Att. Seval Çiçek

Att. Seval Çiçek is a founding and managing partner of MC Legal. She advises domestic and international companies on personal data protection (KVKK/GDPR), employment and social security law, and compliance. Before practicing law, she served for more than five years as a Social Security Inspector at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.

Since 2020 she has been a mediator registered with the Ministry of Justice Registry of Mediators and an arbitrator, and is also an IMI (International Mediation Institute) certified mediator and arbitrator; she acts as mediator and arbitrator in commercial, employment, consumer and banking and finance disputes. She also advises on artificial intelligence law, cybersecurity and zoning law.

Areas of Expertise

Data Protection (KVKK/GDPR) Compliance — including cross-border data transfers
Employment and Social Security Law — social-security incentive and premium disputes, labor litigation
Compliance — compliance programs and policies
Mediation (employment, commercial, consumer) and Arbitration
Artificial Intelligence Law and the AI Act · Cybersecurity · IT and Intellectual Property · Zoning Law

Professional Experience

Ministry of Labor and Social Security — Social Security Inspector
Legal practice (2017–)
Mediator and Arbitrator (2020–)
MC Legal — Founding & Managing Partner

Sector Experience

Education

Marmara University Faculty of Law
Istanbul University Faculty of Business Administration (English Business Administration)

Memberships

Istanbul Bar Association
Istanbul Bar Association Personal Data Commission
Istanbul Bar Association Employment and Social Security Commission
Ministry of Justice Registry of Mediators
IMI (International Mediation Institute) Certified Mediator and Arbitrator
Artificial Intelligence Initiative of Türkiye — Law and Artificial Intelligence Working Group

Training & Talks

She delivers KVKK and AI Act training at MC Legal Academy.

Publications & Insights

Browse Att. Seval Çiçek's articles and insights on our Publications page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a standard contractual clause notified for cross-border data transfer under Turkish data protection law?

The data controller signs the standard contract published by the Turkish Data Protection Authority and must notify the Authority within five business days of signing.

How do you object to a social-security incentive cancellation and resulting debt assessment?

An objection can be filed with the relevant objection committee within the statutory period; if rejected, the matter can be pursued before the labor court.

Is mediation mandatory before filing an employment lawsuit in Türkiye?

For most employee claims and compensation demands, applying to a mediator before filing suit is a mandatory precondition to litigation.

How is a corporate compliance program set up?

A risk map is drawn up, policies and procedures are drafted, and training and monitoring mechanisms are put in place; the program is scaled to the company's size and sector.

Does the EU AI Act affect Turkish companies?

Turkish companies can be indirectly within scope where their AI systems are placed on the EU market or affect EU citizens, so early compliance review is advisable.