Zafer Kahraman

Prof. Dr. | Attorney at Law (Nürnberg & Istanbul) | Arbitrator | PhD, LLM, LLB, BEcon, MBA

Istanbul, Türkiye

About

I am a Full Professor at Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Law, where I combine academic rigor with practical experience to prepare students for the demands of the legal profession. My academic background includes an LLB, LLM, and PhD in Private Law from Galatasaray University, a Bachelor’s in Economics from Istanbul University, and an MBA from Bahçeşehir University. I earned my post-doctoral qualification (habilitation) from the Turkish Inter-University Council. After serving as Vice Dean for five years, I currently direct the Competition Law Practice and Research Center at Bahçeşehir University. I teach a wide range of courses, including Civil Law, Law of Obligations, Competition Law, Attorneyship Law, Banking Law, FIDIC Construction Contracts, and Contract Drafting—bringing both theoretical depth and practical relevance into the classroom. In parallel with my academic work, I practice law as a registered attorney with the Istanbul Bar Association and have served as an arbitrator in numerous cases under ISTAC and ITOTAM Rules. I am fluent in Turkish, English, and French, with working proficiency in German and Italian. Outside of my professional life, I am a devoted husband and father to a young daughter, guided by liberal and humanistic values.

Experience

  • Bahcesehir University (20 yrs 8 mos)
    • Professor
      Sep 2024 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

    • Associate Professor
      May 2019 - Sep 2024 · 5 yrs 5 mos

      Academy

    • Assistant Professor
      Sep 2013 - Sep 2024 · 11 yrs 1 mo

      Civil Law, Obligation Law, Antitrust Law

  • Director at Bahçeşehir University Competition Law Application and Research Center
    Sep 2024 - Present · 1 yr 10 mos

  • Of Counsel at Arıkan Legal - Law Firm / Hukuk Bürosu
    Mar 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 4 mos

  • Association Henri Capitant - Groupe Turc (11 yrs 2 mos)
    • Vice President
      Sep 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 10 mos

    • Secretary General
      May 2015 - Sep 2023 · 8 yrs 5 mos

  • Partner at Uygur & Kahraman | Law Firm
    Mar 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 4 mos