International Arbitration in Turkey

ONGUR & Partners is a distinguished arbitration boutique based in Istanbul, advising clients on high-value international arbitration and investment disputes. We represent corporations, investors, and institutions in complex, multi-jurisdictional matters where legal precision, strategic judgment, and commercial insight are paramount.

Serving clients across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond, ONGUR & Partners provides sophisticated, discreet, and results-driven counsel in matters of significant commercial and reputational importance.

International Arbitration, Strategically Executed.

At ONGUR & Partners, arbitration is approached not only as a legal process but as a strategic instrument. We combine technical expertise with a rigorous, methodical approach to dispute management carefully defining legal positioning, developing procedural strategy, and providing clear and effective advocacy before arbitral tribunals.

Our team routinely represents clients under the rules of leading arbitration institutions, including:

ICC (International Chamber of Commerce)
LCIA (London Court of International Arbitration)
ISTAC (Istanbul Arbitration Centre)

Other prominent international arbitral frameworks

Practice Areas

International commercial arbitration
Investment treaty arbitration (ISDS)
Structuring complex contracts and arbitration clauses
Enforcement and recognition of arbitral awards
Pre-dispute risk assessment and strategic planning
Multi-party, multi-jurisdictional disputes

Our Approach

ONGUR & Partners operates with a partner-led, highly focused model. Every mandate receives direct senior-level attention, ensuring that strategies are tailored, execution is precise, and discretion is maintained at every stage.

Our work is guided by:

Strategic discipline and commercial judgment
Procedural rigor and command of arbitration rules
Absolute confidentiality
A results-oriented focus aligned with client objectives

Founding Partner
Av. Dr. Arzu Ongur, PhD, founding partner of ONGUR & Partners, is recognized for her expertise in complex international arbitration and investment disputes. She advises clients on high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional matters, combining deep legal knowledge with strategic foresight to deliver commercially effective outcomes.

Her practice emphasizes clarity, control, and decisive legal strategy, particularly in disputes where financial exposure and reputational risk are significant.

Notable Engagements
ONGUR & Partners is regularly engaged in matters of substantial value and complexity. We advise clients who require clarity in complex disputes, strategic control under uncertainty, and high-level advocacy in international arbitration and investment matters.

Contact
For inquiries regarding international arbitration and investment dispute matters, please contact us for a confidential consultation

ICC ARBITRATION (INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE)

ICC Arbitration is frequently referred to by both Turkish and international companies in their contracts. As is well-known, the International Court of Arbitration is an institution affiliated with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) that administers the resolution of disputes referred to it, according to ICC Dispute Resolution Rules since 1923.

International Court of Arbitration is composed of a chairman, a vice-chairman, and 50 members. The ICC Council elects the chairman and the chairman appoints the vice-chairman. The Council appoints the members upon recommendation of the ICC National Committees. International Court of Arbitration has a Secretariat to administer the arbitration cases.

The party who wishes to request arbitration under the ICC Dispute Resolution Rules must deliver their request for arbitration to the Secretariat. The Secretariat then notifies the Claimant and the Respondent that such request is received and the date of delivery thereof. The date of delivery of the request to the Secretariat is considered to be the beginning date of the arbitration procedure in all cases.

Within the framework of the ICC Dispute Resolution Rules, the decision on disputes must be made by one and/or three arbitrators. If parties cannot agree on the number of arbitrators, the Council appoints a sole arbitrator. If the Council determines that it is necessary to appoint three arbitrators for the dispute, each party must nominate one arbitrator.

According to the ICC Dispute Resolution Rules, the Arbitration Board must render the final decision in principle within 6 months. However, the Arbitration Board may extend the said period. The decisions of the arbitrators are binding upon the parties. ICC Dispute Resolution Rules can be found in the ICC’s web site.

According to ICC Dispute Resolution Rules, the Arbitration Board should make the final decision in principle within 6 months. However, the Arbitration Board may extend the said period. The decisions of the arbitrators are binding upon the parties. ICC Dispute Resolution Rules can be found from the ICC’s web site.

ICSID ARBITRATION (INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SETTLEMENT OF INVESTMENT DISPUTES)

In 1965, the World Bank put a settlement and arbitration system into practice for investment disputes by establishing the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) under a convention. The Center is in Washington, D.C. where the headquarters of the World Bank is located.

