SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office

Founded in 1984 and shaped by the vision of Attorney Cem Murat Sofuoğlu, SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office is a reputable and well-established law firm. Our office, which has stood out with its commitment to ethical values and client-oriented approach since its establishment, continued to grow and expanded its field of activity with the participation of Av. Murat Karabulut in 1998 and Av. Şeref Volkan Vayısoğlu in 2023.

Having a broad legal perspective, SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides qualified, solution-oriented and effective legal support to its individual and corporate clients both nationally and internationally. In order to fully meet the legal needs of our clients:

- Effective and fast resolution of disputes,
- Meticulous follow-up of complex litigation processes,
- Efficient execution of enforcement proceedings,
- We provide a wide range of services such as offering alternative solutions through specialized mediation services.

Our priority is to provide our clients with legal security by protecting their rights and interests at the highest level.

We are committed to providing the best legal solutions to our clients by combining the global perspective of being an international law firm with our understanding of local dynamics. Our team, acting with careful, attentive and dynamic working principles, not only provides legal support to our clients, but also acts as a strategic business partner in achieving their commercial and personal goals.

Attorney, Arbitrator, Master of Law. Cem Murat Sofuoğlu

Cem Murat Sofuoğlu was born in Izmit in 1957. After graduating from Istanbul Saint Joseph French High School, he continued his education at the Istanbul University Faculty of Law and started working as a lawyer registered to the Istanbul Bar Association in 1984 after his graduation, and has been working as a freelance lawyer for 41 years.

In 1995 and 1996, he attended international conferences on "European Union Patent Law" in Brussels, "European Union Competition Law" in Luxembourg, and "European Union Trademark Law" in London.

In 1997, he participated in a 6-month International Relations certificate program at Bogazici University.

In 1999, as a member of the Bee Movement, he participated as a speaker in an international program on Turkey's accession process to the European Union in Paris.

In 2001, he obtained a master's degree in "European Union and Institutions" at Istanbul Bilgi University.

He is a founding member of the "Democratic Change Volunteers" group within the Turkey Economic and Social Studies Foundation. He served as the chairman of the European Union Law Commission within the Istanbul Bar Association, which he proposed and established, from 2001-2004, and also served as its co-chair.

In 2003, he participated in the Mediterranean Democracy Forum meetings supported by the European Union in Cairo, and in 2004 in Berlin.

In 2004, he presented a paper at an international conference on the death penalty organized by the Against Death Penalty organization in Montreal.

From 2004-2009, he managed and presented papers at the "Province by Province in Europe on the Road to Turkey" conferences jointly organized by the Turkey Economic and Social Studies Foundation and the Swedish Consulate General in Istanbul in 26 different cities.

From 2005-2007, he served on the board of directors of the Saint Joseph Alumni Association. He is also a member of the Istanbul Anatolian Club Association and the Turkish Parliamentarians Association.

In 2007, he participated in an international program titled "EU Common Trade Policy in Turkey" and received a certificate.

In 2008, he participated in a training seminar on the European Convention on Human Rights for Turkish Lawyers organized by the Istanbul Bar Association and received a certificate.

In 2011, he participated in certificate programs on the "New Turkish Code of Obligations" and the "New Turkish Commercial Code" organized by Istanbul Bilgi University and holds certificates in both areas.

In October 2011, he participated in the "EU Rome" legal program organized by the European Union in Thessaloniki as the co-chair of the Istanbul Bar Association European Union Law Commission and received a certificate.

In December 2011, he was a speaker at the "Turkey Today" program organized by the Istanbul Sweden Research Institute.

Since 2013, he has been teaching as a lecturer at the Istanbul Okan University Faculty of Law.

In 2019, he became a mediator by successfully passing the mediation exams opened by the Ministry of Justice.

He has published numerous articles in various newspapers and magazines on law, literature, and history, some of which have been published abroad. He has also translated books and magazines. He speaks English and French fluently and has a moderate level of Italian.

Attorney Murat Karabulut

He was born in 1974 in Tunceli. He completed his high school education at Tunceli Cumhuriyet High School. He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law in 1996. In 1997, he registered to the Istanbul Bar Association and started to work at the Sofuoğlu and Partners Law Firm in 1998. His practice focuses on corporate law, commercial law, labor law, contract law, law of obligations, administrative law and tax law. He speaks English.

Attorney Volkan Vayısoğlu

He was born in 1998. He completed his high school education at the Istanbul Hüseyin Avni Sözen Anatolian High School. He graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Law in 2021. In 2022, he registered to the Istanbul Bar Association and started working at the Sofuoglu & Partners Law Firm. He focuses on corporate law, commercial law, labor law, law of contracts, law of obligations, administrative law, personal data protection law and consumer law. He speaks English fluently.

