Dr. Ayça Akkayan Yıldırım

Legal Consultant | Cross-Cultural Mentor | Advocate for Global Legal Education

Dr. Akkayan-Yildirim is a globally trained legal consultant with a unique blend of academic rigor, international legal expertise, and a lifelong commitment to mentorship. Holding an LL.B. from Istanbul University Faculty of Law (1997), an LL.M. in American Law from Boston University School of Law (2000), and a Ph.D. in Private Law (Civil Law System) from Istanbul University Faculty of Law (2008), she is licensed as an attorney in Istanbul, Turkiye (1998), as a Foreign Legal Consultant in Massachusetts (2017), and as a Special Legal Consultant in Washington, DC (2024).

Before founding her private consulting practice, Ayça spent nearly twenty years in academia, researching, teaching, and mentoring law students as they navigated the complex intersections of legal systems, cultural contexts, and global professional realities. Her scholarly work informs her current practice, which focuses on cross-border business disputes and international arbitration strategies. She is known for helping clients and colleagues alike navigate complex legal systems with cultural sensitivity and strategic insight.

Ayça is the founder of “Emails to a Young Lawyer”, a mentorship platform inspired by her years advising international law graduates, LL.M. candidates, and globally minded young professionals. Her philosophy is grounded in the belief that successful international legal careers begin with self-awareness, cultural fluency, and access to honest, compassionate guidance. Through “Emails to a Young Lawyer”, she continues to bridge academic and professional worlds, offering young professionals not only legal insight but also the clarity and confidence that come from being heard and understood across cultures.

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