What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in? 

We have involved in various projects in the recent years including but not limited to acquisition of Migros, sale of McDonalds in Turkey but from a professional angle, I am most proud of, what we call the “Big Merger” of AG Anadolu Group, the merger of family holding companies back in December 2017. With the Big Merger, AG Anadolu Grubu is consolidated under the roof of AG Anadolu Grubu Holding A.Ş., a publicly traded company, with an “equal representation – equal governance” principle for both Yazıcı and Özilhan Families. I believe that, in terms of corporate governance and family governance, the Big Merger provided AG Anadolu Group with a gateway into the future.        

Throughout your career, what principles or values have guided your approach to leadership and decision-making within the legal department, and how do you believe they have contributed to your success? 

Various factors have contributed to my approach to leadership and decision-making, but I give priority to transparency, equity, diversity and honesty in the first place. These values and principles allowed me to strengthen the integration and common mind in my team which are of great importance given that, in my experience, productive and effective solutions emerge from common mind and teamwork. It is good for every decision maker to remember that the views of each and every team member play a vital role in achieving success. 

As someone who has achieved remarkable success in the legal profession, what advice would you offer to aspiring general counsels or young legal professionals seeking to make a meaningful impact in their careers? 

I have been practicing my profession for almost 30 years and spent major part of my career as an in-house counsel.  The world and circumstances in the legal era have significantly changed yet the main principles on which our profession is constructed remain the same. I would advise my aspiring and young colleagues to preserve their integrity, sharpness, passion for work, hard workmanship and honesty. In addition to this, it is of crucial importance to embrace the technological innovations and sustainability-oriented approach in our professional lives and adapt ourselves to dynamics of the new world.