International Arbitration in Turkey: Why Istanbul Is Becoming a Strategic Dispute Resolution Hub
Author : ARZU ONGUR | Published On : 24 Aug 2026
Dr. Arzu Ongur on International Arbitration, Cross-Border Disputes, Foreign Investment and Turkey’s Growing Role in Global Business
As international business continues to expand across borders, companies and investors increasingly operate within complex networks involving different countries, legal systems and commercial environments.
Cross-border investments can create significant opportunities, but they can also introduce legal risks. When disagreements arise between international companies, investors, contractors or business partners, choosing an appropriate dispute resolution mechanism can become a critical business decision.
Against this background, International Arbitration in Turkey has attracted increasing attention from companies involved in international trade and investment.
Türkiye occupies a strategically important position between Europe, Asia and the Middle East and maintains strong commercial connections with the Caucasus and Central Asia. Istanbul, in particular, has developed into a major centre for international commerce, finance, investment and transportation.
Could this strategic position also strengthen Istanbul's role as a regional centre for international arbitration?
To explore this question, we spoke with Dr. Arzu Ongur, Founder and Managing Partner of ONGUR & PARTNERS International Law Office. In this interview, she discusses international arbitration, cross-border commercial disputes, foreign investment, Istanbul's potential as an arbitration centre and the changing role of international arbitration lawyers.
Dr. Arzu Ongur: A Career Built Around International Law
Dr. Ongur, could you begin by telling us about your professional and academic background?
My professional career has been closely connected with international law, cross-border commercial relationships, foreign investment and international dispute resolution from its earliest stages.
I have always viewed law as more than a collection of rules. In an international business environment, law provides an institutional framework within which investments, commercial relationships and increasingly sophisticated interactions between governments, corporations and private parties are structured.
This perspective has shaped both my academic research and my professional practice.
I have never considered academic scholarship and legal practice to be separate disciplines. In my view, they complement one another. Academic research provides the analytical foundation for understanding legal systems, while practical experience demonstrates how those systems operate in real commercial situations.
After graduating from Ankara University Faculty of Law, I pursued postgraduate studies in Italy, including at the University of Bologna. I also undertook further studies in European Union law at the Collegio Europeo di Parma.
I subsequently completed my Ph.D. at Ankara University, focusing particularly on competition law.
My interest in international dispute resolution also led me to undertake specialised training in alternative dispute resolution, international arbitration and arbitral decision-making in the United States and the United Kingdom.
These experiences reinforced an important principle in my approach to international arbitration: a sophisticated arbitration practitioner should be able to analyse a dispute not only from the perspective of counsel, but also from the perspective of the arbitral tribunal.
Understanding how an arbitral tribunal may evaluate evidence, contractual provisions and competing legal arguments is an important part of developing an effective arbitration strategy.
Why International Arbitration Matters to International Businesses
International arbitration has become an important component of the global commercial environment.
For businesses operating across jurisdictions, arbitration can provide a structured mechanism for resolving disputes without relying exclusively on national court systems.
However, international arbitration is not simply about presenting legal arguments.
A complex arbitration may involve extensive documentary evidence, financial records, technical reports, expert opinions and contractual arrangements governed by different legal systems.
For an international arbitration lawyer, the challenge is often to transform these complicated elements into a clear and persuasive legal case.
Procedural strategy can be just as important as substantive law.
Evidence must be organised effectively. Technical information must be presented clearly. Commercial facts need to be connected to the relevant legal issues.
Ultimately, the objective is to allow the arbitral tribunal to understand both the legal framework and the commercial reality underlying the dispute.
International Arbitration Should Be Considered Before a Dispute Arises
One of the most important aspects of international arbitration is that dispute resolution should ideally be considered before a disagreement occurs.
When an international contract is being negotiated, the parties may need to address issues such as the arbitration agreement, seat of arbitration, applicable procedural rules, governing law and potential arbitral institution.
These provisions may appear technical when a commercial relationship is beginning.
However, if the relationship later deteriorates, they can become extremely important.
For international businesses, a carefully drafted arbitration clause can form part of a broader legal and commercial risk management strategy.
Companies should therefore consider dispute resolution mechanisms when structuring an international transaction rather than waiting until a dispute has already developed.
Italy, Turkey and Cross-Border Commercial Relations
Italy has also played an important role in my academic and professional development.
My education in Italy and the professional relationships I have developed there have helped me understand not only different legal systems but also the commercial cultures in which international investments take place.
Turkey–Italy commercial relations, international investment and the legal structuring of cross-border transactions remain important areas of my professional work.
International legal practice requires an understanding of more than legislation.
Lawyers working with international businesses must also appreciate differences in negotiation styles, commercial expectations and legal traditions.
This broader perspective can be particularly valuable when businesses from different jurisdictions enter into long-term commercial relationships.
International arbitration and alternative dispute resolution constitute a substantial part of my practice.
My institutional involvement in the field, including my work within the Turkish Bar Association and its arbitration framework, complements the international dispute resolution work undertaken in private practice.
Building an Internationally Focused Law Firm
When establishing ONGUR & PARTNERS, my objective was to build a legal practice deeply grounded in Turkish law while also being capable of operating across jurisdictions, legal cultures and international commercial environments.
For an ankara law firm handling international matters, domestic legal knowledge is essential.
However, cross-border legal practice requires a broader perspective.
An international investor may need advice concerning corporate structures, investment arrangements, commercial agreements, regulatory obligations and dispute resolution.
These areas are often closely connected.
For example, a foreign investment may involve a Turkish company, foreign shareholders, international financing and contracts subject to different laws.
