Gökçe Nair Topal Joins Bausch + Lomb as Legal Manager

Gökçe Nair Topal has recently joined Bausch + Lomb as their new Legal Manager for Turkiye, Israel, Greece and Ukraine.

With a diverse legal background and extensive experience, Gökçe's appointment strengthens Bausch + Lomb's legal capabilities in the eye health industry.

Bausch + Lomb is a health organization dedicated to safeguarding and improving vision for millions worldwide, from infancy to adulthood. With a portfolio of over 400 products, the company offers a wide range of eye care solutions, including contact lenses, lens care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, and surgical devices.

As an accomplished legal professional, Gökçe Nair Topal brings a wealth of experience to her new role as Legal Manager at Bausch + Lomb. With a Bachelor of Laws from Marmara University and a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Southampton, she has honed her legal expertise across various practice areas.

Gökçe's career journey includes roles at esteemed organizations, where she played integral roles in legal affairs. During her tenure at DEVA Holding A.Ş., she served as Legal Counsel and later as Legal Affairs Manager, overseeing international markets and handling regulatory matters concerning Turkish legislation. Additionally, Gökçe specialized in drafting and revising commercial contracts, such as Distribution, Know-how Transfer Agreements, Asset Purchase Agreements, and Sale and Purchase Agreements.

Prior to her time at DEVA Holding A.Ş., Gökçe Nair Topal gained valuable experience as senior associate in top-tier legal firms and as a private practitioner. In these roles, she provided legal services to local and foreign companies across diverse sectors, including energy, logistics, and shipping. Her expertise in Commercial Law, Maritime Law, Corporate Law, International Trade Law, Civil Law, Criminal Law, Labour Law, and Administrative Law has proven invaluable to her clients.

As Legal Manager, she will contribute her expertise to support the Bausch + Lomb's mission of providing innovative eye health solutions and advancing the gift of sight for millions worldwide.

What personal and professional skills do you believe are most important for your role at Bausch + Lomb? Can you discuss the role's challenges and benefits?

I have a strong and proven belief based on my over 15 years’ experience that, no matter how extensive legal knowledge or experience a legal professional has, it is impossible to advise clients in a sufficient way without understanding their needs. This brings communication skills and ability for empathy to the top of the must-have list of a legal professional. It is vital to be able to put yourself in clients’ shoes, to well understand their desired path and to lead the clients to the spot they are willing to reach while protecting them from legal risks. I need hardly to mention that it is impossible to lead accurately without sufficient legal knowledge, therefore mentioned personal skills must also be accompanied by professional capacity, dedication, and hard work.

I have had the chance to work with a diverse range of professionals from different sectors and nationalities in various jurisdictions in complex matters involving multiple legal systems which has enhanced my legal capabilities in combining legal thinking with commercial agendas. I believe my experience in that sense will be beneficial for me and Bausch + Lomb considering I will be taking responsibility of 4 different structures in separate jurisdictions. This will still be challenging at the same time as the learning and development process for a legal professional never ceases.

“I am delighted to be a part of such a strong and established, well-known company and looking very much forward to sharing my experience to the use of Bausch+Lomb.”