[email protected] • +49 172 2797327
linkedin.com/in/berke-celikel/
www.berkecelikel.com
EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF BONN, Bonn, Germany
Law and Economics (LL.B.) • 2022 – 2024
- Transferred from LMU Munich to pursue interdisciplinary legal studies with an economics focus
- Thesis (with distinction): Economic Analysis of the EU Retail Investment Strategy
- Minor GPA (Economics): 3.7/4.0
- Activities: Law Clinic participant, European Law Students’ Association-Bonn e.V.
UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE, Cologne, Germany
Economics Coursework • 2022
- Selected for its leading economics faculty; completed one-third of the full Economics B.Sc. curriculum in one semester to meet the University of Bonn’s minor requirements.
- Focus areas: U.S. and Latin American economies, trade, and policy
- Activities: Connosco e.V. (Latin America-focused student group), PubAffairs Bruxelles
LUDWIG MAXIMILIAN UNIVERSITY OF MUNICH, Munich, Germany
Law (First State Examination) • 2019 – 2021
- Completed foundational legal studies and successfully passed the Intermediate Legal Examination (Zwischenprüfung) covering Public, Civil, and Criminal Law
- Activities: Refugee Law Clinic, Lawyers Without Borders
GERMAN SCHOOL OF ISTANBUL (DSI), Istanbul, Turkey
Abitur (German University Entrance Qualification) • 2013 – 2018
- Dual diploma: German Abitur and Turkish High School Diploma (GPA equivalent: 3.7/4.0)
- C2-level German proficiency, DSD (Deutsches Sprachdiplom) – Level II
- Activities: Founded school-wide literature and philosophy events; competitive school archer; acted in four theatre productions; four-year MUN participant, Head of Press for two.
EXPERIENCE
METRO ISTANBUL, Istanbul, Turkey (Hybrid)
Legal Intern • Sep. 2024 – Apr. 2025
Metro Istanbul Industry and Trade Inc. (Metro Istanbul Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.) is Turkey’s largest urban rail operator, responsible for managing Istanbul’s metro and tramway infrastructure.
- Drafted case summaries and analyzed arbitration clauses in commercial contracts to assess enforceability and jurisdictional alignment.
- Drafted legal memoranda across insurance, labor, administrative, enforcement, tort, criminal, and data protection law, with a focus on contract risk assessments, insurance claims, and regulatory compliance.
KURTULUS LAW, Istanbul, Turkey (Hybrid)
Legal Intern • Jun. 2024 – Sep. 2024
Kurtuluş Law Office is a boutique law firm dedicated to maritime law and international shipping disputes.
- Prepared arbitration submissions, exhibits, and legal documentation for a high-value maritime dispute seated in London.
- Conducted in-depth legal research on demurrage, charterparty liability, and maritime insurance (P&I and H&M), informing strategic case decisions.
- Participated in an on-site legal mission to Tunisia, engaging with port authorities and commercial stakeholders to successfully prevent vessel arrest.
- Supported the implementation of General Average procedures by reviewing guarantees, bond documents, and related financial records.
- Contributed to drafting legal correspondence and case materials based on findings from port inspections and authority reports.
BERKEL VENDING SERVICES, Istanbul, Turkey (Hybrid)
In-House Legal Counsel • Aug. 2023 – Jun. 2024
Berkel Vending Services Trade Inc. (Berkel Otomat Hizmetleri Ticaret A.Ş.) operates and manufactures photobooths across Turkey, exports internationally, and develops innovative products in the vending sector.
- Drafted and negotiated international contracts with EU partners, including an Italian engineering firm, for new product development, and structured both ad hoc and institutional arbitration clauses for cross-border agreements.
- Represented the company at VendItalia Expo 2024, providing legal support for international business development and facilitating new supply chain partnerships.
SAYLAM LAW, Istanbul, Turkey (Hybrid)
Legal Intern • Dec 2022 – Jun 2023
Saylam Law and Mediation Office (Saylam Hukuk ve Arabuluculuk) is a boutique Istanbul-based law firm specializing in international law, corporate and commercial matters, and cross-border transportation.
- Focused on international dispute resolution, assisting in matters involving cross-border litigation, transport law, and related corporate issues.
- Contributed to contract drafting, legal assessments, and corporate governance tasks, including support in insolvency-related procedures.