For an investor to be able to refer a dispute to ICSID, (i) a record must be provided in terms of resolution of disputes by the request of arbitration before ICSID, which can be found in the agreement signed between the investor and the host state with regards to a certain investment; (ii) where there is a bilateral investment agreement signed between the state to which the investor is registered and the state to which the investment is made, the investor can rely on the provisions of the relevant bilateral agreement which grants jurisdiction to ICSID for the resolution of disputes; or (iii) the investor can rely on the provisions of multilateral international agreements. For example, where a multilateral investment agreement is signed between the investor’s state and Turkey, such as the European Energy Agreement, the disputes that may arise between the investing company and Turkey can be settled by ICSID arbitration, even if the specific agreement does not contain an arbitration clause. ICSID Rules can be found from the ICSID’s web site.

LONDON COURT OF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION (LCIA)

LCIA has been established in 1883 in London, especially for the rapid and economical resolution of international disputes. It is still one of the leading dispute resolution centers for settling international disputes. Although LCIA is based in London, 80% of the parties of disputes that are settled by the LCIA are not citizens of the United Kingdom, which makes LCIA a truly international institution. One of the main principles of LCIA is to ensure the amicable resolution of disputes if settling disputes is possible. LCIA Arbitration Rules can be found from the LCIA’s web site.

Related Legislation

Turkish International Arbitration Law Numbered 4686

Turkish International Arbitartion Law, Law no. 4686, 2001 International Arbitration Law (Law No. 4686 of 21 June 2001) in Jan Paulsson (ed), International Handbook on Commercial Arbitration, (Kluwer Law International 1984 Last updated: March 2005 Supplement No. 43 ) pp. Annex I – 1 – Annex I – 14 Official Gazette of 5 July 2001 No. 24453 Chapter One. General Provisions Article 1 Purpose and scope The purpose of this Law is to set forth the…

Icsid Rules Of Procedure For Arbitration Proceedings

CHAPTER 1 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRIBUNAL Rule 1 General Obligations (1) Upon notification of the registration of the request for arbitration, the parties shall, with all possible dispatch, proceed to constitute a Tribunal, with due regard to Section 2 of Chapter IV of the Convention. (2) Unless such information is provided in the request, the parties shall communicate to the Secretary-General as soon as possible any provisions a…

Icc Rules Of Arbitration

Article 1: International Court of Arbitration 1) The International Court of Arbitration (the “Court”) of the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICC”) is the independent arbitration body of the ICC. The statutes of the Court are set forth in Appendix I. 2) The Court does not itself resolve disputes. It administers the resolution of disputes by arbitral tribunals, in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the ICC (the “Rules”). The Court is the only agreed by them regarding the number of arbitrators…

Istac Arbitration Rules

ISTANBUL ARBITRATION CENTRE ARBITRATION RULES Section I INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS ARTICLE 1 The Istanbul Arbitration Centre and the Board of Arbitration The Istanbul Arbitration Centre is an independent institution of arbitration, which has been established for the purpose of providing institutional arbitration services. The Board of Arbitration (Board) is an autonomous body of the Istanbul Arbitration Centre. The structure and functional procedures

International Arbitration Law Of Turkey

Icsid Arbitration Rules

ICSID CONVENTION ARBITRATION RULES Chapter I Establishment of the Tribunal Rule 1 General Obligations (1) Upon notification of the registration of the request for arbitration, the parties shall, with all possible dispatch, proceed to constitute a Tribunal, with due regard to Section 2 of Chapter IV of the Convention. (2) Unless such information is provided in the request, the parties shall communicate to the Secretary-General as soon as possible any provisions agreed by them reg…

Lcia Arbitration Rules Effective 1 October 2014

LCIA ARBITRATION RULES Preamble Where any agreement, submission or reference howsoever made or evidenced in writing (whether signed or not) provides in whatsoever manner for arbitration under the rules of or by the LCIA, the London Court of International Arbitration, the London Court of Arbitration or the London Court, the parties thereto shall be taken to have agreed in writing that any arbitration between them…

Uncitral Arbitration Rules

UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (as revised in 2010) Section I. Introductory Rules Scope of application Article 1 Where parties have agreed that disputes between them in respect of a defined legal relationship, whether contractual or not, shall be referred to arbitration under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, then such disputes shall be settled in accordance with these Rules subject to such modification as the parties may agree. The parties to an…