Competition law
Preliminary inquiries, investigations and clearance procedures conducted by the Competition Authority under Law No. 4054, and the judicial route against Board decisions.
The Competition Board examines agreements that restrict competition and abuses of a dominant position, and may impose administrative fines. The investigation proceeds through written defences and an oral hearing; the time limits are set by law. During an on-site inspection, it directly affects the process whether company staff know their rights and obligations.
Matters handled in this field
- Representation in preliminary inquiries and investigations
- Preparation of written and oral defences
- Advice during on-site inspections
- Settlement and commitment mechanisms
- Merger and acquisition clearance filings
- Annulment actions against Board decisions
- In-house competition compliance programmes
How does the process work?
- Assessing the situationThe complaint, request for information or investigation notice is reviewed and the company’s risks are identified.
- Preparing the defencesWritten defences are prepared within the statutory time limits and documents are submitted.
- Settlement or commitmentWhere appropriate, settlement or commitment mechanisms are considered.
- Oral hearing and litigationThe oral hearing is attended; an action can be brought before the administrative court against the Board’s decision.
Frequently asked questions
As a rule, an investigation is completed within six months; if the Board considers it necessary, this period can be extended once, by up to six more months.
The first written defence is submitted within 30 days of notification of the investigation; there are also 30-day periods for the subsequent defences.
An annulment action can be brought before the Ankara administrative courts against Competition Board decisions.
The information on this page is general in nature; each specific case is assessed on its own facts.
