Data Protection (KVKK / GDPR)

Topluyıldız Legal Co.’s Data Protection practice provides comprehensive advisory under the Turkish Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK, Law No. 6698) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We design and implement full-scale compliance programmes that cover the entire data lifecycle — from collection and processing to storage, transfer, and deletion. Our services include VERBIS (Data Controllers’ Registry) registration, the preparation of data processing inventories, and the development of privacy notices, explicit consent mechanisms, and data retention policies that satisfy the requirements of the Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK Kurulu).

Data Controller & Processor Advisory

We advise organisations on their obligations as data controllers and data processors, structuring compliant relationships through data processing agreements, joint controllership arrangements, and sub-processor management frameworks. For organisations that process personal data at scale, we provide Data Protection Officer (DPO) advisory and support the establishment of internal data governance structures. Our team conducts Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for high-risk processing activities, ensuring that privacy risks are identified and mitigated before new products, services, or systems are deployed.

Data Breach Response & Cross-Border Transfers

When data breaches occur, speed and precision are critical. We operate a rapid-response protocol that covers:

• Incident assessment and containment — immediate evaluation of the nature, scope, and severity of the breach
• Regulatory notification — preparation and submission of breach notifications to the KVKK Board within prescribed timeframes
• Data subject communication — drafting of legally compliant notifications to affected individuals
• Remediation and documentation — post-incident analysis, remedial measures, and defensible documentation for regulatory review

For cross-border data transfers, we advise on the available transfer mechanisms under KVKK — including adequacy decisions, binding corporate rules, standard contractual clauses, and explicit consent frameworks — as well as GDPR transfer tools for organisations with EU-nexus operations. We also assist clients in responding to KVKK Board investigations, administrative inquiries, and data subject complaints, preparing submissions and representing clients in appeal proceedings before the administrative courts. Our awareness extends to emerging frameworks such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), enabling us to advise multinational clients on multi-jurisdictional data protection compliance.