Prof. Dr. Rauf Karasu, Head of the Department of Commercial Law at Hacettepe University Faculty of Law, has been elected President of the Arbitration Practitioners Association (TAHAKDER), which was established to develop arbitration practice in Türkiye, raise the standards of the arbitration profession, and promote institutional arbitration.
Following his election as president, Prof. Dr. Rauf Karasu stated that the establishment of the association was a historic step for alternative dispute resolution methods in Türkiye.
Protecting Arbitrators’ Rights
Stating that they aim to protect the rights and interests of all arbitrators practising in Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Rauf Karasu noted that their priorities are to ensure mutual assistance and solidarity among arbitrators and to raise the ethical, academic, and professional standards of arbitral proceedings to the highest possible level.
Direct Contributions to Judicial Reform and Legislative Initiatives
Drawing attention to the objectives of “increasing the effectiveness of arbitration” and “promoting institutional arbitration” included in the Fourth Judicial Reform Strategy Document, Karasu stated that they would actively contribute to national policies and the strengthening of the legal framework. He particularly noted that they would support the establishment of new institutional arbitration centres and take a leading role in legislative initiatives as an association.
Strong Cooperation with the Ministry of Justice and All Arbitration Centres
Prof. Dr. Karasu announced that they would work in full coordination with all existing arbitration centres, including the Arbitration Department within the General Directorate of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Justice, the Insurance Arbitration Commission, the Istanbul Arbitration Centre (ISTAC), the Turkish Bar Association (TBB) Arbitration Centre, and the Energy Disputes Arbitration Center (EDAC). He emphasized that, through these collaborations, they aim to maximize awareness of arbitration throughout Türkiye and public confidence in this mechanism.
Global Goal: “We Are Determined to Make Türkiye a Global Arbitration Centre”
Stating that they would encourage arbitration centres established or to be established in Türkiye to be preferred at both national and international levels, Prof. Dr. Karasu said, “We will conduct international initiatives to ensure that Türkiye is chosen as the seat of arbitration in disputes involving foreign elements and that Turkish law is chosen as the law applicable to dispute resolution. We will also encourage foreign arbitration centres to open branches and representative offices in our country.”
A New Academic Journal on Arbitration Law to Be Published
Stating that they would organize international collaborations, conferences, seminars, and educational programmes for arbitrators in accordance with the association’s charter, Prof. Dr. Rauf Karasu, a faculty member at our university, announced that they would publish a new peer-reviewed academic journal aiming to become a reference point in the field of arbitration law. Karasu added that visual, audio, and written communication channels would be used effectively to raise public awareness of arbitration.
TAHAKDER’s Governing Bodies
The association, whose founding members include university rectors, deans, and arbitrators specializing in various disciplines of law, established its Board of Directors at its first General Assembly meeting held on 10 October 2026. The Board of Directors consists of the following members:
President: Prof. Dr. Rauf Karasu
Vice Presidents: Prof. Dr. Süleyman Yılmaz, Prof. Dr. İbrahim Ermenek
Treasurer: Prof. Dr. Mustafa İsmail Kaya
Member Responsible for Administrative Affairs: Assist. Prof. Dr. Hakan Koçak
Prof. Dr. Talat Canbolat, Prof. Dr. Şafak Narbay, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Temel Güner were elected to the Supervisory Board, while Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ateş, Prof. Dr. Aziz Serkan Arslan, and Assist. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Alper Ener were elected to the Disciplinary Board.