FOR FOREIGN COUNSEL
The Turkish part of the matter, handled within your wider strategy.
Antika Hukuk is instructed by lawyers outside Türkiye when a matter they are handling turns on something that has to be understood or done here: a file to be obtained, a measure to be explained, a procedural step before a Turkish authority, or a Turkish-law question affecting proceedings elsewhere.
The lead remains with instructing counsel. The Turkish workstream is defined around the question, deadline and form of output needed in the wider matter.
Where the Turkish question usually arises
It is rarely the whole case. It is usually one of four situations:
01
A client has been stopped, arrested or detained in Türkiye, and the position has to be established before decisions can be taken elsewhere.
02
An asset, account or company in Türkiye has been restricted, and a foreign court, regulator or adviser needs to understand the measure, its basis and the available next steps.
03
Material or evidence held in Türkiye is needed abroad, and the request must be framed so that the result is obtainable here and usable in the receiving forum.
04
Türkiye is seeking a person, or an international notice or request has appeared, and the Turkish-law position affects what can be argued or done in another jurisdiction.
The timetable may be set by a hearing, filing date or statutory period in either jurisdiction. The first task is therefore to identify the Turkish question and the date by which the answer or local step must be available.
WORKING MODEL
A defined local workstream, clearly reported.
The engagement may be limited to a single question or extend to representation and procedural coordination in Türkiye. The intended output and reporting line are agreed at the outset.
01 · Define the question and the output
The procedural posture, relevant jurisdictions, deadline and material already held are identified first. The output may be a written position, a review of a Turkish decision, a filing, attendance before an authority, or coordination of several local steps. A short account of the matter and the question is enough for the initial exchange; detailed case material should wait until conflicts and scope have been confirmed.
02 · Analyse the record and the Turkish position
The available material is reviewed against the relevant Turkish provisions and procedural options. The analysis identifies what follows from the record, what remains uncertain and whether a missing document or local enquiry is needed before a conclusion can be reached. Where the position depends on practice or procedural discretion rather than a settled rule, that distinction is stated.
03 · Carry out the local steps and report
Agreed steps are taken in Türkiye and reported in a form that can be used in the principal matter. A Turkish decision or procedural development is explained by reference to what it decides, what it leaves open and what deadline or choice follows. The reporting format may be a short update, a reasoned memorandum or material prepared for use before the relevant foreign court, authority or adviser.
How the instruction works
Scope, client and reporting line
The instructing firm may remain the client, with reporting through that firm and no direct contact with the underlying client unless requested. Where direct representation in Türkiye is needed, the underlying client may instead become the client for that part of the matter. Scope, responsibilities and reporting arrangements are recorded in the engagement.
Authority to act
Authority to act is checked at the outset. Where a Turkish power of attorney is required, any available right of substitution (tevkil yetkisi) and the appropriate route are confirmed for the matter.
Fees and billing
Fees and the billing route are agreed before work begins. A defined advisory task may be quoted on a fixed-fee basis; open-ended representation, local steps or continuing coordination may be billed by reference to time. The instructing firm or the underlying client may be the client and invoice recipient, depending on the engagement.
Language and documents
Instructions, advice and correspondence can be handled in English. Where a Turkish document matters to the foreign forum, the form of translation and any certification, notarisation or apostille requirement are agreed before the document is prepared or obtained.
Conflicts and substantive communication
Conflicts are checked before substantive material is exchanged. Turkish lawyers are subject to professional secrecy under the Attorneyship Law No. 1136, and the channel for documents and substantive communication is agreed for the matter.
Before instructing
The Insights section contains source-based notes on Turkish extradition procedure, INTERPOL notices, asset measures, mutual legal assistance, organisation liability and digital evidence.