Biography

Mehmet Gün is the Founder and Chairman of the politically neutral think tank, the Better Justice Association, and the Founder of Gün + Partners, one of Turkey’s most prestigious and accomplished law firms.

Based in Istanbul, Mehmet is an active member of numerous professional organizations. He is the Founder and High Advisory Board Chairman of the Istanbul Arbitration Association, Vice President and the Chairman of the Constitutional and Structural Reforms Commission of the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation (TÜRKONFED), and a member of TÜSİAD (Turkish Industry and Business Association).

With a professional career spanning over 42 years, Mehmet Gün has built deep expertise in law, established one of Turkey’s leading legal practices, and played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s modern intellectual property legislation. He is listed among the world’s most pioneering legal professionals by IAM Strategy 300. His outstanding professional track record has earned him recognition as one of Turkey’s most influential lawyers by Legal500, Chambers and Partners, and Euromoney. His firm, Gün + Partners, has received numerous international accolades, including being named “National Firm of the Year” by both The Lawyer and Who’s Who Legal.

Mehmet is deeply committed to giving back to the country that has provided him so much. He has authored several books and articles to share his experiences and ideas, aimed at helping Turkey establish a legal system that meets international standards. In recent years, he has initiated a nationwide and international dialogue around judicial reform to improve the rule of law and democratic governance in Turkey—essential steps toward sustainable economic development.

In 2014, Mehmet authored the policy paper “Call for Quality Judicial Services and Elements of Quality,” which defines quality in judicial services and its essential components. This paper was adopted and published by TÜSİAD and later introduced to the Anatolian business community through events jointly organized by TÜSİAD, TÜRKONFED, and the Better Justice Association. It has since been widely embraced by the business world.

His recent books include the autobiography From the Steppes of Anatolia to the World of Global Law, Unconstitutionality of the Privileged Protection Afforded to the Community of Experts, Turkey’s Middle Democracy Issues and How to Solve Them and Turkish Judicial Reform A-Z. The executive summary of the latter was adopted by TÜRKONFED as an official policy document.

Subsequently, TÜRKONFED and the Better Justice Association presented these reform proposals through 25 jointly organized Structural Reform Conferences and webinars, garnering strong support from the legal and business communities.

More recently, the BJA partnered with Nasıl bir Ekonomi newspaper (Turkey’s equivalent of the Financial Times) to host numerous “Economy & Rule of Law” meetings with local business leaders and legal professionals. These events marked the third nationwide tour led by Mehmet Gün to engage stakeholders in Turkish cities.

In 2021, Mehmet and his colleagues at the Better Justice Association published Turkish Judicial Reform A-Z, which envisions a judiciary restructured as a civic institution delivering high-quality public service. Though focused on Turkey, the book offers a universal model for increasing public trust in judicial systems, reinforcing the rule of law, and helping nations worldwide advance toward UN Sustainable Development Goal 16.

The proposals received praise from prominent global experts, including Sir William Blair QC (former Judge in Charge of the Commercial Court), Professor Tom Ginsburg (University of Chicago Law School), Professor Cheryl Thomas (UCL Judicial Institute), Dr. David Kosař (Masaryk University), and Professor Zoltán Fleck (Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest).

On May 23, 2023, Mehmet Gün and the BJA participated in a roundtable at the House of Lords in London, hosted by Lord Iain McNicol, with attendees from esteemed institutions including the International Bar Association, the Law Society of England and Wales, and the UCL Judicial Institute. Mehmet and his team presented the BJA’s reform proposals outlined in Turkish Judicial Reform A-Z. During their visit, the delegation also met with His Excellency Ambassador Osman Koray Ertaş at the Turkish Embassy in London.

A Turkish lawyer in senior management at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), who participated in the London roundtable, noted that the IFC has a mechanism that aligns with the BJA’s proposals and expressed interest in exploring collaboration. KC Barrister Steven Kay stated that he advises governments in Libya and South Sudan and would consider applying the BJA’s model, particularly the Supreme Authority of Justice concept, to these countries. The possibility of providing advisory support to help establish and enhance judicial institutions in those nations was also discussed.

On June 6, 2023, the BJA delegation travelled to Brussels, where they were hosted by His Excellency Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı (Turkey’s Permanent Representative to the EU) and His Excellency Ambassador Bekir Uysal (Belgium). They engaged with high-level EU officials including MEP Nacho Sánchez Amor (EU Rapporteur on Turkey), Bernard Brunet (EU Commission), and Dr. Ferdinand Kopp (EEAS Turkey Desk). That evening, the BJA organized a roundtable with leading European think tanks such as the Brussels School of Governance, the European Policy Centre (EPC), and the European Neighbourhood Council (ENC).

The primary objectives of these visits were to build international credibility as a politically neutral civil society organization, foster peer-level dialogue with counterpart institutions, exchange constructive critiques, and contribute to Turkish diplomacy. Additionally, the delegation explored cooperation opportunities to support the development of judicial systems in African and EU candidate countries and the future of Europe through the integrated judiciary model proposed by the BJA—all of which were successfully achieved.

The Better Justice Association and Mehmet Gün continue to bring together individuals, institutions, and organizations related to the judiciary and broader society to foster consensus on reform ideas and to implement shared solutions. Their goal is to strengthen the rule of law in Turkey by developing and promoting universally accepted responses to judicial challenges, both local and global.

Mehmet Gün remains devoted to advancing Turkey’s judiciary and addressing its systemic problems through conferences, seminars, and public discourse. He regularly shares his insights via articles and posts published in Yetkin Report, 9 Eylül Newspaper, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and his personal blog.