Kolcuoglu Demirkan Koçakli

Dispute Resolution, Energy and Infrastructure

Managing Associate

Cihan Mercan is a member of the Firm’s Dispute Resolution and Energy & Infrastructure teams. He represents the Firm’s clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings and has been involved in the settlement of disputes through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. 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 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 (sole arbitrator or co-arbitrator).

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 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.  He became one of the Firm’s managing associates in 2025.

English, German, French, Turkish

Istanbul Bar Association; Istanbul Erkek High School Alumni Association; Galatasaray University Alumni Association; Oxford Union; ICC Young Arbitrators Forum; Young International Arbitration Group; Young ISTAC (Istanbul Arbitration Centre)

University of Oxford, School of Law, Magister Juris (MJur) (2020); Galatasaray University School of Law (LL.B., 2015) (valedictorian)