Ankara Arbitration Days

Ankara Arbitration Days is an annual symposium series held in Ankara in cooperation with the Turkish Arbitration Academy, the Ankara Chamber of Commerce, the Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University International Arbitration Application and Research Center, and the Ibn Haldun University Dispute Resolution Application and Research Center (UÇAM). The series brings together representatives of the judiciary, academia and legal practice to discuss current issues in domestic and international arbitration from multiple perspectives.

Each edition is held in three sessions following the opening speeches. The symposia have addressed arbitrability, the arbitration agreement, arbitral proceedings, the independence and impartiality of arbitrators, and the setting aside of arbitral awards, in light of court decisions and academic analysis.

I Ankara Arbitration Day — 28 April 2025

The I Ankara Arbitration Day was held on 28 April 2025 at the Conference Hall of the Etlik Milli İrade Campus of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University. Participation was free of charge, and participants received a certificate of attendance.

The programme included opening speeches by Prof. Dr. Ali Yeşilırmak, Head of the Department of Civil Procedure and Enforcement & Bankruptcy Law at Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Law and Member of the UÇAM Executive Board; Assoc. Prof. Dr. A. Eda Manav Özdemir, Head of the Department of International Arbitration and Alternative Solutions at the Directorate General of Law and Legislation of the Presidency's Secretariat-General and Member of the Coordination Board of the Turkish Arbitration Academy; Asst. Prof. Dr. Cansu Korkmaz, Director of the Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University International Arbitration Application and Research Center; Gürsel Baran, President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce; Prof. Dr. Atilla Arkan, Rector of Ibn Haldun University; and Prof. Dr. Ali Cengiz Köseoğlu, Rector of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University.

The first session, "Arbitrability and the Arbitration Agreement", was chaired by Adem Albayrak, First Deputy President of the Court of Cassation and President of its Assembly of Civil Chambers. Prof. Dr. Ali Cem Budak (Istanbul Commerce University Faculty of Law) presented "The Arbitration Agreement in Light of the Reform of the German Code of Civil Procedure", Prof. Dr. İbrahim Ermenek (Ankara University Faculty of Law) presented "Recent Developments on Arbitrability", and Prof. Dr. Ersin Erdoğan (Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Law) presented "Capacity and Representation in Respect of the Arbitration Agreement".

The second session, "Arbitral Proceedings and Recent Developments", was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ejder Yılmaz, Professor Emeritus at Ankara University Faculty of Law. Prof. Dr. Hakan Pekcanıtez, President of the Arbitration Court of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Arbitration and Mediation Center (ITOTAM), presented "The Applicability of the Code of Civil Procedure in Arbitration"; Prof. Dr. Murat Atalı (Istanbul University Faculty of Law) presented "Issues Concerning Interim Measures of Protection in Arbitral Proceedings"; Prof. Dr. Ali Yeşilırmak (Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Law) presented "Arbitration and Ethics"; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. A. Eda Manav Özdemir presented "The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Arbitration".

The third session, "Setting Aside of Arbitral Awards", was chaired by Abdullah Yaman, President of the 11th Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation. Prof. Dr. Süha Tanrıver (Çankaya University Faculty of Law) presented "Violation of Public Policy as a Ground for Setting Aside Arbitral Awards under the Code of Civil Procedure", Prof. Dr. Musa Aygül (Selçuk University Faculty of Law) presented "Setting Aside an Arbitral Award Not Rendered Within the Time Limit", and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Belkıs Vural Çelenk (Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Law) presented "The Approach of the Swiss Federal Supreme Court to the Setting Aside of International Arbitral Awards".

II Ankara Arbitration Day — 14 May 2026

The II Ankara Arbitration Day was held on 14 May 2026 at the Assembly Hall of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce.

The programme included opening speeches by Assoc. Prof. Dr. A. Eda Manav Özdemir; Gürsel Baran, President of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce; Prof. Dr. Atilla Arkan, Rector of Ibn Haldun University; and Prof. Dr. Ali Cengiz Köseoğlu, Rector of Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University.

The first session, "Corporate Law Disputes and Arbitrability", was chaired by Adem Albayrak, First Deputy President of the Court of Cassation and President of its Assembly of Civil Chambers. Doğan Ağırman, Member of the 6th Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation, presented "Arbitrability in General and the Arbitrability of Bankruptcy Actions"; Prof. Dr. Tolga Ayoğlu (Galatasaray University Faculty of Law) presented "The Arbitrability of Corporate Law Disputes"; Prof. Dr. Cafer Eminoğlu (Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Law) presented "The Arbitration of Corporate Disputes under Swiss Law – Remarks on Article 697n of the Code of Obligations"; and Prof. Dr. Akın Ünal presented "Family Companies and Arbitration".

The second session, "Arbitral Procedure", was chaired by Dr. Orhan Sekmen, President of the 11th Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Doğan Gültutan (City St George's, University of London) presented "Terms of Reference"; Asst. Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Kafalı (Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Law) presented "The First Procedural Order and the Procedural Timetable"; and Gülsüm Pala Uçan, Rapporteur Judge at the 11th Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation, presented "Procedural Decisions in Arbitration".

The third session, "Independence and Impartiality of Arbitrators and Conflicts of Interest", was chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Seracettin Göktaş, President of the 9th Civil Chamber of the Court of Cassation. Prof. Dr. Bilgin Tiryakioğlu (Bilkent University Faculty of Law) presented "Independence and Impartiality of Arbitrators"; Prof. Dr. Ali Yeşilırmak (Ibn Haldun University Faculty of Law) presented "Turkish Conflict of Interest Rules"; and Prof. Dr. Ersin Erdoğan (Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Law) presented "Independence and Impartiality of Arbitrators in Light of Court Decisions".

Ankara Arbitration Days have contributed to the assessment of current developments in arbitration and have strengthened the exchange of knowledge and experience among the judiciary, academia and legal practice.