Certificates:

University of Derby - GDPR Data Protection Officer Skills

University of Pennsylvania - Intellectual Property

World Intellectual Property Organization - Patent Cooperation Treaty Course

Middle East Technical University - Foreign Trade Certificate

International Trademark Association - UnReal Campaign Certificate

Union of Turkish Bar Associations - Party Counsel in Arbitration

Administrative Law

Administrative law constitutes an important field in order to ensure the control and compliance with the law of the actions and transactions of administrative institutions that use the public power of the state. Annulment and full judicial proceedings to be filed against all kinds of actions and transactions of the administration, the resolution of disputes related to public services and the pursuit of rights of individuals against the administration fall within the scope of this field of law.

Administrative Law also covers lawsuits and proceedings regarding regulatory procedures related to civil servants law, social security legislation, municipal law, procurement law, environmental law and similar areas of law.

Some of the legal services provided within the scope of Administrative Law are as follows
- Annulment and Full Judgment Cases
- Compensation Cases
- Cancellation of Unlawful Actions of Official Institutions
- Cases Requesting Stay of Execution
- Cases Related to Municipal Law and Tender Law
- Law and Regulation Annulment Cases

Commercial Law

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides comprehensive support to domestic and foreign clients in the drafting, review and negotiation of commercial contracts. Especially for companies in the field of international trade and investment, structures compatible with different legal systems are created. In order to prevent commercial disputes, we conduct risk analyses and advise on the inclusion of preventive clauses in contracts. We maximize legal security by drafting contracts specific to the sectors in which our clients operate.

Our law office manages the establishment, merger, acquisition, transformation and liquidation processes of various types of companies, especially joint stock and limited liability companies. We provide consultancy on legal issues that may arise regarding the functioning of companies, and follow up the establishment of distributorships, liaison offices and agencies.

In particular, our law office handles the legal procedures before, during and after the incorporation of joint stock and limited liability companies and ensures that companies fulfill their legal obligations in full. The law office provides meticulous services in drafting the articles of association of companies, board of directors' resolutions, capital increase or decrease resolutions, resolving conflicts in shareholder relations and shareholding structure, conducting lawsuits for annulment of board of directors and general assembly resolutions and share transfers.Our services include the following titles:
- All Types of Commercial Contracts
- Continuation of Mandatory or Optional Mediation Meetings
- Franchising
- Leasing
- Agency and Distributorship Agreements
- Contracting Contracts
- Confidentiality Agreements
- Share Transfer
- Company Formation, Joint Venture and Cooperation Agreements
- Sales and Trade Contracts
- E-Commerce Contracts

Typical questions in commercial contracts are:
- What are my legal and commercial risks in this contract?
- What is my expected loss or gain if the contract is not enforced and a dispute arises?
- How can I terminate the contract or what are my rights if the other party does so? How do I deal with post-termination compensation claims and/or post-contractual non-compete clauses?
- What rights do I grant to my contractual partner?
- How can I contractually protect myself against certain risks, such as non-payment in case of delivery abroad?
- Which potential compensation risks am I exposed to and to what extent can they be avoided?
- What features need to be considered with foreign contractual partners?
- What are the characteristics of exclusive dealing contracts and claims for damages arising from such contracts?

For international commercial contracts and disputes, we work with experienced partners from the relevant countries.

Competition Law

Competition law is a branch of law that ensures the protection of the free market order and aims to ensure that companies act in accordance with competition rules. The basis of competition law is based on the prohibition of behaviors of undertakings that prevent, restrict or distort competition in the markets.

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides comprehensive consultancy services to its clients on the examination of direct or indirect preventive transactions, abuse of dominant position, agreements restricting competition and merger/acquisition transactions of companies in the relevant market in terms of competition law.

Our office prepares researches and memoranda on issues such as competitive price levels, the legal limits of horizontal and vertical agreements, and the fine boundaries between cooperation and cartelization. She also represents clients in investigations into competition law violations, advises on competition compliance programs, and evaluates mergers and acquisitions from a competition law perspective.

Our Main Services in the Field of Competition Law:
- Competition Law Consultancy
- Evaluation of Agreements Restricting Competition
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Competition Authority Investigations
- Competition Infringement Litigation
- International Competition Law

Consumer Law

The increase in human needs in daily life and the fact that many consumer goods have become an important part has increased the importance of consumer law. With the increase in the number of producers, the protection of consumer rights has become even more important. In line with the Law on the Protection of Consumers and other relevant legal regulations, services are provided to protect consumer rights and provide legal solutions.

