PRIVACY NOTICE
Gençoğlu Partners places importance on privacy, confidentiality and the careful handling of personal data. This Privacy Notice explains how personal data may be collected, used, disclosed, stored and otherwise processed through this website and in connection with communications initiated through it.
This Privacy Notice applies to personal data processed in connection with the operation of the website, contact requests, career and internship applications, website-based communications and related technical processes. It is intended to provide a general overview of how personal data may be processed by Gençoğlu Partners in these contexts.
This Privacy Notice does not, by itself, comprehensively regulate the separate processing of personal data carried out in the course of legal representation, legal consultancy, dispute resolution, arbitration, litigation support, compliance work, internal investigations or other professional services provided under a separate engagement, attorney-client relationship, mandate, retainer, power of attorney or service arrangement. Where appropriate, additional and more specific privacy notices, engagement terms or professional documentation may apply.
1. Data Controller
For the purposes of the processing activities described in this Privacy Notice, Gençoğlu Partners acts as the relevant data controller.
Gençoğlu Partners is a law firm based in Istanbul, Türkiye, advising companies, investors, artists and content producers on complex legal matters in Türkiye and across borders.
Questions concerning this Privacy Notice or the processing of personal data through this website may be directed through the contact details published on the Contact page.
2. Scope
This Privacy Notice applies to personal data processed in relation to:
visitors using the website;
individuals contacting Gençoğlu Partners through the website;
applicants submitting career or internship applications through the website or by related digital means;
prospective clients, business contacts and other individuals who communicate with Gençoğlu Partners through the website;
technical and operational processes associated with the security, administration, maintenance and improvement of the website.
This Privacy Notice does not apply to third-party websites, institutions, platforms or services that may be linked from this website. Such third-party resources remain subject to their own legal notices, privacy terms and practices.
3. Categories of Personal Data
Depending on the nature of the interaction, Gençoğlu Partners may process the following categories of personal data:
identity information, such as name and surname;
contact information, such as email address, telephone number, company name, title, city and country;
communication data contained in messages, enquiries, attachments and correspondence;
professional or business-related information voluntarily shared by the relevant individual;
recruitment and applicant data, including CVs, cover letters, educational background, work experience, writing samples, references and similar materials;
technical and usage data, such as IP address, browser information, device information, operating system, access date and time, pages visited, referral source, interaction data and approximate location data derived from technical parameters;
security and system data generated through logs, access control, fraud prevention and website protection tools;
any other personal data voluntarily submitted through forms, attachments or correspondence.
Individuals are requested not to submit unnecessary, excessive or highly sensitive personal data through open website forms unless such disclosure is clearly necessary and appropriate.
4. How Personal Data Is Collected
Personal data may be collected:
directly from the relevant individual when a contact form is completed, an application is submitted, an email is sent or documents are shared;
automatically through cookies, logs, browser communications, website infrastructure and similar technologies, subject to applicable legal requirements and user preferences;
from publicly available professional, business or institutional sources where relevant and lawful;
from service providers supporting the hosting, operation, administration, maintenance or security of the website.
5. Purposes of Processing
Personal data may be processed for the following purposes:
to review and respond to enquiries, contact requests and communications;
to assess whether a matter falls within the firm’s fields of practice or professional scope;
to communicate with prospective clients, business contacts, applicants, referral sources and other individuals contacting the firm;
to review, evaluate and manage career and internship applications;
to administer incoming communications, records and submissions;
to operate, maintain, secure and improve the website and its functionality;
to protect the website, systems and users against unauthorized access, misuse, cyber risks, abuse, fraud and security incidents;
to maintain internal records and administrative documentation;
to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, ethical, professional and record-keeping obligations;
to establish, exercise or defend legal rights and claims;
where lawfully applicable, to evaluate website performance and user interaction through statistical or analytical tools.
Accessing the website, browsing its contents or submitting information through it does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship, mandate, retainer or professional engagement.
6. Legal Grounds
Personal data may be processed on one or more of the following legal grounds, as applicable:
where processing is necessary in order to respond to a request or take steps requested by the relevant individual prior to a possible professional or business relationship;
where processing is necessary for the legitimate interests pursued in operating, administering, securing and improving the website and related communications, provided that such processing does not disproportionately interfere with fundamental rights and freedoms;
where processing is necessary for compliance with legal, regulatory, ethical, professional or record-keeping obligations;
where consent has been obtained, including where consent is required for non-essential cookies or similar technologies;
where processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or rights.
Where applicable under Turkish law, such processing may be carried out in accordance with the Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data and related legislation.
