§  Tuesday, 26 May 2026  ·  Berlin, Germany.

IremCengiz.

Legal Counsel · Berlin

Counsel for technology, founders & boards.

A qualified lawyer with combined law-firm and in-house experience. Advising founders, boards, and operators on corporate governance, venture financing, IP portfolios, and the regulatory edges of data, fintech, and Web3.

Portrait of Irem Cengiz
Plate I.The counsel, photographed.2026
II.

Track Record

Selected positions

Jun 2024 — Present

In-House

define creative GmbH

Legal Counsel·Berlin, Germany

  • Draft and negotiate commercial agreements, including SaaS, licensing, and startup financing documents.
  • Advise management on corporate governance, shareholder matters, and company structuring.
  • Coordinate cross-border legal and compliance matters with external counsel, notaries, and advisors.
  • Support GDPR/BDSG compliance processes for technology and digital platform operations.
  • Assist with intellectual property protection, licensing, and related legal processes.

Jun 2022 — Aug 2023

Law Firm

Vircon Legal

Legal & Compliance Counsel·Istanbul · remote, venture-focused

  • Supported pre-seed and Series A investment transactions, including SAFEs, convertible notes, and shareholder agreements.
  • Drafted and negotiated technology, service, and token-related agreements.
  • Developed IP assignment and contractor documentation frameworks for venture-backed companies.
  • Advised clients on GDPR compliance for technology and digital asset businesses.
  • Prepared legal opinions on blockchain, fintech, Web3, and crypto-asset regulations.
  • Provided practical legal support in fast-paced investment and regulatory environments.

Mar 2021 — Jun 2022

Hybrid

Tevetoglu Legal & Bitci Technology

Lawyer & Attorney at Law·Istanbul · seconded in-house

Technology Advisory & In-House Secondment

  • Seconded as in-house counsel to Bitci Technology, a global blockchain and crypto exchange, supporting day-to-day legal operations and strategic projects.
  • Advised startups and technology companies on commercial, SaaS, and cloud service agreements.
  • Advised on regulatory compliance across data protection (GDPR, CCPA, LGPD), financial regulations, securities law, payment services, and AML/CFT frameworks in line with FATF standards.
  • Assisted fintech and blockchain clients in M&A transactions and corporate restructuring processes.
  • Prepared legal opinions on token classifications, crypto regulations, and exchange listing agreements.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Represented clients in litigation, enforcement proceedings, and commercial disputes.
  • Advised clients on investigations and regulatory matters involving financial crime authorities and prosecutors.
  • Drafted legal documents, petitions, and client correspondence across commercial and civil law matters.
  • Represented clients in court proceedings and supported dispute resolution processes.
  • Assisted with real estate, contract, and general commercial law matters.

Dec 2018 — Nov 2019

Law Firm

Aydın & Aydın Attorney Partnership

Legal Intern·Istanbul, Turkey

  • Assisted in drafting pleadings, legal research, and corporate documents under senior partners.
  • Supported court filings, hearings attendance, and dispute resolution preparations.

Jul 2018 — Aug 2018

Law Firm

Çınar & Çınar Law Firm

Summer Intern·Istanbul, Turkey

  • Conducted legal research on international trade, contracts, and commercial law matters.
III.

Practice

Areas of work

i.

Technology & Regulation

Cross-border tech regulation, commercial contracts, and digital-asset frameworks for product and platform teams.

  • Technology transactions
  • Data privacy — GDPR / BDSG
  • Intellectual property
  • Blockchain & Web3
  • Fintech & crypto regulation
  • Startup advisory
  • Gaming law
  • KYC verification
  • AML / CFT — FATF

ii.

Corporate & Finance

Advising management and venture-backed startups across financing rounds, governance, and corporate structuring.

  • Equity financing — pre-seed / Series A
  • SAFEs & convertible notes
  • Shareholder agreements
  • Venture capital
  • Corporate governance
  • Company formation
  • M&A transactions
  • Corporate restructuring
  • Contract negotiation
IV.

Schooling

Education & languages

2024 — 2026

Dresden, Germany

International Studies in Intellectual Property Law & Data Law, LL.M.

Technische Universität Dresden

2014 — 2018

Istanbul, Turkey

Bachelor of Laws, LL.B.

Marmara University

Languages

Turkish
Native
English
Fluent
German
Elementary

Qualified to advise on cross-border transactions in English and Turkish environments, with working German for local matters.

V.

Correspondence

Get in touch

Inquiry slip

Replies typically within two business days.