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office professionally carries out the application, litigation and Consumer Arbitration Committee processes for the resolution of disputes within the framework of the Law on Consumer Protection and related legislation.

Main Services We Provide in the Field of Consumer Law:
- Consumer Arbitration Committee Applications
- Litigation in Consumer Courts
- Distance Sales Contracts
- Defective Goods and Services
- Consumer Legal Counseling
- Unfair Commercial Practices

Criminal Law

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides legal support in the field of criminal law in a wide range of areas such as economic crimes, bankruptcy crimes, IT crimes, crimes related to industrial property rights, press and publication crimes.

In this context, we effectively represent our clients before specialized courts such as the courts of assize, criminal courts of first instance, intellectual and industrial property rights courts as well as special judicial courts. We provide professional support in conducting criminal investigations, collecting evidence, determining defense strategies and producing legal solutions in accordance with the criminal law legislation.

Our main services in the field of Criminal Law are as follows:
- Economic Crimes
- Bankruptcy Crimes
- Information Crimes
- Crimes against Industrial Property Rights
- Crimes Committed by Civil Servants
- Press and Publication Crimes
- Crimes against General Security

Employment and Social Security Law

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides comprehensive legal services for the regulation of employee and employer relations. These services include the protection of the rights of both parties, the creation of employment contracts and workplace rules, the enforcement of these rules and the resolution of intellectual property issues arising from labor relations, especially unfair competition and confidentiality agreements.

Some of the Services Provided in the Field of Labor and Social Security Law are as follows:
- Preparation of Draft Collective Labor Agreements and Negotiations
- Settlement or Litigation of Termination of Contract and Dismissal Issues
- Continuation of Mandatory or Optional Mediation Meetings
- Providing Consultancy on Criminal and Legal Responsibilities Regarding Occupational Accidents and Diseases and Fulfillment of Obligations
- Ensuring Compliance of Working Environments with Applicable Legislation, Especially in terms of Health and Safety
- Occupational Health And Safety
- Updating and / or Reorganization of Employment Contracts and Related Procedures in the Light of the Practice of the Court of Cassation
- Preparation of Legal Correspondence: Preparation of Minutes, Defense Request Letters, Warning and Termination Notices Specific to Each Concrete Case
- Providing Training Services Regarding Obligations Arising from Labor Law, Social Insurance Law and Unemployment Insurance Law
- Resolution of Disputes Related to Trade Union Activities
- Legal Training and Consultancy: Providing Training and Consultancy Services for Employees and Employers within the Framework of Labor Law, Social Insurance Law and Unemployment Insurance Law.

Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office has deep knowledge and experience in the field of enforcement and bankruptcy law and provides comprehensive and professional services to its clients. This branch of law regulates the enforcement power of the state in order to protect the rights of creditors against debtors who do not pay their debts and to ensure the full collection of receivables. It also ensures that debtors' bankruptcy proceedings are carried out in a fair and lawful manner.

The main services provided by our office within the scope of Execution and Bankruptcy Law are as follows:
- Enforcement Proceedings for the Collection of Receivables
- Foreclosure Procedures
- Precautionary Attachments and Precautionary Measures
- Objection and Cancellation Cases to be Filed in the event of an Objection to Execution Proceedings
- Continuation of Mandatory or Optional Mediation Meetings
- Execution of Concordat and / or Financial Restructuring Process
- Management of Insolvency Proceedings
- Collection of Lease Receivables and Eviction Cases

European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is an international judicial body to which individuals, groups or states can appeal in the event of violations of rights guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights and its additional protocols. This Court, to which individual applications can be made after exhaustion of domestic remedies in Türkiye, examines violations of rights in a wide range of areas from the right to a fair trial to the right to property, from freedom of expression to the protection of private life.

As the SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office, we provide professional legal support with our expert staff on applications to the European Court of Human Rights.

Our Services in the ECHR Process:
- Management of the ECtHR Application Process
- Admissibility Assessment
- Trial and Representation Services before the ECtHR
- Implementation of ECtHR Judgments in Domestic Law
- Compensation and Infringement Detection Cases
- Human Rights Law Consultancy

Family Law

Family Law is a fundamental branch of law that regulates the legal rights and responsibilities of individuals within the family. Resolving legal problems that may arise in family relationships, protecting the rights and interests of the parties, and especially safeguarding the interests of children are of great importance.

At the SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office, we offer comprehensive advisory and representation services with our expert team in resolving legal disputes encountered by individuals within the family.