BILGEÇ LAW, Istanbul, Turkey (Hybrid)
Legal Intern • Apr 2022 – Sep 2022
Bilgeç Law & Consulting (Bilgeç Hukuk & Danışmanlık) is a boutique firm focused on insurance arbitration, debt collection, and enforcement, representing banks in matters involving pledges, mortgages, and securities.
- Assisted with insurance arbitration cases before the Insurance Arbitration Commission, including claims involving AXA Insurance Group and recourse proceedings with the Turkish Treasury’s Guarantee Account.
- Supported enforcement and debt collection litigation, and reviewed financial security documentation - including pledges, mortgages, and negotiable instruments - for banks and financial institutions.
KURTULUS LAW, Istanbul, Turkey (Hybrid)
Legal Intern • Aug. 2021 – Feb 2022
Kurtuluş Law Office is a boutique law firm dedicated to maritime law and international shipping disputes.
- Supported the drafting and review of maritime contracts and legal documents, and conducted research on marine insurance, international conventions, and shipping regulations.
- Assisted in preparing case files and dispute resolution materials, and observed client meetings and proceedings involving maritime claims and regulatory matters.
JETTMANN, Munich, Germany
Legal Advisor • Apr. 2020 – Jul. 2021
Jettmann Expat Consulting is a relocation services firm assisting students and professionals from Turkey with university placement, job search, visa support, and housing across Germany and the EU.
- Managed end-to-end support for visa applications, residence permits, and compliance with German immigration procedures.
- Supported the firm’s expansion of services to the Netherlands.
N.Y. LAW, Izmir, Turkey (Hybrid)
Legal Intern • Nov. 2019 – Jan. 2020
Nedim Yilmaz Law Office is a general practice law firm based in Izmir, providing legal services across areas such as labor, corporate, family, and inheritance law.
- Completed mandatory legal internship as part of the Zwischenprüfung (Intermediate Legal Examination), gaining experience in foreclosure, labor, corporate, family, and inheritance law.
- Assisted with case preparation, client communication, and procedural filings.
ALAN TURING INSTITUTE, The Hague, Netherlands
Research Assistant • Aug. 2018 – Jan. 2019
- Contributed to the Misinformed-Citizen-Project with Leiden University, researching U.S. political and legal news content for factual accuracy and conducting data labeling and trend analysis using SPSS and MS Excel.
- Completed one semester of Political Science coursework at Leiden University with a 4.0/4.0 GPA.
LANGUAGES
Turkish – Native
German – C2 (YDS: 97.5/100, Abitur diploma)
English – C1/C2 (IELTS: 8.0)
Spanish – Actively progressing toward B1/B2
RESEARCH & WRITING
- University of Bonn – Economic Analysis of the EU Retail Investment Strategy
- LMU Munich – Economic Analysis of German Collateral Security Law
- University of Cologne – An Analysis of Key Institutions in the U.S. Banking System
CERTIFICATES
- Leiden University – International Law in Action: The Arbitration of International Disputes
- UNCITRAL – International Commercial Arbitration
- UNCITRAL – Introduction to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
- HCCH – International Commercial Arbitration and Judicial Cooperation in Civil Matters
- ELSA Frankfurt – Dispute Resolution in Sports Law
- University of Wrocław – Intellectual Property and AI Law
- IBM – Data Analyst Professional Certificate
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- DIS40 – Member, Young Arbitration Practitioners of the German Arbitration Institute (DIS)
- ISTAAC – Member, Istanbul Arbitration Centre Youth Platform
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES & VOLUNTEER WORK
- Student Delegate, Selected through an inter-school competition to represent Turkey as a fully funded student delegate at the 8th WTO Ministerial Conference (2011), with a focus on global trade policy and the Hunger in Africa agenda. Press Mention
- Founder & Author, berkecelikel.com/blog/ (2024–present) – Write and publish commentary on developments in international arbitration and commercial law for a professional and academic audience.
- Professional Archer, (2009–present) Achieved multiple first-place finishes and set records in national and international competitions.
- Certified CMAS Diver, Trained in underwater diving, rescue, and safety techniques.
- Volunteer, Turkish Red Crescent (2017–present) – Assisted in humanitarian efforts and community support initiatives.
- Volunteer, Dreams Academy Istanbul (2013–2018) – Supported children with disabilities through arts-based and recreational programs.