Compliance and Data Protection Services in Turkey
Concrete KVKK compliance solutions for local and foreign companies: Data Controller Representation, VERBİS registration, cross-border transfers, and crisis management.
Our Core KVKK & Data Protection Services
Turkish Trade Lawyers provides targeted compliance solutions tailored to Turkish regulations for both local and international companies.
1. Legal Representation (Data Controller Representative)
Official Appointment: It is a legal obligation for non-resident (foreign) entities to appoint a Data Controller Representative prior to processing data in Turkey. Our firm serves as the official legal addressee and representative counsel for your organization.
Regulatory and Data Subject Communication: Our legal team manages all official correspondence, documentation requests, and complaints originating from the Personal Data Protection Authority (Board) or data subjects in Turkey.
2. VERBİS (Data Controllers Registry) Registration & Inventory
VERBİS Integration: Registration with the VERBİS system is mandatory for foreign companies, irrespective of domestic employee counts or revenue thresholds.
Data Inventory Preparation: We conduct a comprehensive analysis of the data collected within Turkey to construct a legally sound "Data Processing Inventory" and seamlessly execute the registration into the VERBİS system.
3. Compliance Gap Analysis
Our firm conducts rigorous reviews of existing global privacy frameworks and data flow infrastructures. By pinpointing structural variances between the GDPR and KVKK (such as explicit consent architecture and special category data protocols), we provide a strategic roadmap for jurisdictional adaptation.
4. Cross-Border Data Transfer & SCC Management
Execution of Standard Contractual Clauses (SCC): The transmission of data from Turkey to international servers constitutes a "Cross-Border Data Transfer." Our experts draft the mandatory Standard Contractual Clause documentation and oversee inter-party execution.
Statutory 5-Day Notification: KVKK mandates the notification of executed standard clauses to the Authority within 5 working days. Our firm strictly governs this time-sensitive process to preclude administrative penalties.
5. Drafting Localization & Contract Revisions
Privacy Policies and Consent Frameworks: Preparation of KVKK-compliant Privacy Notices, Cookie Policies, and Explicit Consent mechanisms tailored for digital platforms and enterprise operations.
Commercial Agreement Restructuring: Integration of statutory data protection clauses and comprehensive Data Processing Agreements (DPAs) into commercial contracts with domestic vendors and affiliates.
6. Data Breach & Crisis Management
72-Hour Statutory Notification: Upon the discovery of a cyber incident or data breach, KVKK regulations enforce a strict 72-hour notification threshold to the Board. Our rapid-response team activates legal emergency protocols, drafts regulatory submissions, and formulates strategic defense to mitigate liability.
Critical Legal Warning
The Turkish Data Protection Authority (KVKK) possesses the jurisdiction to impose "remote" administrative fines on non-resident companies and to restrict their access within Turkey. Therefore, localizing your processes under the guidance of a Turkish lawyer not only mitigates the risk of administrative penalties but also solidifies your brand's reliability in the eyes of Turkish consumers.