title: Celso Lafer
text: # Celso Lafer
  
  Celso Lafer (born August 7, 1941) is a Brazilian jurist, full professor of Philosophy of Law at University of São Paulo, twice former foreign minister and a former commerce minister. He is of Lithuanian Jewish heritage.
  
  ## Education
  
  Lafer has a Bachelor in Law from University of São Paulo, a Master's and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Cornell University and a habilitation in Public International Law from University of São Paulo.
  
  ## Work
  
  Lafer worked for the administrations of Fernando Collor de Mello as Foreign Minister and for Fernando Henrique Cardoso as Foreign Minister and Commerce Minister. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences since 2004. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters since 2006, occupying the chair that belonged to Miguel Reale, Professor of Philosophy of Law at University of São Paulo, and President of the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), one of the main funding agencies for scientific and technological research in Brazil.
  
  