Ethiopis Tafara

A.B., Princeton; J.D., Georgetown; Hague Academy of International Law. Professor Tafara is the Director of the Office of International Affairs at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. In this capacity, Mr. Tafara advises the Commission and senior staff on international legal and policy issues that have an impact on the Commission's regulatory and enforcement program. He also represents the Commission with foreign policy-makers, foreign regulators and international institutions on issues relating to securities regulation. In addition, Mr. Tafara advises other US Government agencies such as the US Department of Treasury with regard to initiatives on securities regulation, corporate governance and financial stability undertaken by the Financial Stability Forum, G-7, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Financial Action Task Force. Mr. Tafara began his service with the Commission in 1999 as an Assistant Director in International Affairs.

Prior to joining the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Tafara served in several capacities at the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). In 1999, he was the Acting Chief Counsel in the Division of Enforcement where he advised the Acting Division Director on the impact of regulatory initiatives recommended by other Commission Divisions and Offices on the enforcement program, as well as on all questions of international law and policy relating to the enforcement program. Mr. Tafara also served as liaison between the Division and the Departments of State, Justice, and Treasury as well as other US agencies on international regulatory and enforcement issues. At the CFTC, Mr. Tafara also was counsel to the Chairperson from 1998-1999, Senior International Counsel from 1997-1998 and International Counsel from 1995-1997. In addition to extensive government service, Mr. Tafara was a lecturer at the European Business School in Brussels from 1993-1994; and a partner at P&T Consultants in Brussels from 1992-1993. He began his legal career at the Brussels office of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton. Ethiopis Tafara and Robert J Peterson, A Blueprint for Cross-Border Access to US Investors: ANew International Framework, Harvard International Law Journal, 2007