Privacy Policy

This Privacy Notice has been prepared by Bilgin & Albayrak Legal & Consultancy, acting as data controller, pursuant to Article 10 of the Turkish Personal Data Protection Law No. 6698 (PDPL) and the Communique on the Principles and Procedures for Fulfilling the Obligation to Inform. Our firm treats the protection of personal data as a fundamental obligation and conducts all personal data processing activities in full compliance with applicable legislation, including the GDPR principles as international best practice benchmarks.

1. Identity and Contact Details of the Data Controller

The data controller within the meaning of the PDPL No. 6698 is:

Name: Bilgin & Albayrak Legal & Consultancy

Address: Ünalan Mah. Libadiye Cad. Emaar Square Heights 82/E No:612 Üsküdar, İstanbul

E-mail: info@bilginalbayrak.av.tr

Website: www.bilginalbayrak.av.tr

The firm operates in compliance with Bar Law No. 1136 and the PDPL, and fully observes the duty of confidentiality arising from the attorney-client relationship.

2. Categories of Personal Data Processed and Legal Bases

Depending on the nature of the relationship established with our firm, the following categories of personal data may be processed. All processing is conducted in accordance with the general principles set out in Article 4 of the PDPL — lawfulness and fairness, accuracy and being up to date, processing for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes, relevance and proportionality, and erasure when no longer necessary.

CategoryExamples of Personal DataLegal Basis (PDPL Art. 5 / Art. 6)
Identity DataFull name, national ID number, passport number, tax identification numberArt. 5(2)(c) – conclusion/performance of a contract; Art. 5(2)(a) – expressly provided by law
Contact DataPhone number, e-mail address, postal addressArt. 5(2)(c) – contract performance; Art. 5(2)(f) – legitimate interest
Professional DataTitle, position, employer name and industryArt. 5(2)(c) – contract performance; Art. 5(2)(f) – legitimate interest
Legal Transaction DataCase file, petitions, legal correspondence, power of attorney, contract documentsArt. 5(2)(a) – expressly provided by law; Art. 5(2)(e) – establishment or protection of a right
Financial DataInvoice details, payment history, bank account/IBAN numberArt. 5(2)(a) – Tax Procedure Law, AML legislation; Art. 5(2)(c) – contract performance
Special Category Personal DataData relating to criminal convictions and security measures (only within case scope)Art. 6(3) – provided by law or explicit consent; Turkish Code of Criminal Procedure & Bar Law No. 1136
Digital / Technical DataIP address, cookie data, website visit information, browser typeArt. 5(2)(f) – legitimate interest; Art. 5(1) – explicit consent (analytics cookies)

3. Purposes of Processing Personal Data

Your personal data is processed solely for the following purposes and only to the extent necessary to achieve them:

  • Establishment, maintenance and termination of the client relationship; provision of legal advisory services
  • Conduct and management of litigation, enforcement, mediation and other legal proceedings
  • Drafting, negotiating and performing contracts
  • Mandatory information sharing with competent courts, enforcement offices, public prosecutors and relevant public authorities
  • Fulfilment of obligations under anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing legislation (Law No. 5549 on Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime)
  • Compliance with accounting, invoicing and tax obligations
  • Management of information security, system integrity and measures against cyber threats
  • Management of business partner and supplier relationships
  • Fulfilment of the firm’s professional liability insurance obligations
  • Informational communications regarding legal developments and regulatory updates (subject to explicit consent where required)
  • Conducting recruitment processes and evaluating candidate applications

4. Methods of Collection and Legal Bases

Your personal data is collected through verbal communications, written correspondence (e-mail, post), website contact forms, documents submitted by clients, and publicly available registers and records, both by automated and non-automated means, for the purposes set out above. Such data is processed on the following legal bases as specified in Articles 5 and 6 of the PDPL:

