Terms and conditions | Law Istanbul

Article 1: Law Istanbul

In these general terms and conditions, Law Istanbul means the legal consultancy providing services in the field of Turkish law, based in Arnhem and registered with the Chamber of Commerce under number 99584115. Lawyers of Law Istanbul means the lawyers connected to Law Istanbul who are authorised to practise law in Turkey and are officially registered with the relevant Bar Association in Turkey. Client means any natural person or legal entity entering into an engagement agreement with Law Istanbul. Agreement means any arrangement or legal relationship under which Law Istanbul performs work for the Client.

Article 2: Applicability

These general terms and conditions apply to all quotes, offers, engagements, work, services and agreements provided or entered into by Law Istanbul, whether created orally, in writing or digitally. Deviations from these terms are valid only if expressly confirmed in writing by Law Istanbul. The applicability of purchasing terms or other general terms used by the Client is expressly excluded, unless Law Istanbul has accepted such terms in writing and unambiguously.

Article 3: Services and performance of the engagement

Law Istanbul provides legal services in the field of Turkish law, including legal advice, guiding procedures and other related work. This work is performed by, or under the responsibility of, lawyers connected to Law Istanbul who are admitted to practise in Turkey and act in accordance with applicable professional rules. Law Istanbul performs the agreed work to the best of its knowledge and ability and with the care expected of a reasonably acting legal service provider. Performance of the engagement is an obligation of effort, not of result. If necessary for proper performance, Law Istanbul may have certain work performed by third parties, including notaries, sworn translators or other local service providers in Turkey, without prior consent from the Client being required.

Article 4: Information provided by the Client

For correct and careful performance of the engagement, the Client must provide all data, documents and information that Law Istanbul reasonably needs in a timely, complete manner and in the form requested by Law Istanbul. The Client guarantees the accuracy, completeness and reliability of data and documents provided to Law Istanbul, whether from the Client or third parties. If information provided by the Client proves incorrect, incomplete or untimely, this is entirely at the Client's expense and risk and Law Istanbul may suspend performance or charge additional work and costs separately.

Article 5: Fees and payment

Law Istanbul's work is performed on the basis of an agreed hourly rate, fixed fee or other remuneration agreed between the parties. All fees are expressed in euros unless expressly agreed in writing that remuneration in Turkish Lira applies, and exclude additional costs such as court fees, translation costs, duties, notary fees and travel or accommodation costs in both the Netherlands and Turkey. Invoices must be paid by the Client within fourteen days of the invoice date, in the manner indicated by Law Istanbul. If payment is not made within this period, the Client is in default by operation of law and Law Istanbul may suspend work until full payment is made, and charge statutory interest and collection costs.

Article 6: Liability

Law Istanbul is liable only for direct damage that is the direct result of a shortcoming in performance attributable to Law Istanbul. Any liability is limited to the fees invoiced by Law Istanbul to the Client in the relevant matter and paid by the Client, or, where applicable, to the amount paid under professional liability insurance taken out by Law Istanbul. Law Istanbul is never liable for indirect damage, including consequential damage, lost profit, missed savings, reputational damage or damage arising from delays in procedures or administrative processes. Law Istanbul also accepts no liability for errors or shortcomings of third parties engaged by Law Istanbul, such as notaries, sworn translators, experts or government bodies in Turkey, as these third parties perform their work under their own responsibility and according to their own professional rules.

Article 7: Protection of legal documents

All documents created or provided to the Client by Law Istanbul in the context of the engagement, including legal opinions, contracts, court documents, correspondence and other written or digital materials, remain at all times the intellectual property of Law Istanbul, whether or not made available to the Client. The Client receives only a limited, non-transferable right of use for performance of the relevant engagement. The Client may not reproduce, disclose, distribute, modify or make these materials available to third parties without prior written consent from Law Istanbul, except where necessary for performance of the engagement or required by law. Any unauthorised use is considered an infringement of Law Istanbul's intellectual property rights and may give rise to liability for resulting damage.

Article 8: Confidentiality and privacy

The parties must strictly keep confidential all confidential information obtained from each other in the performance of the agreement, regardless of the form in which it is provided. Information is confidential when this follows from its nature or when one of the parties has expressly marked it as confidential. Law Istanbul processes the Client's personal data only to the extent necessary for performance of the agreement or required by law, and does so in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and, where relevant, the Turkish Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK). Further information on how Law Istanbul processes personal data is set out in the Privacy Policy published on the Law Istanbul website. The obligations in this article remain in force after termination of the agreement.

Article 9: Termination

Both the Client and Law Istanbul may terminate the agreement in writing at any time, without a notice period being required. Such termination does not affect the Client's obligation to pay for all work already performed by Law Istanbul and costs incurred up to the moment of termination. If the agreement is terminated before the engagement is fully performed, Law Istanbul may charge work already performed on a time-spent basis or pro rata to the agreed remuneration. Law Istanbul may also terminate the agreement if circumstances make performance impossible or if continuation is no longer responsible in Law Istanbul's view. Termination does not affect provisions intended by their nature to survive termination, including confidentiality and intellectual property.

Article 10: Applicable law and disputes

Dutch law applies exclusively to all legal relationships between Law Istanbul and the Client, regardless of where work is performed or where the Client is established. Disputes arising from or related to the agreement or performance of work shall be submitted exclusively to the competent court in the district where Law Istanbul is established, unless mandatory law designates another court. The parties will endeavour to resolve disputes as far as possible by mutual consultation before submitting them to a court.