Christine Ezcutari awarded Commander of the Order for Maritime Merit

International law firm Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global Co-head of Transport and Head of the Paris Banking team, Christine Ezcutari, has been awarded the Commandeur de l’Ordre du Mérite Maritime (Commander of the Order for Maritime Merit).

The Order for Maritime Merit, established in 1930, is awarded to those who have distinguished themselves in the maritime field. 

Christine, who is one of the youngest women to ever receive this prestigious award, was recognised for her career as a shipping and transport financing lawyer and in her capacity as president of the Conseil supérieur de la marine marchande (CSMM) (French High Council of the Merchant Navy).

On September 27, 2023, Christine attended a medal ceremony at the office of the Minister of State for Marine Affairs, Hervé Berville, in Paris.

Christine said:

“It is a huge honour and greatly humbling to be given this award, as the President of the Conseil Supérieur de la Marine Marchande. I look forward to continuing to serve the merchant navy and wider maritime and transport sector, which I am deeply passionate about, to the greatest of my ability, both in my capacity as a lawyer at Norton Rose Fulbright and in my role as president of the CSMM. I am very proud of the quality of the dialogue that we have at the CSMM and our contribution to the progress of economic and social policies, as well as to sustainability and the energy transition.”

This is the latest in a series of national recognitions for Christine, who was appointed by ministerial decree to the CSMM as a qualified member in August, 2016, then appointed president in May, 2022.

Christine was also named a Knight of the l'ordre national du Mérite (National Order of Merit), in November, 2015, by the French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. As a commander of the CSMM, Christine now also serves on the Board of ENIM and on the Board of the Order of Maritime Merit.