Legal Opinion Services

At Bıçak, we provide high-quality, independent and meticulously reasoned Legal Opinions to assist clients in navigating complex legal questions under Turkish law and international law. Our Legal Opinions are prepared by distinguished professors, experienced attorneys and subject-matter specialists who combine academic depth with decades of practical expertise. Whether for litigation, arbitration, regulatory compliance, transactional decision-making, cross-border disputes or internal corporate assessments, our Legal Opinions offer clarity, certainty and strategic value to clients in Türkiye and worldwide.

What Is a Legal Opinion?

A Legal Opinion is a formal, well-reasoned written assessment that clarifies the legal position on a specific issue under Turkish law. It relies on statutes, case law, doctrine and regulatory practice, and applies this framework to the concrete facts of a dispute, transaction or investigation. Under both the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK 67/6) and the Civil Procedure Code (HMK 293), parties have the right to obtain an independent expert or scholarly opinion to support or challenge claims, evidence or official expert reports. These privately obtained expert opinions, known in practice as “uzman görüşü”, “bilimsel mütalaa” or “özel bilirkişilik”, form part of the parties’ evidence and must be taken into consideration by the court. The expert may also be called to the hearing for questioning, and the opinion may address not only technical issues but also specialised legal matters requiring expertise beyond the judge’s general legal knowledge. Although not binding on the court, such opinions serve as persuasive evidence and contribute to the evaluation of complex legal or technical issues. As these opinions arise from a contractual relationship between the party and the expert, the expert is responsible for the accuracy and quality of the opinion produced. In this framework, a Legal Opinion produced by Bıçak Law Firm provides an authoritative, academically grounded and procedurally recognised contribution to the fact-finding and decision-making process in litigation, arbitration and regulatory matters.

When Do You Need a Legal Opinion?

A Legal Opinion is needed when clarifying legal risk is essential for informed decision-making. Typical situations include cross-border transactions requiring Turkish-law comfort, assessing the enforceability of commercial contracts, determining potential civil, administrative or criminal liability, explaining Turkish law to foreign courts or arbitral tribunals, preparing litigation or arbitration strategy, evaluating expert reports, responding to regulatory inquiries or resolving complex legal questions where uncertainty could affect rights, obligations or investments.

Why Choose Bıçak?

Bıçak is uniquely positioned to provide Legal Opinions that are respected by courts, arbitrators, regulators and international business partners. Our advantages include:

• Academic excellence: Legal Opinions are prepared or supervised by Prof. Dr. Vahit Bıçak, a leading scholar of criminal procedure, evidence and comparative law, along with senior attorneys who bring multidisciplinary expertise.
• Practical litigation and advisory experience: Our team has decades of experience in criminal, commercial, regulatory and administrative matters, giving our Legal Opinions both theoretical strength and real-world applicability.
• International orientation: We deliver Legal Opinions in Turkish or English, and regularly assist foreign law firms, arbitration tribunals and multinational companies requiring an expert explanation of Turkish law.
• Strong methodological foundation: Our Opinions rely on systematic legal analysis, including statutes, Supreme Court and Council of State judgments, Constitutional Court decisions, legal scholarship and comparative law where relevant.
• Clear, structured and convincing reasoning: We prioritise clarity, precision and persuasive legal argumentation suitable for courts, arbitrators and decision-makers.
• Fast delivery when required: We offer standard and expedited timelines without compromising analytical quality.

Areas of Legal Opinion Expertise

Bıçak Law Firm provides Legal Opinions in multiple fields:

• Criminal law and white-collar crime: criminal liability assessments, evaluation of evidence, digital evidence and cybercrime, online fraud, sanctions and anti-money laundering compliance, Interpol, extradition and mutual legal assistance.
• Civil and commercial law: interpretation and enforceability of contracts, tort and compensation issues, corporate governance, directors’ responsibilities, distributorship, agency and franchise disputes, insurance and professional liability.
• Banking, finance and digital markets: e-money institutions, payment services, fintech and crypto-asset regulation, licensing obligations, banking and financial compliance.
• Administrative and regulatory law: public procurement, administrative sanctions, media and telecom regulations, internet law, competition and consumer law.
• International arbitration and dispute resolution: Turkish-law issues for ICC, ISTAC, LCIA and other tribunals, governing law and jurisdiction assessments, enforcement issues, damages analysis and interpretation of contractual provisions.
• Constitutional and human rights law: fair trial, due process, freedom-related rights, and assessments based on Turkish Constitutional Court and ECtHR jurisprudence.

Our Process

• Step 1: Initial consultation to identify the legal questions and objectives.
• Step 2: Scoping and quotation, including required documents and timeframe.
• Step 3: Detailed research and analysis using statutes, case law and doctrine.
• Step 4: Preparation of a structured, clear and well-reasoned Legal Opinion.
• Step 5: Delivery in Turkish or English.
• Step 6: Follow-up support, including clarifications or participation in hearings if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Timeframe: Most Legal Opinions are completed within several days to two weeks, depending on complexity. Expedited service is available.
• Language: Legal Opinions are provided in Turkish and English.
• Use before foreign authorities: Our Legal Opinions are frequently submitted in international arbitration and foreign judicial proceedings.
• Foreign-law questions: We provide opinions on Turkish law and collaborate with foreign counsel for other jurisdictions.
• Fees: Fixed-fee arrangements are available after defining the scope.

Requesting a Legal Opinion

If you require a Legal Opinion for litigation, arbitration, regulatory matters or internal legal evaluation, please contact us. We will review your inquiry, determine the appropriate scope, and provide a tailored quotation and timeline.