April 2026
Ferda Canözer Paksoy, Founder of ADRIstanbul, has taken on the role of Coordinator and Spokesperson of the International Mediation Commission established within the Istanbul Arbitration Centre (ISTAC). Launched in April 2026 under the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Ziya Akinci, the Commission brings together eight members from law, academia and the business world. It was established with the aim of strengthening ISTAC’s international standing in the fields of mediation and Med-Arb.
Purpose of the Commission
The ISTAC International Mediation Commission will carry out work to position the institution as a more effective and recognised actor in the fields of mediation and Med-Arb on the international stage. Among the Commission’s principal objectives is to establish ISTAC as a sought-after and trusted institution for both domestic and international commercial disputes.
To this end, training programmes, workshops and events designed to strengthen international dialogue are being planned. A further priority is to share Turkey’s established mediation practice with other countries and to facilitate comparative engagement with different national approaches to dispute resolution.
Coordination and Spokesperson Role
The coordination and spokesperson responsibilities of the Commission have been assumed by Av.Arb. Ferda Canözer Paksoy, Founder of ADRIstanbul. Drawing on her experience in cross-border dispute resolution and her international network, Paksoy will give effect to this role.
Commission Members
Av. Yasin Ekmen, ISTAC Secretary General
Av.Arb. Ferda Canözer Paksoy, Coordinator and Spokesperson, Founder of ADRIstanbul
Dr. Candan Yasan Tepetaş, Faculty Member, Istanbul Bilgi University Faculty of Law
Av.Arb. Mehmet Akugur, Akugur Law Office, Founding Partner
Av.Arb. Sezil Durmus
Av.Arb. Neslihan Ozturk Oral, Ankara Vera Law Office, Founding Partner
Av.Arb. Tolga Danisman, Herguner Bilgen Ucer Law Office, Partner
Av.Arb. Pinar Parlak Koyuncu, Kibar Holding, Chief Legal Officer
About ISTAC
The Istanbul Arbitration Centre (ISTAC) is Turkey’s leading institution in the fields of international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. The establishment of the Commission marks a concrete step in ISTAC’s strategic vision for mediation.
