Richard Tarasofsky is the Head of the Sustainable Development Programme at at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) in London in the UK. The Programme is one of the world's leading interdisciplinary research centres for a wide range of major international environmental, business, and energy policy issues.
Prior to joining Chatham House in January 2004, Mr. Tarasofsky worked in private practice as an international lawyer specialising in sustainable development, working with governments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations around the world. His areas of expertise include the sustainable development aspects of globalization, global governance, intellectual property rights, biodiversity, forests, marine environment - at both international and European levels. Mr. Tarasofsky also worked from 1993-1998 as a Legal Officer at the Environmental Law Centre of IUCN - The World Conservation Union.
He has published widely on a range of topics. His latest publications include regional Fisheries Organizations and the World Trade Organization: Compatibility or Conflict? (TRAFFIC International: 2003), Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations in Intenrational Ernviornmental Cooperation. Legal Basis and Practical Experience (with Sebstian Oberthuer, et. al.) (Germany Federal environment Agency: 2002), and National Forest Programmes and the Law: International, European, and National Perspectives (in W. Zimmerman and F. Schmidheuesen, eds, Legal Aspects of National Forest Programmes), (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology: 2002).
Richard Tarasofsky was educated at McGill University, in Montreal, Osgoode Hall Law School, in Toronto, and the London School of Economics. He is a member of the Ontario Bar and holds a number of other professional affiliations.