If a dispute arises, legal counsel must understand how each of these elements interacts with the others.
This is why international legal practice requires both strong knowledge of domestic law and an understanding of international commerce.
Why Istanbul Matters for International Arbitration
Istanbul's geographical position is one of the factors contributing to the growing discussion around International Arbitration in Turkey.
The city has historically connected commercial routes between Europe and Asia and today remains an important centre for trade, finance and investment.
Its connections with European, Asian and Middle Eastern markets make Istanbul particularly relevant to companies engaged in cross-border business.
For an istanbul law firm working with international clients, understanding this commercial environment can be an important part of providing effective legal advice.
At the same time, choosing Istanbul as a potential arbitration seat requires consideration of several factors.
Geographical convenience alone is not enough.
Businesses should also consider the applicable legal framework, procedural rules, enforceability of arbitral awards, institutional options and the experience of potential arbitrators.
The appropriate arbitration structure ultimately depends on the specific transaction, the parties involved and the risks associated with the commercial relationship.
Institutional Arbitration and Business Risk
Institutional arbitration can provide businesses with an established procedural framework and administrative support throughout an arbitration.
This can be particularly useful in disputes involving multiple parties, extensive documentation or technically complex commercial issues.
Nevertheless, selecting an arbitration institution is only one element of an effective dispute resolution strategy.
The arbitration agreement, appointment of arbitrators, procedural planning, evidence management and presentation of the case can all influence the outcome of proceedings.
For this reason, international businesses should view arbitration as part of broader commercial risk management.
An arbitration clause should not simply be copied into a contract as standard wording.
It should be considered in the context of the transaction, the jurisdictions involved and the commercial objectives of the parties.
What Does the Modern International Arbitration Lawyer Need?
The international arbitration profession is changing alongside global commerce.
Today's disputes can involve complex investment structures, financial transactions, technical evidence, digital records and large volumes of commercial documentation.
The next generation of international arbitration lawyers will therefore need capabilities extending beyond traditional legal research.
They will need to understand international commerce, foreign investment, finance, technology and the commercial priorities of their clients.
Communication skills are equally important.
An arbitration lawyer may need to explain complex legal and commercial issues to company executives, investors, arbitrators, experts and other participants in the proceedings.
The ability to organise complicated information and communicate it clearly can have a significant impact on the effectiveness of a legal strategy.
In my view, successful international arbitration practice requires rigorous legal analysis, strategic thinking and commercial awareness.
A legal strategy should address the dispute while also supporting the client's broader business objectives.
Foreign Investment and Cross-Border Disputes in Turkey
Turkey's increasing role in international trade and foreign investment is creating new opportunities for global businesses.
At the same time, greater international commercial activity can generate more sophisticated legal disputes.
Foreign investors may become involved in disagreements concerning commercial agreements, construction projects, financing arrangements, corporate relationships, investment structures or regulatory matters.
Understanding available dispute resolution mechanisms in Turkey is therefore an important part of international business planning.
Ideally, these issues should be considered before a transaction is completed.
During contract negotiations, companies have an opportunity to identify potential areas of conflict and determine how future disputes should be addressed.
This becomes particularly important when a transaction involves foreign shareholders, international financing, multiple jurisdictions or assets located in different countries.
Early legal planning can provide businesses with a clearer framework for managing potential conflicts.
Can Turkey Become a Regional Arbitration Hub?
Turkey's geographical position and growing participation in international commerce provide significant opportunities for the development of International Arbitration in Turkey.
Istanbul is particularly important because of its connections with Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
As international companies continue to invest in Turkey and Turkish businesses expand into foreign markets, demand for legal professionals with experience in cross-border transactions and dispute resolution is likely to increase.
The development of arbitration in Turkey should therefore be considered within the wider context of the country's integration into global commerce.
International arbitration is not simply a specialised legal service.
A reliable and effective dispute resolution environment can also contribute to greater confidence among businesses entering international commercial relationships.
For investors, access to experienced legal counsel and appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms can be an important consideration when evaluating the risks of entering a new market.
The Future of Istanbul Arbitration
The future of Istanbul arbitration will depend on several factors, including legal expertise, institutional development, international confidence and Turkey's continued participation in global trade and investment.
As cross-border transactions become increasingly sophisticated, businesses will require dispute resolution mechanisms capable of handling complex commercial relationships.
Istanbul has several characteristics that could support a stronger regional role in this field.
Its geographical location, commercial infrastructure and connections with major economic regions give the city an opportunity to become increasingly relevant to international dispute resolution.
For international investors and companies operating in Turkey, understanding arbitration and other dispute resolution mechanisms should therefore be part of broader commercial planning.
The development of International Arbitration in Turkey is ultimately connected to Turkey's expanding role in international business.
As foreign investment and cross-border commerce continue to grow, Istanbul has the potential to strengthen its position as a regional dispute resolution centre and become increasingly important to companies seeking structured solutions for complex international commercial disputes.
What International Companies Should Consider
For businesses considering investment or commercial activity in Turkey, dispute resolution should be treated as both a legal and a commercial consideration.
The wording of an arbitration clause, choice of seat, applicable rules and selection of legal counsel can all affect how a future dispute is managed.
Addressing these issues at the beginning of a transaction can give companies a clearer framework for dealing with potential conflicts later.
Turkey's increasing integration into international commerce makes this particularly relevant.
As Istanbul continues to connect major markets across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, International Arbitration in Turkey is likely to remain an important consideration for companies involved in cross-border business.
For international investors, companies and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities in Turkey, understanding the country's dispute resolution environment can be an important part of making informed commercial decisions.
