He has successfully represented several international clients as well as local entities, in arbitration proceedings concerning major infrastructure projects, including build-operate-transfer (BOT) model investments, share purchase agreements, shareholders agreements, sales agreements, EPC contracts and licensing contracts. He also represents clients in litigation proceedings in Turkey and, from time to time, acts as expert witness in foreign jurisdictions on Turkish law matters.

Okan has been extensively involved in numerous ICC, DIS, SAC, LCIA, DIAC, LME, ITOTAM and ISTAC arbitration proceedings, as well as various ad hoc arbitrations under the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules, where he has served as counsel, arbitrator (presiding arbitrator, sole arbitrator or co-arbitrator) or expert witness. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and the Swiss Arbitration Ambassador to Turkey. In 2024, he became a member of the International Bar Association’s (IBA) Arbitration Committee and the co-chair of Enforcement & Recognition Sub-Committee.

He has been strategically involved in all legal and regulatory matters of many pipelines, including the BTC and TANAP transit pipeline projects. He has advised on major natural gas sale and import projects as well as a number of electricity generation facility projects.

Okan is a prominent figure in the area of ethics and compliance. He has conducted several investigations related to various regulatory and anti-bribery/anti-corruption allegations.

Okan leads the Firm’s French Desk.

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution
Energy and Infrastructure
Ethics and Compliance

Education

University of Sussex School of Legal Studies (LL.B., 2000)
Rijnlands Lyceum, Leiden - The Netherlands (International Baccalaureate, 1997)

Awards

Recognized as a “Thought Leader” in the field of Arbitration by Lexology and GAR in 2024
Listed in “Commercial Litigation” by Lexology in 2024
Recognized as a “Global Leader of the Arbitration World” by Lexology and GAR in 2022 and 2023
Recognized as a “Global Elite Thought Leader” in the field of Energy by Lexology in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024
Recognized as a “World Leading Energy Lawyer” by Lexology in 2019
Recognized as a “Future Leader of the Arbitration World” by Lexology and GAR in 2019 and 2020
Client Choice 2025: Global Elite Thought Leader in the field of Energy (granted by Lexology)
Client Choice Award 2017, 2014, 2013: Best Energy and Natural Resources Lawyer of the Year (granted by International Law Office Magazine)

Foreign Language

English