Cihan Mercan

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution, Energy and Infrastructure

Career

Cihan Mercan joined Kolcuoğlu Demirkan Koçaklı in 2016. After three years’ experience in the Firm, Cihan relocated to the UK for one year to pursue a master’s level degree at the University of Oxford (Magister Juris). After completing his master’s degree, he returned to the Firm in 2020. He is qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales, making him a dual-qualified attorney.

Professional Memberships

Istanbul Bar Association; Solicitor of England & Wales; Oxford Union, ICC Young Arbitrators Forum, Young International Arbitration Group, Young ISTAC (Istanbul Arbitration Centre), Istanbul Erkek High School Alumni Association, Galatasaray University Alumni Association.

Publications

Co-author of ‘Import of Gas: How Liberal is Turkey?’, ‘Turkish Commercial Law Review’, Vol.4 Issue 1 (2018); “The International Arbitration Guide,” Turkey Chapter, (Chambers and Partners, 2017).

Personal

University of Oxford, School of Law, Magister Juris (MJur) (2020); Galatasaray University School of Law (2015) (valedictorian); Istanbul (Erkek) High School (2010).

Languages Spoken

English, German, French, Turkish

Experience

Cihan Mercan has been a member of Kolcuoğlu Demirkan Koçaklı’s Dispute Resolution and Energy & Infrastructure teams. He has been involved in the settlement of various disputes and has acted in litigation and arbitration cases. Cihan’s practice mainly focuses on commercial disputes, insolvency proceedings, as well as enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards in Turkey.

Cihan is highly experienced in arbitration and is well-versed in internationally recognized rules and practices. He has been extensively involved in numerous ICC, DIS, LME, and ISTAC arbitration proceedings, as well as various ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, where he has served as counsel or arbitrator. On top of that, Cihan has been involved in M&A transactions, giving him insight into the dynamics of these transactions, valuable for his Arbitration practice.

He has significant experience in energy law, particularly in oil & gas matters, and regularly advises clients on Turkish public tender legislation. Combining his experience in energy & infrastructure projects and dispute resolution, Cihan successfully advises and represents clients in complex disputes.

Cihan regularly gives lectures on arbitration at universities and at events organised by ISTAC, Union of Turkish Bar Associations, Istanbul Bar Association and ICC YAAF, alongside senior arbitration practitioners. He also has been a mentor at Young ISTAC Mentorship Programme and mentoring future arbitration practitioners.