Türkiye webinar series 2025 continued with a new webinar on investigations

The “Inside Investigations: Legal, Ethical, and Practical Dimensions” webinar, held on May 14, 2025, brought together legal and compliance lawyers from Norton Rose Fulbright and alliance firm Pekin Bayar Mizrahi to examine pressing developments and evolving practices in internal investigations.

The webinar was moderated by Ashley Kuempel of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, featured insights from Sertaç Kökenek, Christian Dargham, Keith Rosen, Andrew Reeves, and Jessie Steinebach, and explored recent developments in criminal and regulatory law. The panel also examined critical considerations in internal investigations such as the role of outside counsel, effective stakeholder management, navigating data privacy challenges, and handling the complexities of cross-border inquiries.

One of the key topics discussed was the recent formation of a new UK/France/Switzerland Anti-Corruption Task Force. Spearheaded by leading prosecutorial bodies from each country, this alliance emphasizes how this new European cooperation may fill a global enforcement vacuum.

The panel also delved into the evolving landscape of ESG investigations, highlighting how the increasing legal and reputational significance of ESG compliance has expanded the scope and complexity of internal probes. Driven by regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D), internal investigations now often examine environmental harm, human rights violations, and governance failures. The speakers noted that organizations must navigate varying jurisdictional laws and adopt advanced technologies like supply chain audits and human rights impact assessments—tools that bring new risks related to privacy, cybersecurity, and algorithmic bias.

Sanctions and export controls were another focal point, particularly given their growing use as geopolitical tools. Panelists explained how noncompliance with EU, UK, or U.S. sanctions can trigger regulatory or criminal investigations, especially when companies inadvertently engage in restricted transactions. Organizations were advised to maintain up-to-date knowledge of sanction regimes, as violations can result in significant penalties and reputational damage. The cross-border nature of these controls also means that investigations often involve multiple legal frameworks, increasing procedural complexity.

The session also had a focus on Türkiye with a regional perspective, where the legal landscape continues to evolve. Turkish enforcement authorities are actively pursuing anti-corruption, anti-money laundering (AML) and competition law violations. It was explained that while criminal liability under the Turkish Penal Code applies to individuals rather than corporate entities, companies can still face severe financial and operational penalties. The Turkish Competition Authority has increased dawn raids and investigations in sectors like automotive and healthcare, while the Capital Markets Board and specialized regulators in energy and telecom are expanding their oversight. This reinforced the importance of localized legal awareness and proactive compliance strategies in multinational investigations.

You can find out more details by listening to the full recording of the webinar, "Inside Investigations: Legal, ethical and practical dimensions."