What is a conflict of interest?

Menfaat Çatışması Nedir? | İzmir Avukat

What is a conflict of interest?

menfaat, 

isim, Arapça menfaʿat

Çıkar

Çıkar çatışması, kişisel çıkarlar ile mesleki görev veya sorumluluklar arasındaki çatışma nedeniyle bir kurum veya bireyin güvenilemez hale gelmesi ile ortaya çıkar. Böyle bir çatışma, bir kişinin para, statü, bilgi, ilişkiler veya itibar gibi bir çıkarı olduğunda gerçekleşir. Söz konusu çıkarları sebebi ile çıkar çatışması yaşayan kişinin eylemlerinin tarafsız olup olamayacağını şüpheli hale gelmektedir. Böyle bir durum ortaya çıktığında, genellikle tarafların süreçden ayrılmaları talep edilir. Hatta, menfaat çatışmasının olduğu durumlarda süreçten çıkmak genellikle yasal olarak zorunludur.

Bir başka ifade ile menfaat çatışması, avukatın savunmakta olduğu kişilerin çıkarlarının birbiri ile uyuşmaması ve bir tarafa ilişkin süreçlerinde diğerine zarar verme ihtimali bulunması halinde ortaya çıkan bir durumdur. Avukatlık Kanunu ile düzenlenmiştir.

Menfaat Çatışmasına İlişkin Yasal Mevzuat

Avukatlık Kanunu
Madde 38 – Avukat;
a) Kendisine yapılan teklifi yolsuz veya haksız görür yahut sonradan yolsuz veya haksız olduğu kanısına varırsa,
b) Aynı işte menfaati zıt bir tarafa avukatlık etmiş veya mütalaa vermiş olursa,
c) (Değişik : 2/5/2001 – 4667/26 md.) Evvelce hâkim, hakem, Cumhuriyet savcısı, bilirkişi veya memur olarak o işte görev yapmış olursa,
d) Kendisinin düzenlediği bir senet veya sözleşmenin hükümsüzlüğünü ileri sürmek durumu ortaya çıkmışsa,
e) (İptal)
f) Görmesi istenilen iş, Türkiye Barolar Birliği tarafından tespit edilen mesleki dayanışma ve düzen gereklerine uygun değilse,
Teklifi reddetmek zorunluğundadır.

Türkiye Barolar Birliği Meslek Kuralları

Article 36- An attorney who provides legal assistance to one party in a dispute cannot represent or provide legal assistance to the other party whose interests conflict. Attorneys working in a joint office are also bound by the rule of not representing individuals with conflicting interests.

Turkish Code of Ethics for Mediators

Interest or Conflict of Interest

Article 4- (1) There must be no conflict of interest between the mediator and the parties. The mediator must avoid giving the appearance of having a conflict of interest with the parties. (2) A conflict of interest between the mediator and the parties may arise after the parties apply for mediation, or it may have existed beforehand due to any existing or past personal or professional relationship between the mediator and the parties. (3) In order to conduct the mediation process, the mediator must conduct a reasonable investigation and examination to determine whether there is any event that would lead a bona fide third party to believe that a conflict of interest has arisen or may arise between the parties. The investigation that the mediator will conduct to uncover a conflict of interest that has arisen or may arise between the parties may vary depending on the circumstances of the specific case. (4) The mediator must inform the parties as soon as possible of any conflict of interest that has arisen or may arise that he could reasonably know and that could cast doubt on his impartiality. (5) If any existing or potential conflict of interest between the mediator and the parties is of a nature that would clearly harm the mediator's impartiality and the mediation process, the mediator must refuse mediation and withdraw from the mediation at any stage, regardless of the parties' requests and agreement to the contrary. (6) The mediator cannot subsequently act as a lawyer in a lawsuit filed in relation to the dispute in which he served in this capacity. However, he may act as an arbitrator in an arbitration proceeding if the parties request it with their explicit and written consent.

Decisions of the Disciplinary Board of the Turkish Bar Association

If a lawyer learns that they are representing parties with conflicting interests without their knowledge, they must immediately terminate one of the representations within a reasonable time in accordance with proper procedure. The correct course of action is not merely withdrawing from the representation, but completely refusing the job.
• Decision of the Disciplinary Board of the Turkish Bar Association dated 21.06.2003, case number 2003/87, decision number 2003/202:
“…The complainant learned at the hearing on September 9, 1997, in case number 1997/88 of the Magistrates' Court that the person in both cases was the same individual. However, after a considerable period, at the hearing on April 7, 1999, he announced his withdrawal from representation in case number 1997/437 of the Civil Court of First Instance. In this situation, the complainant lawyer should have immediately terminated one of the two representations in accordance with the procedure within a reasonable time, and should not undermine the public's trust and reputation in the legal profession. Therefore, the legal assessment made by the Disciplinary Board was found to be incorrect, and a disciplinary penalty was deemed necessary.’

Even if both parties are aware of, or even consent to, a conflict of interest in a case, a lawyer cannot accept the representation of the party with the conflicting interest.
• Decision of the Disciplinary Board of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations dated 21.01.2006, case number 2005/378, decision number 2006/11:
“…From the information and documents in the file, it is understood that the lawyer complained about undertook the representation of … in the enforcement file numbered 20023/712 of the … Enforcement Directorate with a power of attorney dated 12.06.2003, that he undertook the representation of … in the enforcement file numbered 2003/3561 of the … Enforcement Directorate as of 19.06.2003, that he served as the representative of the defendant … in the file numbered 2003/228 of the … Civil Court of First Instance until 07.10.2004, and that he was the representative of … in the file numbered 2003/165 of the … Family Court as of 26.05.2003, and that … consented in writing to the lawyer complained about being the representative of …, thus the enforcement proceedings and collusion initiated within the same time period and being of the same nature and being a continuation of each other are evident. It has been determined that he acted as a lawyer for opposing parties with conflicting interests in title deed cancellation lawsuits filed due to this reason.
The legislator felt the need to introduce such a regulation because accepting the representation of a party with conflicting interests undermines trust in the legal profession. In cases involving conflicts of interest, a lawyer cannot accept the representation of the party with conflicting interests, even if both parties are aware of the situation and, as in our case, have consented. Otherwise, each party would feel inadequately defended, which would fundamentally erode trust in the legal profession.

Source: Disciplinary Law for Lawyers, Attorney M. Haşim Mısır

Supreme Court Decisions

“"It is unlawful for defendants to be defended by the same lawyer when there is a conflict of interest between them and it is clear that the defense of one defendant would weaken the defense of the other." (CGK 14.06.2011, 1-44/122)

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