Master's Thesis Defended: Resolution of Precious Metals Trade Disputes through Arbitration

The defence

The master's programme that our founder began in 2023 was completed with the thesis defence held on 28 April 2026 at Altınbaş University's Gayrettepe Campus. The thesis, entitled Kıymetli Maden Ticareti Uyuşmazlıklarının Tahkim Yoluyla Çözümü [Resolution of Precious Metals Trade Disputes through Arbitration], was defended before a jury composed of Prof Dr Mustafa Topaloğlu, known for his work in mining law; Prof Dr M. Kamil Yıldırım, in procedural law; and the thesis supervisor, Assoc Prof Dr İlyas Gölcüklü, and was accepted.

The subject of the thesis

Despite its high economic volume, the precious metals trade is a field that has received little legal study. The thesis examines disputes arising from this trade from the perspective of arbitration: which disputes are arbitrable, how the arbitration clause should be drafted, and how the sector's own customs are reflected in the proceedings. The work matured alongside the training attended in the field, interviews with sector stakeholders and the book project on foreign exchange legislation (kambiyo mevzuatı).

The commitment made to the jury

At the defence, it was stated that the work would be expanded to cover the precious stone trade as well and turned into a book. This commitment has been fulfilled: the work has been published by Vedat Kitapçılık under the title Kıymetli Maden ve Kıymetli Taş Ticaretinden Kaynaklanan Uyuşmazlıkların Tahkim Yoluyla Çözümü [Resolution through Arbitration of Disputes Arising from Trade in Precious Metals and Precious Stones].

What it added to our work

Addressing the legal framework of disputes in the precious metals and precious stones trade at an academic level has given depth to our view of the sector. Drawing on this experience, we provide our clients with legal support in disputes arising from trade in precious metals and precious stones, from drafting the arbitration clause to party representation (taraf vekilliği) in arbitral proceedings.