Founder of Legalixa Law Firm, attorney Selcuk Akkas was born in Eregli, Konya, finished his first and secondary school education here, and after that moved to Istanbul to study law. After graduating from Istanbul University Law School, he completed a legal internship to qualify as an attorney at law in 1992.
He completed his obligatory military service as a military judge at the Military Court of Turkish Armed Forces in Ankara. Mr. Akkas started to work for Eczacibasi Ilaç Pazarlama, the largest pharmaceutical company in Turkey, in 1994.
He gained experience in business law and in intellectual and industrial property rights law here. He resigned in 1998 to move to the USA to improve his legal English and to study master’s degree. He lived in Houston, Texas from 1998 to 2006, studying Legal English courses and graduating with a master’s degree in American and international law at Lone Star College.
In addition to the above-mentioned master’s degree, he worked as an intern at various American companies, the University of Houston and the Karadag Law Office in Houston to gain firsthand experience in business and international law.
Mr. Akkas represents hundreds of domestic and international companies in legal matters of intellectual property law, business law, and commercial law.
Specialization in trademarks
Mr. Akkas is one of the first lawyers who specialized in trademarks in Turkey, filing hundreds of applications for the registration of trademarks, defending his clients’ rights against objections, and following other official formalities with Turkish Patent Institute. He also defended his client’s rights on cancellation of trademarks, unfair competition, and violation of intellectual property rights.
Business & Commercial Law
Mr. Akkas provides legal services on commercial and business law to all kinds of business entities. He provides consulting services, prepares draft investment agreements, and provides legal services for incorporation formalities to foreign investors. At the same time, he provides legal consulting services to Turkish companies for investments they would do abroad.
Family Law & Divorce
Mr. Akkas provides all kinds of legal preparation and other services for matters of divorce and family law. He coordinates the filing of marriage termination lawsuits based on prenuptial agreements or disputes, alimony lawsuits, custody lawsuits, legal proceedings against violation of custody rights, and legal proceedings against violation of visiting rights, and following such lawsuits and legal proceedings, with the legal staff of this office.
Furthermore, he supervises legal proceedings filed against defaults of alimony and following such lawsuits and legal proceedings.
Real Estate Law
Mr. Akkas provides legal services at every stage ranging from purchasing, sale, and project development stages, of the real estate industry. He is specialized in construction and environmental laws and regulations and in solving problems with municipalities. Lawsuits filed for matters of property law or development law are followed. Lawsuits filed for matters of mortgage, lease, sale, purchasing, and title deed are followed too.
Inheritance Law
Mr. Akkas provides all kinds of legal preparation and other services for matters of inheritance law and family law. He coordinates the filing of succession, inheritance, reduction of inheritance, last will and cancellation of will, all kinds of legal proceedings for inheritance and succession, filing of lawsuits to waive inheritance, other relevant lawsuits, and following such lawsuits, with the legal staff of this office.
Bankruptcy & Debt Recovery Law
Mr. Akkas coordinates the filing of all kinds of bailiff lawsuits, collection of debts, drafting of payment agreements, all kinds of legal transactions for foreclosure, pledge, etc., representing of debtors and creditors at meetings, lawsuits filed for postponement of bankruptcy, and following such lawsuits, with the legal staff of this office.
Labor & Employment Law
Mr. Akkas coordinates the drafting of employment contracts, termination of such contracts, solving problems with labor unions, drafting of collective bargaining agreements, representing this office’s clients at negotiations, and all relevant legal proceedings, with the legal staff of this office.
Trademark and Patent Attorney
Mr. Akkas passed the exam given by Turkish Patent Institute (Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) on 1996 with the registration number “30” and he was among the first trademark attorneys in Turkey. Mr. Akkas has awarded an honorary award by PEM Patent & Trademark Attorneys Association on 22 October 2016 for his service over 20 years in the profession.
Mr. Akkas passed the exam which initiated by Turkish Patent Institute (Turkish Patent and Trademark Office) on 2013 and got registered to the TPTO Patent Attorneys’ register with 1324 registration number. Patent & Trademark Attorney Selcuk Akkas still working as a trademark and patent attorney within the scope of the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
Trademark and Patent Expert Witness
Mr. Akkas has been a trademark and patent expert witness in various courts and executive offices in the field of Istanbul Courthouse and he has examined the files, went to discoveries, and wrote expert reports.
Trademark and Patent Mediator
Mr. Akkas passed the exams in 2014 and got registered before the Department of Mediation which is within the body of the Ministry of Justice, with the registration number of 1224. Since that date, he directed various parties to mediation, especially in cases of trademark and patent infringement, malicious registration, and compensation.
Education
- Istanbul University Law School, Istanbul
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence – 1986 - Lone Star College, Houston, TX, USA
A.A.S – 2005 Honors: Dean’s List, Honor’s List - Houston Community College, Houston, TX, USA
ESOL – 2000 Honors: Dean’s List, Honor’s List
Memberships
- International Bar Association, 2005
- American Bar International Law Associates, 2005
- Turkish Patent Institute, 1996
- Corporate Tax Alliance, 2013
Bar Admission
- Istanbul Bar, 1992