SEVDA KARSIKAYA Why did you decide to become a lawyer? From an early age, I knew I wanted to work with law. Not because I was fascinated by dry legal texts, but because I wanted to help people in vulnerable situations. For me, being a lawyer has never been just a technical profession, but a calling. When I started at the bar, I quickly realized that family law appealed to me most. It touches the very core of people’s lives: families, relationships, children. It is a field full of emotions, but at the same time a place where the law can truly protect people. What makes family law so unique? Family law goes far beyond rules and procedures. A divorce, child custody arrangements, or the recognition of a child—these are events that deeply affect people. As a lawyer, you are right in the middle of that storm. Your role is more than litigating; you have to listen, guide, and sometimes de-escalate. It’s about finding solutions that are not only legally correct but also humanly sustainable. You were also a certified mediator in family, civil and commercial matters. What attracted you to that work? Mediation gives parties the chance to take responsibility themselves. A judge can impose a decision, but that rarely reflects everyone’s emotions or expectations. Especially in families, where parents often remain connected through their children for life, dialogue is essential. Time and again I saw how mediation could defuse conflicts and pave the way for respectful agreements. Your engagement goes beyond the courtroom. You also served within the Bar. How important was that to you? Very important. From 2014 to 2017, I was a member of the Council of the Dutch Bar of Brussels. Within the Flemish Bar Association, I worked on committees for quality assurance, family law, criminal law, and immigration law. The quality assurance committee focuses on safeguarding professional standards within the legal profession. For me, it was a way to help strengthen the profession and ensure that justice remains accessible to everyone. You also play an active role in the Bureau for Legal Aid. What does that mean to you? The Bureau for Legal Aid ensures that people who cannot afford a lawyer still receive legal assistance. I served as deputy chair in the immigration section and, since 2017, I have been Section Head of the Legal Aid Bureau of the Bar of Brussels . I am also active in the junevile law, criminal law, and family law sections. For me, it all comes down to the same principle: justice should never be a privilege. You also served for many years as legal adviser to the Consulate General of Türkiye in Brussels. What did that role involve? That was a particularly enriching period. I advised the Consulate and citizens in cases that often had to bridge Belgian and Turkish law: from family law and the recognition of judgments to residence procedures and criminal law. Many people felt lost between two legal systems. My role was to bring clarity and help With 21 years of experience at the Bar of Brussels, Sevda Karsikaya has built a career that combines legal expertise with a deep commitment to accessibility and human rights. She is best known for her work in family law, but her expertise also extends to immigration, juvenile law, criminal law, and human rights, where she has achieved successes before the European Court of Human Rights. She pleads cases in both Dutch and French, in courts across Belgium. Beyond the courtroom, she leads projects such as DIApositief and Advocaat op school, appears regularly on Turkish television to explain the Belgian legal system, and authored a handbook about their rights in familiy and criminal law for Turkish women in Belgium. Her recognition as winner in the category Family Law is a tribute to her dedication to making justice both accessible and humane. WHERE THE LAW TOUCHES PEOPLE Mediation gives parties the chance to take responsibility themselves. A judge can impose a decision, but that rarely reflects everyone’s emotions or expectations. BELGIUM FAMILY LAW LAWYER OF THE YEAR LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 15 BELGIUM FAMILY LAW LAWYER OF THE YEAR LAWYER MONTHLY LEGAL AWARDS 2025 14
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