The College of Law of England and Wales, U.K., International Practice Diploma in International Arbitration (expected in 2008); Istanbul Commerce University Istanbul, Turkey (LL.M. in Law of International Commerce and European Union); The Hague Academy of International Law The Hague, Netherlands (Certificate in Private International Law); Marmara University, Faculty of Law, Istanbul, Turkey (LL.B.); Legal training certificate on “Mediation and Arbitration” from Union Internationale des Avocats; Legal training certificate on “European Convention on Human Rights” from Council of Europe/European Commission and Union of Turkish Bars.

Istanbul Bar Association; Union of Turkish Bars.

Practice areas: International arbitration and commercial litigation, recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, mediation, international commercial contracts, international trade, sales transactions (focusing on CISG) and maritime law; Experience on Arbitration: Conducted substantial and complex disputes on, in particular, international sales of goods, charter party and bill of lading disputes and software projects in a wide range of industry sectors including iron & steel, land & sea transportation, banking & finance, mining, textile and shipping in more than 20 arbitration proceedings held in various international arbitral institutions such as the ICC, Swiss Chambers, LMAA and in ad hoc arbitrations, and currently handling two other arbitration proceedings ongoing in Geneva and London and has reported case at the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland.

Founding Partner, Balkaya & Balkaya Attorneys At Law.

Turkish (native), English (proficient), German (reasonable).