Some of the main services we provide in the field of Family Law include:

* Divorce Cases
* Custody and Child Rights
* Domestic Violence and Protective Measures
* International Family Law and Recognition of Foreign Court Decisions
* Alimony and Alimony Increase Cases
* Division of Marital Assets After Divorce

Foreign Capital and International Trade Law

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides continuous legal consultancy and legal representation services to many of its clients who are active in international trade. In this field, we work extensively on issues such as drafting commercial contracts in more than one language, customs procedures, Turkish foreign capital legislation and practices.

We also advise foreign real and legal persons on the purchase and sale of real estate in Turkey, residence and work permit procedures, transition to Turkish citizenship, as well as export and import law.

The main services provided by our office within the scope of Foreign Capital and International Trade Law are as follows:
- Preparation and Review of International Commercial Contracts
- Foreign Capital Investments
- Managing International Commercial Dispute Resolution, Arbitration and / or Mediation Processes
- Realization of Foreigners' Company Establishment, Branch or Liaison Office Opening Procedures in Turkey
- Legal Consultancy on Import and Export Transactions

Foundations Law

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office helps its clients to minimize their tax liabilities by taking advantage of tax benefits. It offers practical solutions regarding income tax, corporate tax and other taxes, and represents its clients before judicial authorities and administrative authorities in tax disputes when necessary.

In addition, the SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office conducts settlement negotiations with Tax Authorities on behalf of its clients for tax law issues and follows up correction requests. We also undertake the cancellation of tax penalty notices and payment orders of clients who have accrued tax penalties, and defend clients facing tax loss and evasion charges in criminal courts.

Our Main Services in the Field of Tax Law:
- Tax Penalty Cases and Cancellation Processes
- Settlement Negotiations with Tax Offices
- Client Representation and Dispute Resolution in Tax Audits
- Applications and Appeals to the Tax Administration

Health Law

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office regulates the legal relations between patients and healthcare providers (doctors, hospitals, clinics) in the field of health law and provides professional services to its clients in resolving disputes in this field. Health law is a broad branch of law that covers the protection of patient rights, the legality of medical interventions and the responsibilities of healthcare providers.

Our firm represents both patients and healthcare professionals in medical malpractice cases. Malpractice lawsuits are filed when patients are harmed as a result of health care providers' breach of professional standards. These cases may involve criminal liability as well as claims for damages.

Our services include
- Wrongful Medical Intervention Cases (Malpractice Cases)
- Criminal Cases arising from Malpractice
- Compensation Cases Arising from Malpractice
- Protection of Patient Rights
- Providing Legal Consultancy Services to Health Institutions
- Continuation of Mandatory or Optional Mediation Meetings

Individual Application to the Constitutional Court

The individual application to the Constitutional Court is a legal remedy that individuals can resort to after exhausting domestic remedies in case their fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution are violated by the public power.

As the SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office, we provide legal support in the process of individual applications to the Constitutional Court in case of violation of fundamental rights and freedoms. Our experienced staff provides comprehensive consultancy and representation services to our clients during the preparation, submission and follow-up of individual application petitions.

Services We Offer During the Individual Application Process:
- Pre-Application Legal Advice and Assessment
- Management of the Application Process and Completion of the Application
- Following the Legal Process After the Application
- Implementation of the Constitutional Court's Decision
- Finalization of Compensation Claims

Inheritance Law

Inheritance law is a branch of private law that regulates to whom and how a person's assets will be transferred in the event of his/her passing. It covers many legal issues such as the division of the estate between the legal and appointed inheritors of the heir, the validity of wills, inheritance contracts, refusal of inheritance and disinheritance. This field ensures both the security of assets and the protection of individuals' inheritance rights.

Frequently encountered disputes within the scope of inheritance law are disputes over the division of inheritance, actions for equalization, allegations of muris collusion, and actions for the annulment of wills. In addition, the determination of the inheritance, elimination of partnership and inheritance transfer procedures are among the issues that require expertise in this field. In addition, our office provides both preventive counseling and comprehensive legal support to its clients in the field of inheritance law.

Some of the Legal Services Provided within the Scope of Inheritance Law are as follows:
* Obtaining a Certificate of Inheritance (Inheritance Decree)
* Inheritance Sharing and Disinheritance Cases
* Preparation, Execution and Annulment of Wills
* Inheritance Evasion Cases
* Mandatory Inheritance Share Cases
* Rejection of Inheritance and Follow-up of the Process
* Determination of Probate and Bookkeeping Procedures
* Preparation and Interpretation of Inheritance Agreements

Intellectual Property Law

In all sectors, especially in the manufacturing sector, preventing the use of an idea or labor by others to reduce its value has an important place among the measures to be taken in terms of profit.

