Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şerafettin Ekici is a prominent academic and legal practitioner specializing in the intersection of law, digital transformation, and emerging technologies. With over two decades of experience in the legal field, he currently serves as the Head of the Information and Technology Law Department at Istanbul Medeniyet University.

In February 2026, he was officially appointed as an Associate Professor of IT Law by the Interuniversity Council (ÜAK), marking a significant milestone in his academic career. In addition to his academic roles, he is the founder of EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm, where he provides strategic legal consultancy on complex IT and private law matters. Since 2021, he has also led the Information and Technology Law Association as its President, contributing to the development of digital legal frameworks in Turkey.

Education

• Ph.D. in Private Law (2018) – Istanbul Medipol University

• LL.M. in Journalism (Information Technologies Division) (2009) – Marmara University

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) (2001) – Marmara University Faculty of Law

Academic & Professional Experience

• Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Law (2020 – Present)

  • Head of Information and Technology Law Department / Faculty Member

• Information and Technology Law Association (2021 – Present)

  • President

• EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm (2018 – Present)

  • Founder & Managing Partner

Notable Publications (Books)

• Metaverse Law (2023, Adalet Publishing)

• Information and Technology Law (2021, Seçkin Publishing, 3rd Edition)

• Escrow Agreement (2019, Onikilevha Publishing)

• Turkish Telecommunications Law after Liberalization (2006, Vedat Kitabevi)

Academic Articles 

The following articles represent Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekici’s recent peer-reviewed contributions to the fields of IT law and private law:

• 2026: Analysis of the Prospectus to be Issued for Crypto Assets in Terms of the Capital Markets Law and the EU Crypto-Asset Regulation (MiCA) No. 2023/1114 – Journal of the Turkish Justice Academy.

• 2025: The Attribution of Will in Transactions Performed by Artificial Intelligence in the Context of Legal Transaction Theory – Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Law Journal.

• 2025: Contribution of Social Media Names as Capital to the Company – Selçuk University Faculty of Law Journal.

• 2025: A New Personality Model Proposal for Artificial Intelligence: Integrated Personality – Journal of IT Law.

• 2025: Fake Social Media Accounts and the Protective Legal Possibilities of the Original Account Holder in the Context of Personality Rights – Terazi Law Journal.

• 2024: Metaverse and the Formation of Contracts in the Metaverse – Akdeniz University Faculty of Law Journal.

• 2023: The Legal Nature of Internet Domain Names and Rights Over Domain Names within the Scope of Basic Views in Doctrine and Turkish Positive Law – Akdeniz University Faculty of Law Journal.

• 2020: The Legal Status of Virtual Marketplaces in B2C Electronic Commerce – Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Law Journal.

• 2020: Cross-Default Clauses in Bank Credit Agreements – Istanbul Medeniyet University Faculty of Law Journal.

Expertise & Research Areas

• IT & Technology Law: Legal regulations concerning digital assets, blockchain, and the Metaverse.

• Artificial Intelligence: Legal frameworks for judicial algorithms and AI personality models (Integrated Personality).

• Private Law: Specialized expertise in Escrow agreements, contract law, and commercial law.

• Telecommunications: Regulatory compliance and market liberalization.

Merve Bartan is a highly experienced professional who has been an integral part of the firm’s operational evolution for over a decade. She began her career at Ekici & KUL Law Firm in 2012, initially serving as a Secretary before expanding her expertise into call center operations and enforcement proceedings.

Since 2020, Bartan has served as the Administrative and Financial Operations Supervisor at EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm. With a career spanning more than 14 years in the legal sector, she possesses deep institutional knowledge and specialized expertise in managing the intersection of administrative workflows and financial tracking. She is responsible for ensuring the seamless execution of the firm’s internal operations and overseeing essential financial processes.

Experience

• EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm (2020 – Present)

  • Administrative and Financial Operations Supervisor

    • Overseeing internal administrative structures and financial reporting.

    • Managing operational efficiency and department coordination.

• Ekici & KUL Law Firm (2012 – 2018 / 2020)

  • Enforcement & Call Center Specialist

    • Managed high-volume communication and legal follow-up processes.

  • Executive Secretary

    • Coordinated office administration and preliminary legal documentation.

Education

• Bahçelievler Bağlar High School (2004)

Core Competencies

• Operations Management: Extensive experience in supervising the administrative and financial backbone of a legal practice.

• Financial Oversight: Skilled in tracking office accounts, managing financial transactions, and operational budgeting.

