Leyla Orak Çelikboya
"I am honored to take part as Turkish Co-ambassador in the VIAC CAN programme. VIAC was among the first arbitration institutions where I got the chance to experience arbitration proceedings. Planning a career with an aim to advance in arbitration, VIAC is an institution I looked up to. Becoming a VIAC ambassador means having the chance to learn about the institution on a deeper level and be part of a broad alternative dispute resolution network, both of which were very enticing for me. Moreover, Türkiye and especially Istanbul is becoming a hub for international arbitration. Cooperation among arbitration practitioners is key in promoting alternative dispute resolution. VIAC CAN, in strengthening this cooperation and dialogue, will certainly serve this purpose. The opportunity to now be engaged in VIAC CAN as one of the Ambassadors for Türkiye is therefore very rewarding and exciting."
Leyla Orak Çelikboya is a Turkish qualified lawyer who focuses her work on commercial arbitration and corporate consultancy. After earning her law degree from Galatasaray University Faculty of Law in 2010, she worked at numerous international and local law firms in Istanbul, and temporarily worked as foreign associate at Brödermann Jahn Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft in Hamburg. In July 2023, she established her own law firm, Orak Çelikboya. Leyla now advises Turkish and foreign clients on their commercial transactions and disputes.
Throughout her career, she acted as party counsel in complex international and national commercial arbitration proceedings before renowned arbitration institutions, including Swiss Arbitration Center, Vienna International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), Istanbul Arbitration Centre (ISTAC), Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO). She also assisted arbitral tribunals either as a supporting lawyer or as arbitral secretary in arbitration proceedings.
Leyla’s passion for arbitration led her to actively take part in organizations and events held in Türkiye and abroad. She sat as a member of the foreign affairs commission of Young ISTAC from 2016 to 2021. Leyla also engaged with Young ICCA, participating in cross-examination workshops and the mentoring program. She is now honored to act as a VIAC CAN co-ambassador of Türkiye.
Alongside her professional career, she pursued her master's studies in corporate law at Bilgi University and completed her thesis on the squeeze-out of minority shareholders in group companies which she later published as a book. She is fluent in English, proficient in French, and speaks Bosnian and German.