  • PDPL Art. 5(2)(a): Expressly provided by law (Bar Law No. 1136, Code of Criminal Procedure, Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law, Tax Procedure Law, AML legislation)
  • PDPL Art. 5(2)(c): Necessary for the conclusion or performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party
  • PDPL Art. 5(2)(c): Necessary for the data controller to fulfil its legal obligations
  • PDPL Art. 5(2)(e): Necessary for the establishment, exercise or protection of a legal right
  • PDPL Art. 5(2)(f): Necessary for the legitimate interests of the data controller, provided that such processing does not harm the fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject
  • PDPL Art. 5(1) – Explicit Consent: Obtained separately for processing activities based solely on consent, such as newsletters, marketing communications and analytics cookies
  • PDPL Art. 6(3): Special categories of personal data are processed exclusively within the scope of cases provided by law or explicit consent

5. Recipients and Purposes of Personal Data Transfers

Your personal data may be transferred to the recipient groups listed below in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of the PDPL. Transfers abroad are carried out only where the safeguards required under Article 9 of the PDPL are in place (a country determined to provide adequate protection by the Personal Data Protection Board, or explicit consent).

Recipient GroupPurpose of TransferLegal Basis
Competent courts, enforcement offices, public prosecutors and arbitral tribunalsConduct of litigation and legal proceedings; service of requests and decisionsPDPL Art. 5(2)(a) – expressly provided by law
Public authorities and regulatory bodies (Ministry of Justice, SGK, Tax Authority, Land Registry, etc.)Fulfilment of statutory obligationsPDPL Art. 5(2)(a)
Certified public accountants and accounting service providersBilling, tax compliance and accounting processesPDPL Art. 5(2)(c) and Art. 5(2)(f)
Technical service providers (cloud infrastructure, software systems)Operation and security of IT infrastructurePDPL Art. 5(2)(f) – legitimate interest
Opposing counsel or representatives (to the extent required by the proceedings)Mandatory disclosure arising from legal proceedings conducted on behalf of the clientPDPL Art. 5(2)(e) – establishment or protection of a right

6. Retention Periods

Your personal data is erased, destroyed or anonymised in accordance with Article 7 of the PDPL and the Regulation on Erasure, Destruction or Anonymisation of Personal Data once the purpose of processing has ceased, statutory retention periods have expired and the firm’s legitimate interest has ended.

  • Client files and legal transaction documents: 10 years from the closure of the file (applying the general statute of limitations under Article 146 of the Turkish Code of Obligations)
  • Accounting and invoice records: 5 years under the Tax Procedure Law No. 213 (may extend to 8 years including declaration periods)
  • Recruitment applications: 1 year for unsuccessful applications (not retained for longer without the applicant’s consent)
  • Cookie and digital data: as specified in the Cookie Policy below

7. Rights of Data Subjects (PDPL Art. 11)

Under Article 11 of the PDPL No. 6698, individuals whose personal data is processed have the following rights:

  • To learn whether your personal data is being processed
  • To request information if your personal data has been processed
  • To learn the purpose of processing and whether data is used in accordance with its purpose
  • To know the third parties to whom your personal data has been transferred, domestically or abroad
  • To request rectification where personal data is incomplete or inaccurate, and to request that the correction be communicated to third parties to whom the data was transferred
  • To request erasure or destruction of personal data where the grounds for processing no longer exist, and to request that such action be communicated to third parties
  • To object to any outcome arising solely from automated analysis of your personal data that is detrimental to you
  • To claim compensation for damages arising from unlawful processing of personal data

You may exercise these rights by submitting a request to our firm through the methods established by the Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK). Your application will be concluded within thirty (30) days at the latest.

8. How to Submit a Request

To exercise your rights under Article 11 of the PDPL, please contact us through one of the following channels. Your request must include documents enabling us to verify your identity and a clear statement of your request:

  • Post / In Person: Ünalan Mah. Libadiye Cad. Emaar Square Heights 82/E No:612 Üsküdar, İstanbul  — Please mark the envelope: ‘Personal Data Protection Law – Information Request’
  • E-mail: info@bilginalbayrak.av.tr  — Please include ‘PDPL Application’ in the subject line

We will process your request after verifying your identity. Your right to lodge a complaint with the Personal Data Protection Authority (kvkk.gov.tr) is reserved.