
    Görkem Gökçe
    Elif Aksöz

    Update from the TCMB: Guidance 1.2 for Service Providers Offering Community Cloud Services

    As known, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) published the first version of the Guidelines on External Service Providers Providing Community Cloud Services to Payment and Electronic Money Institutions in July 2022. Following this, amendments were made to the Guidelines on 24 April 2023 (Guideline 1.1) and changes were made to the eligibility requirements and oversight of external service providers.
    Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Bedii Kaya
    Elif Aksöz