Izzet J Hatem, O.B.E.

Barrister at Law 

Mr. Izzet J. Hatem, after completing his law degree at Istanbul University, trained at English and French Law Firms and returned to Turkey to start his professional activity by joining his father’s Firm.  He is active mainly in the fields of Maritime Law, Insurance Law, Corporate and Commercial law, Aviation Law, and Litigation and Commercial Arbitration. He is regularly asked to lecture at seminars on various areas of Turkish Law and acts as arbitrator in international disputes.  Mr Hatem has recently been presented with an award by the Turkish Maritime Law Association for the long-years of services he rendered to Turkish Maritime Law and an award by the Istanbul Bar Association for his bar membership of more than 50 years. He is the Honorary Consul General of New Zealand and the Honorary Legal Advisor of the Consul-General of England since 1980, which granted him the honor of obtaining the distinction of Order of the British Empire from HM the Queen.  Among other associations, Mr Hatem is a member of the Turkish-French Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Istanbul.  Mr. Hatem is fluent in English and French and has a fair knowledge of Italian, Spanish and Greek.