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Dr. Özgür Kahale

Paris
About

Özgür Kahale is the Director of Pro Bono for Europe at DLA Piper. She works with NGOs, charities, United Nations agencies and disadvantaged individuals across Europe on complex pro bono legal matters. Her practice focuses on international human rights law and access to legal protection for vulnerable communities. She regularly advises NGOs and international organizations on human rights frameworks, strategic advocacy initiatives, legal research, and policy reform projects at the national, regional, and international levels. Özgür also advises charities, foundations, and social impact organizations on the establishment and growth of nonprofit organizations, including legal form selection, comparative charity law, jurisdictional analysis, governance frameworks, and international expansion strategies.

Özgür leads a broad range of cross-border pro bono matters, including asylum and immigration cases, legal support for survivors of domestic abuse, know-your-rights initiatives, and projects addressing barriers to justice and inclusion. She also focuses on the intersection of technology and human rights, including the use of digital tools to improve access to legal information and services for vulnerable populations. Her work frequently involves collaboration with law firms, NGOs, academic institutions, and international organizations to address emerging human rights challenges through innovative legal solutions.

Bar admissionsAdmitted to the Istanbul Bar

EXPERIENCE

Özgür is an international lawyer and a scholar of corporate responsibility with a focus on business and human rights. She has an LL.M from Essex University in International Human Rights Law and a Ph.D. from Lancaster University in International Investment and Protection of Human Rights. She worked as a project finance lawyer in London and Paris before joining the Pro Bono team. 

Languages
  • English
  • French
  • Turkish
Education

    Publications

    • Kahale, O. "How can law firms contribute to access to justice in the age of technology and digitalisation?" in S. de Souza and M. Spohr (ed.), Technology, Innovation and Access to Justice: Dialogues on the Future of Law, Edinburgh University Press, Future Law (juillet 2020).
    • Kahale Can, O. "Project Finance and Implicated Human Rights" dans S. Leader et D. Ong (ed.), Global Project Finance, Human Rights, and Sustainable Development, Cambridge University Press (2011).
    • Can, O. "Regulation of Water Markets, Right to Water and Privatisation" in J. Roufagalas (ed.), Resource Allocation and Institutions: Explorations in Economics, Finance and Law (pp. 547-566), Athènes: Atiner (2006).
    • Can, O. & Neck, S. "The Legal Obligations of Export Credit Agencies with Respect to Human Rights", Final Discussion Paper in Halifax Initiative.

    Seminars

    Özgür presents at various engagements and conferences regarding pro bono legal services. She is a regular speaker at the European Pro Bono Forum organised by PILnet every year. She is regularly invited to speak at various NGO gatherings and academic events in Europe to promote pro bono. Özgür delivered a session on Human Rights Impact Assessment during the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva.

    My latest insights

    News

    Global platform launched to increase scale and impact of pro bono service globally

    18 May 2023 .3 minute read

    Publication

    European Bars and Pro Bono

    18 November 2021 .1 minute read

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    Connect

    Phone

    +33 (0) 1 40 15 25 13
    (Work, Paris)
    +33 (0) 6 98 46 52 78
    (Work)