Could you share with us the story of your path to becoming an in-house counsel? What motivated you to choose this career path?

When I was in primary school, I decided to become a lawyer. I have always been someone who puts effort into reaching my goals. My family has been my biggest supporters in acquiring all these qualities. I was raised to be responsible at a young age. I focused on my goal and managed to win a place in law school with a high degree, knowing that it would not end with just getting in. To successfully complete law school and advance in my career, I knew I still needed to work hard. I was aware of this. I attended many social talks and events in university and completed short-term internships at law firms during the summer months. The most beneficial for me were these summer internships at law firms. I discovered that I wanted to be part of the advisory side of law, ensuring that my clients act in accordance with the law before the litigation stage, rather than being part of the part of law that goes to court, attends hearings, writes petitions, and follows processes. Thus, by focusing on corporate law, I started my in-house journey by starting a legal internship at one of Turkey’s leading companies.

In your role as an in-house counsel, what are the main responsibilities and tasks you handle on a day-to-day basis?

Currently, I practice law at a world-renowned Korean company in the consumer electronics sector. Our team consists of myself and a colleague, and naturally, our responsibilities are quite extensive. If I briefly mention my main responsibilities, they include strengthening legal and compliance, risk management processes, disputes management such as claims, litigations and arbitrations, but also contract management, legal advice to stakeholders, HQ cooperation and regulation management. While dealing with hese activities daily, I also report every development to RHQ (Dubai) and HQ (Korea) and collaborate closely with them.

What are some of the key challenges you have faced as a rising star in-house counsel, and how have you overcome them?

Feeling hesitant when starting out in both the profession and the workplace is natural, and of course, proving oneself is necessary. One of the most important reasons I believe I have been able to overcome these processes is because I have felt that I have developed myself, received constant support from my family and close circle, and believed in my professional competence. I also attribute overcoming these challenges to healthy communication with my colleagues and managers. By asking questions without hesitation, questioning, and seeking the correct information about the unknown, I manage processes effectively. Transparency is crucial and highly valued in our profession, and I’ve strived to achieve and continue to strive for this level of transparency.