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides comprehensive legal services for the protection of your intellectual and industrial rights. From trademark and patent registration to utility model design, industrial designs, geographical indications, works and all other intellectual property rights, we provide professional support to our clients in the registration, protection, legal struggle against violations and increasing the commercial value of these rights.

Main Services We Provide in Intellectual Property Law:
- Trademark Law
- Patent and Utility Model Law
- Design Law
- Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights and Violations
- Licensing and Transfer Agreements

IT Law

IT law has a broad and dynamic structure that intersects with different areas of law with rapidly developing technology. The proliferation of the Internet, the growth of e-commerce, the development of social media and the advancement of new technologies such as artificial intelligence have caused information law to become increasingly important for individuals and organizations.

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides comprehensive, innovative and solution-oriented consultancy and representation services for legal problems arising in all areas where information systems and technologies are used. Our team, which closely follows the current legislation in this rapidly changing field, continues to work to protect our clients' rights in the digital world and help them manage potential risks.

The main services we offer in the field of IT Law:
- Electronic Commerce and Contracts Law
- Intellectual Property and Digital Rights
- Data Protection and Personal Data Protection Law
- Information Crimes and Criminal Law
- Competition Law and Digital Markets
- Social Media and Digital Reputation Management
- Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Crypto Assets Law
- Internet Law and Content Removal Processes

Law of Associations

Associations are non-profit and voluntary organizations with a social purpose. The legal status and activities of associations that strengthen social solidarity and contribute to social and cultural development are regulated by the Law on Associations.

This branch of law covers many important issues such as the establishment, functioning, organs, rights and responsibilities of members, regulation of income and expenses, auditing, termination and liquidation of associations.

The Main Services We Provide in the Field of Law of Associations are as follows:
- Association Establishment
- Establishment of the Association Bodies
- Preparation and/or Amendment of the Statute of the Association
- Regulation of Membership Relations
- Preparation of General Assemblies of Associations
- Dissolution of Associations
- Criminal Cases Against Associations
- Consultancy on Relations and Cooperation with International Associations and Foundations

Personal Data Protection Law

The recently enacted Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) has introduced important obligations which data controllers and data processors must comply with in the processing of personal data. This situation has made the protection of personal data increasingly mandatory for all stakeholders, from employers to public institutions, from organizations in the private sector to employees and customers.

As the SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office, we provide legal support to companies in the development and implementation of data protection regulations. In data protection processes related to internet and cross-border transactions, we prepare data protection and consent statements for company websites, e-commerce platforms and social media usage. We handle all aspects of employee data protection and provide guidance to our clients in this regard.

In commercial relationships, it is increasingly important for companies to consider data protection requirements with customers, interested parties and partners. If customers' personal data is processed by external service providers, detailed contractual arrangements are required in line with legal requirements.

Our office provides the necessary support in these matters:
- Data Protection Compliance Processes
- Clarification Texts and Consent Statements
- Data Breach Management
- Protection of Employee Data
- Customer Data Protection
- Data Protection with External Service Providers

Real Estate Law

The SOFUOĞLU Law and Consultancy Office provides legal consultancy services to property owners and investors in various areas such as the transfer and management of real estate. Our office has deep-rooted experience in transactions such as the follow-up of real estate lawsuits, the execution of purchase and sale transactions, the preparation of lease agreements, and the establishment of real and personal rights. We aim to protect our clients' rights in the best way possible by guiding them in all kinds of meetings and negotiations regarding these processes.

Real estate law has recently become even more important, especially with the enactment of the Urban Transformation Law. In an inflationary environment, people buying real estate to protect their money and foreigners buying real estate to start living in Turkey or to obtain Turkish citizenship have accelerated the developments in the sector and increased the importance of real estate law. Accordingly, our office provides comprehensive legal support within the framework of current legislation and market conditions.

Our services are accordingly:

- Land Registry Transactions
- Consultancy on Lease Agreements
- Contracts for the Establishment of Real and Personal Rights
- Conducting Legal Due Diligence and Preparation of the Report (Due Dilligence)
- Purchase and Sale Contracts
- Auditing the Compliance of Projects with Environmental Legislation
- Real Estate Finance
- Property Acquisition for Foreign Investors
- Preparation of Contracts Related to Urban Transformation Law, Entering Negotiations, etc.
- Preparation of Real Estate Sales Contracts
- Preparation of Flat-for-Floor Construction Contracts
- Expropriation Cases
- All Cases Related to Real Estate Law
- The Process of Foreigners Purchasing Real Estate in Turkey