7. Website Visitors
When individuals visit the website, certain technical data may be processed in order to ensure the operation, security, integrity and usability of the website, to understand how website features and pages are used, and to improve the user experience in a proportionate manner.
The website may also contain links to social media accounts, publications, institutional resources, courts, authorities, bar associations or other external websites. If a visitor accesses such third-party resources, the relevant third party may collect and process personal data in accordance with its own rules. Gençoğlu Partners does not control the privacy practices of such external services.
8. Contact Requests and Prospective Clients
Where an individual contacts Gençoğlu Partners through the website, the personal data provided may be processed for the purposes of reviewing the request, responding to the communication, assessing whether the matter is relevant to the firm’s practice, maintaining communication records and protecting the firm’s legal and operational interests.
The submission of a contact request does not by itself constitute formal instructions, conflict clearance, acceptance of representation or the provision of legal advice. Individuals should avoid sending highly confidential material, privileged documents, trade secrets or unnecessary sensitive personal data through general website forms unless specifically requested and appropriately secured.
9. Career and Internship Applications
Where an individual submits a career or internship application through the website or by related digital means, personal data contained in the application materials may be processed for the purpose of reviewing qualifications, evaluating suitability, communicating with the applicant, conducting internal assessments and maintaining recruitment records.
Applicants should provide only information relevant to the application. Unnecessary sensitive personal data should not be included unless clearly required by applicable law or by the specific nature of the role.
Submission of an application does not guarantee an interview, offer, engagement or employment relationship.
10. Clients, Business Partners and Professional Contacts
To the extent personal data relating to clients, prospective clients, business partners, suppliers, referral sources, scholars, colleagues or other professional contacts is processed through the website or related communications, such data may be processed for communication management, relationship administration, professional coordination, service-related evaluation, record-keeping and the protection of legitimate legal and professional interests.
Where personal data is processed in the context of an existing or prospective professional engagement, additional legal, contractual, professional and confidentiality frameworks may also apply.
11. Cookies and Similar Technologies
The website may use cookies and similar technologies for functional, technical, security, preference management and, where applicable, statistical purposes.
Further information about the categories of cookies, their purposes and available controls is set out in the Cookie Policy. Where required by applicable law, non-essential cookies or similar technologies will be activated only on the basis of the user’s consent.
12. Disclosure of Personal Data
Personal data may be disclosed, to the extent necessary and appropriate, to:
hosting, IT, website infrastructure, analytics, communications, maintenance, support or security providers acting on behalf of Gençoğlu Partners;
professional advisers, consultants, auditors or service providers subject to confidentiality obligations;
courts, administrative authorities, regulatory bodies, bar associations, law enforcement authorities or public institutions where disclosure is required by law, professional obligation, official request or lawful process;
relevant counterparties or professional partners where disclosure is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal rights.
Personal data is not sold.
13. International Aspects
As a matter of principle, Gençoğlu Partners aims to manage its website-related operations and infrastructure in a manner consistent with applicable legal requirements. However, given the international nature of digital communications and professional activity, personal data may in certain cases be accessed, stored, processed or transmitted across jurisdictions, subject to applicable safeguards, confidentiality obligations and appropriate technical and administrative measures.
14. Retention
Personal data is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary in light of the purpose of collection, the nature of the communication, applicable legal and professional obligations, record-keeping requirements, limitation periods, technical needs and the protection of legal rights.
Retention periods may differ depending on the category of data, whether the communication led to further contact, whether an application remained under consideration, and whether a dispute, compliance matter or security-related need arose.
15. Security
Gençoğlu Partners takes reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data processed through the website against accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure or unauthorized access.
However, no website, electronic communication method or storage environment can be considered entirely risk-free. For this reason, unnecessary confidential or highly sensitive information should not be transmitted through general website forms unless specifically requested.
16. Rights of Data Subjects
Subject to applicable law, individuals may have rights in relation to their personal data, including the right to request information, seek access, request correction, request deletion, object to certain processing activities, request restriction, withdraw consent where relevant, and pursue available remedies in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.
Such rights are not absolute and may be subject to restrictions arising from legal privilege, professional secrecy, confidentiality obligations, statutory retention requirements, the protection of third-party rights, conflict considerations, legal claims and other applicable legal limitations.
17. Updates
Gençoğlu Partners may amend or update this Privacy Notice from time to time in light of legal, operational, editorial or technical developments. The version published on the website at the relevant time shall apply unless otherwise stated.
18. Requests & Contact
Requests relating to personal data may be submitted in accordance with applicable law. Therefore, a standard application form has been made available for convenience and administrative clarity: Personal Data Application Form.
Questions regarding this Privacy Notice or the processing of personal data through the website may be directed through the contact details published on the Contact page.