• Institutional Expertise: A long-standing history of managing diverse roles within the firm, from client relations to enforcement procedures.

Süheyla Mollavelioğlu is a high-achieving attorney at EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm, known for her strategic approach to complex legal disputes and corporate consultancy. She demonstrated exceptional academic performance by completing her law degree at Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University in just three years with a 100% scholarship.

Admitted to the Istanbul Bar Association in October 2024, Mollavelioğlu has since focused her practice on the intersection of commercial and civil law. Since joining EKICIPARTNERS in July 2025, she has played a pivotal role in litigation, enforcement proceedings, and the drafting of high-stakes commercial contracts. Her professional philosophy is centered on providing effective, solution-oriented, and result-driven legal services to a diverse range of clients.

Experience

• EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm (July 2025 – Present)

  • Attorney at Law

    • Managing litigation and enforcement (execution) proceedings.

    • Representing clients in mediation meetings and providing ongoing legal consultancy.

    • Drafting and reviewing complex commercial agreements and corporate documents.

• Legal Internship & Early Practice (2023 – 2025)

  • Completed professional legal internship and transitioned into practice with a focus on private law.

Education

• Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University (2023)

  • Faculty of Law (LL.B.) – Graduated in 3 years with Full Scholarship

• Şişli Anatolian High School (2017)

Languages

• Turkish: Native

• English: Full Professional Proficiency

Practice Areas

• Commercial Law: Corporate governance, commercial disputes, and trade regulations.

• Labor Law: Management of employer-employee relations and labor litigation.

• Insurance Law: Strategic handling of insurance claims and liability disputes.

• Corporate Law: Legal support for business operations and contract management.

• Dispute Resolution: Active representation in litigation, enforcement, and mediation processes.

Fırat Yaman is a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in foreign trade and legal operations. Since joining EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm in 2019, he has played a pivotal role in the firm’s enforcement and collection departments. His background in international commerce provides him with a strategic and analytical approach to complex file management and operational workflows.

In recognition of his deep industry knowledge and leadership capabilities, Yaman was appointed as Supervisor in 2023. In this capacity, he oversees the execution of legal proceedings, coordinates team activities, and ensures that the firm’s high standards for debt recovery and administrative follow-up are consistently met.

Experience

• EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm (2019 – Present)

  • Supervisor (2023 – Present)

    • Leading the enforcement teams and managing departmental performance.

    • Developing strategic recovery plans and overseeing complex legal portfolios.

  • Enforcement & Collection Specialist (2019 – 2023)

    • Managed technical enforcement procedures and high-volume collection cycles.

Education

• Istanbul Gelişim University (2008)

  • Foreign Trade and the European Union

• Gökkuşağı College (2005)

Languages

• Turkish: Native

• English: Proficient

Core Competencies

• Operational Leadership: Expert in supervising large-scale legal teams and optimizing workflow efficiency.

• Strategic Enforcement Management: Comprehensive understanding of the technical and legal frameworks governing debt recovery.

• International Trade Knowledge: Leveraging global commerce principles to enhance local legal and financial operations.

Seyithan ŞİMŞEK is a results-oriented professional with extensive expertise in debt recovery, crisis management, and process optimization. He began his career at EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm in July 2020 as an Enforcement and Debt Collection Specialist, where he developed a specialized skill set in negotiation and effective team collaboration.

As of August 2025, ŞİMŞEK has been appointed as the Superonline Team Leader within the firm. In this leadership role, he oversees operational workflows, manages team performance, and ensures the efficient execution of recovery processes. His professional approach is defined by strategic crisis management and a solution-focused mindset in complex debt collection cycles.

Experience

• EKICIPARTNERS Law Firm (July 2020 – Present)

  • Superonline Team Leader (August 2025 – Present)

    • Leading specialized teams and managing strategic workflows for high-volume accounts.

  • Enforcement & Collection Specialist (July 2020 – August 2025)

    • Expertise in administrative follow-up, debt negotiation, and legal collection procedures.

Education

• Gümüşhane University (2016)

  • Bachelor’s Degree, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences (Economics)

• Develi Anatolian High School (2011)

Languages

• Turkish: Native

• English: Intermediate (B1)

Core Competencies

• Debt Collection & Recovery: Advanced proficiency in enforcement proceedings and liquidation of receivables.

• Leadership & Team Management: Proven ability to coordinate teams and manage operational targets.

• Crisis & Process Management: Skilled in navigating high-pressure environments and optimizing legal workflows.