Online Seminar on Criminal Law Risks in Commercial Transactions

Last week, Osman Aydın, Attorney at GRATA International (Ankara associated office), conducted an online seminar for attorneys based in Türkiye.

The seminar focused on criminal law risks arising from commercial transactions, with particular emphasis on the personal criminal liability of company managers, directors, authorised signatories and individuals exercising de facto management authority.

During the session, Osman Aydın addressed the key principles of corporate criminal liability under Turkish law, highlighting that criminal responsibility is determined not by formal title, but by actual authority, factual contribution and intent. The presentation covered common risk areas in commercial practice, including fraud, tax offences, document forgery and abuse of trust, as well as the potential criminal consequences for individuals acting on behalf of companies.

The seminar was held in an online format and concluded with an active question-and-answer session, enabling participating attorneys to discuss practical challenges encountered in commercial and corporate criminal matters.

The event provided a comprehensive overview of the current legal landscape and facilitated a constructive professional exchange among Turkish legal practitioners, contributing to greater awareness of compliance and risk management in commercial decision-making.