Speaker details

Biography

I am a Turkish Cypriot. I studied law at Cambridge University as an undergraduate and as a post-graduate (MA Law and LLM in International Law) and the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Master in European Law). Prior to practicing law full time, I undertook traineeships at the United Nations, in New York, and the European Commission, in Brussels. I am a qualified English Barrister (Inner Temple) and an Avocat of the French Order of the Brussels Bar. I am authorized to appear before the European Court of Justice. I have practiced law in Brussels since 1984; initially with Oppenheimer, Wolff & Donnelly LLP (1984-1994) and then with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (1994-2025), where I was the Brussels Office Managing Partner from 2003 to 2022. Since January 2026, I have been in solo practice, working with selected clients. I speak English, French and Turkish. I advise clients on European Union (EU) law, including EU trade and customs cases, complex issues of origin, and a broad range of other EU regulatory matters as well as transactional and litigious issues. I was actively involved in the negotiation of the EU-Türkiye Customs Union. I advise on all aspects of EU competition law, help companies obtain clearance for mergers and joint ventures before the European Commission and member state agencies, and counsel on agreements and issues relating to requests for information. I also advise and defend clients involved in alleged cartel agreements, including onsite European Commission dawn raid investigations and possible leniency and settlement issues, and implement compliance programs. I advise clients on their national filing obligations resulting from the EU’s Foreign Direct Investment Regulation and the implications of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation and the Digital Markets Act. I was involved in the drafting of key EU antitrust legislation over the years and have represented clients from many different countries in precedent setting and other high-profile cases. I have represented major companies in many different sectors, including chemicals, defense, heavy industry, hospitality and leisure, glass, motor vehicles, transportation (air and sea), various services and “white” and “brown” goods.