Andrew Schatz

Andrew Schatz is a Professorial Lecturer in Law at the George Washington University Law School, where he teaches International Environmental Law.

Mr. Schatz has over 15 years' experience in domestic and international environmental law. As Legal Advisor to Conservation International (CI), he advises on projects, law and policy relating to conservation finance, climate change, and wildlife trafficking. As the organization's primary climate counsel, Mr. Schatz advises on the creation, structuring, and financing of natural climate solutions projects, carbon rights, and the generation and sale of carbon credits from CI's portfolio of projects. He counsels on the creation and management of conservation trust funds, debt for nature swaps, and other long-term financing mechanisms to provide financing to conserve critical ecosystems and habitats in developing countries. In this capacity, Mr. Schatz has contributed to the creation and/or financing of some of the largest protected areas in the world. He also advises on international wildlife legal issues, leading wildlife law reform efforts in foreign countries and providing capacity-building support to customs and wildlife agencies to better combat wildlife trafficking. 

Prior to joining CI, Mr. Schatz practiced environmental law for seven years at DLA Piper LLP in Baltimore, Maryland, where he counseled and litigated on behalf of clients with respect to a wide range of environmental matters. From 2013-2015, he led the firm’s representation of the Republic of Georgia at UN climate negotiations. 

Mr. Schatz was named an Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leader in 2019.  From 2013-2015, he chaired the International Environmental & Resources Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section on Environment, Energy & Resources Law (ABA SEER). He has also authored numerous publications on international environmental law, climate law, and wildlife law and trafficking.