Dr Orkun Akseli is an Associate Professor of Commercial Law at Durham University Law School. He has published extensively on the modernisation and harmonisation of secured transactions law. His research has focused on the laws relating to secured credit, and the social and economic impact of these laws with reference to the financing of SMEs. An especially distinctive aspect of his research has been its exploration of the international context to these phenomena, especially in respect of the work of the World Bank and the UN. Some of his publications include “Secured Transactions in Global Law-making” (under contract with Hart, co-authored with S.V. Bazinas); "The Future of Commercial Law: Ways forward for Change and Reform" (Hart 2019 forthcoming, with J. Linarelli); "International and Comparative Secured Transactions Law" (Hart 2017, with S.V. Bazinas); "Secured Transactions Law Reform: Principles, Policies and Practice" (Hart 2016, with L. Gullifer); "Availability of Credit and Secured Transactions in a Time of Crisis" (CUP 2013); "International Secured Transactions Law: Facilitation of Credit and International Conventions and Instruments" (Routledge 2011). He is a member of the ESRC, AHRC, UKRI, British Council Newton Fund, NWO, FWO, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft peer review colleges. He studied law in Turkey, USA and the UK. He is an Associate Member of the International Academy of Comparative Law, a member and President-Elect of the International Academy of Commercial and Consumer Law, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has a selective arbitration practice and is a member of the Turkish Bar.