Successful Roundtable on Competition Law and Data Privacy Hosted by Kolcuoğlu Demirkan Koçaklı in Collaboration with Turkish Law Blog

On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Kolcuoğlu Demirkan Koçaklı, in collaboration with Turkish Law Blog, hosted an exclusive roundtable bringing together prominent in-house counsel and legal professionals to discuss recent advancements in Competition Law and Personal Data Privacy Law. The event served as an invaluable platform for professionals to delve into these rapidly evolving areas, which are increasingly critical for compliance across industries.

The event commenced with a networking breakfast, allowing participants from over 30 leading companies to connect and share insights. Following breakfast, Kolcuoğlu Demirkan Koçaklı’s experts led two focused sessions, shedding light on critical developments and practical applications in both legal domains.

Key Insights on Competition Law: Neyzar Ünübol, Competition Counsel at Kolcuoğlu Demirkan Koçaklı, addressed recent legislative changes and the anticipated impact on businesses. She highlighted the Turkish Competition Authority’s evolving approach, particularly in investigations and inquiries. Ünübol also explored the newly introduced guidelines on anti-competitive practices in labor markets, focusing on the implications of “no-poach” clauses in supplier or client agreements. Notably, she emphasized that under the proposed guidelines, the burden of proof regarding the legality of such clauses now rests on the contracting parties.

Essential Updates in Data Privacy: Maral Minasyan, Partner at Kolcuoğlu Demirkan Koçaklı, provided an update on amendments to Turkey's Personal Data Protection Law, aligning with GDPR compliance needs. She explained that explicit consent will no longer be required for regular international data transfers, signaling a significant regulatory shift. Minasyan also introduced the new standard contractual clauses issued by the Personal Data Protection Board, urging companies to review their data transfer mechanisms for compliance. Furthermore, she noted that the introduction of a new legal basis for processing special categories of personal data would ease HR-related processes for employers.

This event underscored the importance of staying informed on legal developments in competition and data privacy, which are fundamental to navigating today’s complex regulatory landscape.

Turkish Law Blog extends its gratitude to Kolcuoğlu Demirkan Koçaklı for their generous hospitality and to all participants for their valuable time and contributions.