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

I studied law to become a self-employed lawyer. However, down the road – particularly at the beginning of my professional career, I realised that working with the business was more attractive; getting involved in into day-to-day business, having a knowledge of your client’s dynamics, vision, and ultimate goal as a business partner who is an expert in the law motivated me to choose this career path.

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

Compliance in the fields of competition, data protection, media, and other related practices are our top priorities. Unlike my previous experiences, I have become involved in food law, due to the chocolate, confectionery, and agriculture sectors that we deal with in my current position. My main responsibilities on a day-to-day basis include dealing with FMCG business requirements and operating five production plants for two legal entities across Türkiye.

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

In recent years, without question, economic and legislative uncertainties are the key challenges, not only for business teams, but also for in-house counsel. In the fast-paced environment of the Turkish jurisdiction, particularly in the FMCG sector, planning operations as much as possible by evaluating all risks in advance has been a challenge. It has also been challenging to involve legislation amendment processes closely and actively in order to overcome and prevent sudden impacts on our business.