Defne is the managing partner of CBC Law and leads the firm's cross-border dispute resolution practice, with a particular focus on the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards and foreign court judgments in Türkiye. She acts for award and judgment creditors, among them international investment funds, multinational corporations, sovereign States and State-owned entities, and stays with a case from the first enforcement petition through appeal, attachment, execution and asset recovery. Her practice spans enforcement under the New York Convention and the ICSID Convention, as well as the enforcement of foreign court judgments.
She has led the enforcement of some of the highest-value arbitral awards ever brought before the Turkish courts. Along the way she has dealt with most of the questions that decide contested enforcement, from public policy objections at every level of the judiciary to provisional attachment and the collateral courts may require, injunctions raised to stall execution, and the pursuit of assets that debtors have placed beyond easy reach. She is equally at home directing recovery across borders, weighing enforcement routes and coordinating asset tracing with counsel in Europe, the Gulf, North America and beyond.
Alongside her enforcement work, Defne advises on commercial and corporate matters and represents clients in cross-border arbitration and litigation, acting for national governments, international institutions and corporations. She is an active member of several professional organisations. Her years as in-house counsel to a Turkish corporation, and her work for a non-governmental organisation, show in the way she runs cases, in her clear reporting, and in her feel for how clients from different cultures and industries make decisions.
Practice Areas
- Commercial
- Corporate
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Arbitration
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Education
- Galatasaray University, Istanbul LL.B. 2011
- Queen Mary University of London, LL.M. 2015
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Languages
- Turkish
- English
- French
Articles
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Article 19.06.2026Yabancı Dilde Sözleşme Hazırlarken Dikkat: 805 Sayılı Kanun Ne Diyor?
805 sayılı İktisadi Müesseselerde Mecburi Türkçe Kullanılması Hakkında Kanun, iktisadi müesseselerde Türkçe kullanımını zorunlu kılarak özellikle sözleşme, yazışma ve ticari belgelerde önemini korur. Türk şirketleri için kapsam genişken, yabancı şirketler bakımından sınırlıdır. Yabancı dil ihlalleri genellikle geçersizlikten çok delil yasağı sonucu doğurur. Yargıtay, tahkim şartlarında Türkçe kullanımını vurgulamakta; yabancılık unsuru varsa Milletlerarası Tahkim Kanunu kapsamında esneklik tanımaktadır.
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Article 30.04.2026Evaluation of the Draft Law on the Protection of Trade Secrets
The Draft Law on the Protection of Trade Secrets, opened for public consultation by the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, provides comprehensive regulations regarding the definition, protection, unlawful acquisition, use, and disclosure of trade secrets. Aiming to align with European Union standards, the Draft sets out a clear and holistic framework on exceptions, interim injunctions, confidentiality during judicial proceedings, sanctions, jurisdiction and venue, and limitation periods. Opinions and recommendations regarding the Draft must be submitted to the Ministry by 15 May 2026.
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Article 29.04.2026Ticari Sırların Korunması Hakkında Kanun Taslağı’nın Değerlendirilmesi
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Ticaret Bakanlığı tarafından görüşe açılan Ticari Sırların Korunması Hakkında Kanun Taslağı, ticari sırların tanımı, korunması, hukuka aykırı elde edilmesi, kullanılması ve ifşasına ilişkin kapsamlı düzenlemeler öngörmektedir. Avrupa Birliği standartlarıyla uyum hedefleyen Taslak; istisnalar, ihtiyati tedbirler, yargılama sürecinde gizlilik, yaptırımlar, görev-yetki ve zamanaşımı konularında açık ve bütüncül bir çerçeve sunmaktadır. Taslak hakkındaki görüş ve önerilerin 15 Mayıs 2026’ya kadar Bakanlığa iletilmesi gerekmektedir.
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Article 15.01.2026Recent Developments and Penalties on the Prohibition on Contracts in Foreign Currency in Turkey
Pursuant to the Communiqué on the Decision No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency (Communiqué No. 2008-32/34), in many types of contracts the contract price and other payment obligations may not be determined in foreign currency or indexed to foreign currency. Although the prohibition on contracts denominated in foreign currency was lifted for movable sales contracts (excluding vehicles) with the amendment made on 6 March 2025, it continues to be significant in terms of the applicable sanctions. In 2025, the administrative monetary fine ranges between TRY 72,252.00 and TRY 602,778.00. The effect of a breach of the prohibition on the validity of the contract remains a matter of debate. However, recent decisions of the Court of Cassation emphasize the invalidity of such contracts on the grounds that the relevant communiqué is based on public order.
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