Koç University & Swiss Arbitration Academy International Arbitration Programme

The Koç University & Swiss Arbitration Academy International Arbitration Programme returns to Istanbul from 1–3 September 2026, offering an intensive three-day training designed for lawyers, graduate students, in-house counsel, and public-sector professionals seeking a practical and international perspective on arbitration.

Organised by Koç University and the Swiss Arbitration Academy (SAA), and supported by the ASA – Swiss Arbitration Association and the Turkic Arbitration Association (TAA), the programme brings together leading arbitrators, practitioners, academics, and corporate counsel from multiple jurisdictions for an immersive learning experience at one of Türkiye’s leading universities.

Hosted on the Koç University campus in Istanbul, with on-campus accommodation provided, the programme combines substantive training, practical workshops, networking opportunities, and direct interaction with internationally recognised experts.

Programme Overview

Day 1 | Setting the Stage: Foundations from Multiple Jurisdictional Perspectives

Participants will explore the fundamentals of international commercial arbitration through a comparative lens, including:

• International Arbitration at a Crossroads: A Cross-Jurisdictional Outlook
• Foundations of International Commercial Arbitration
• Drafting Arbitration Agreements
• Choice of Seat
• Pathological Clauses and Model Clauses
• Arbitration Clause Drafting Lab

The day concludes with a Welcome Reception.

Day 2 | Building and Running the Case

Focused on the practical conduct of arbitration proceedings, topics include:

• Commencement of Arbitration
• Constitution of the Tribunal
• Case Management Conferences
• Procedural Order No. 1
• Written Advocacy
• Arbitration Hearings in Practice
• Cross-Examination in International Arbitration

Participants will also take part in an interactive Cross-Examination Skills Workshop, followed by a Bosphorus Dinner Cruise.

Day 3 | Inside the Tribunal, Specialised Topics and the Path to the Tribunal

The final day offers insight into decision-making and specialised areas of practice, including:

• Tribunal Deliberations
• Drafting the Award
• Enforcement and Annulment Risks
• Construction Arbitration
• Arbitration in Central Asia and the Turkic Region
• How to Become an Arbitrator
• Corporate Perspectives on Shareholder and M&A Disputes

The programme concludes with a Certificate Ceremony and Gala Dinner.

Why Attend?

• Learn from an international faculty of leading arbitration practitioners and academics.
• Gain practical skills through interactive workshops and case-focused sessions.
• Explore arbitration from both counsel and tribunal perspectives.
• Build your professional network with participants from across jurisdictions.
• Experience Istanbul while engaging with the global arbitration community.

On-campus accommodation provided.

🔗 Pre-register your interest now

Join us for three days of intensive learning, practical training, and international exchange at the crossroads of Europe and Asia.