The legal community mourns the loss of Professor Jacques Hakim, a luminary in the field, a distinguished lawyer, and a true humanist.

Born in 1931 in Damascus, a city he held dear and where he practiced law, Professor Hakim made significant contributions as a professor at Damascus University. His love for Lebanon and the Faculty of Law and Political Science (FDSP) at Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) was evident, where he shared his expertise for several years. Professor Hakim's presence was felt at numerous legal colloquia and forums, where he consistently stood out for his keen insights and well-founded contributions.

Holder of a doctorate in law from the Université de Lyon, an agrégation from the French faculties of law (1973), and a degree in economics, Professor Hakim was not only a scholar but also a man of dialogue with a deep appreciation for global cultures. Proficient in French law, he taught in French faculties, showcasing a broad academic scope that encompassed civil and criminal law, commercial law, maritime law and arbitration, as well as private international law and family law. His significant role in drafting the personal status and inheritance laws for Syria's Christian communities in 2007, now integral under Syrian positive law, attests to his influence with constitutional force.

Professor Hakim penned numerous legal works, including treatises on commercial law in Syrian and comparative law, company law, commercial paper, and regular publications on arbitration law.

While words may fall short in expressing the depth of their attachment to Professor Hakim and the sorrow felt at his passing, the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, along with her faculty and students, extend their heartfelt tribute to a towering figure in Near Eastern law and the French legal tradition. They honor not only a scholar but also a devoted friend of Saint Joseph University of Beirut and Lebanon.

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