Richard E. Laster has a B.A. degree from the University of Virginia, a J.D. degree from the University of Richmond School of Law, an LL.M from Harvard Law School and an LL.D. from the Hebrew University Faculty of Law. Professor Laster is a Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is also a partner in the Jerusalem law firm of Laster & Gouldman.
Professor Laster is a member of the Virginia Bar Association, the Israel Chamber of Advocates, the International Council of Environmental Law and the International Academy of Environmental Law.
He spends half of his professional life working for not-for-profit organizations including the Israel Society for Ecology and Environmental Quality Sciences, where he initiated the Youth Forum, an environmental education program for junior and senior high school students. Chair of the New Israel Fund, which funds social projects in Israel, Misholim, a center for the treatment of children with mental disorders through the use of art therapy and board member of Shiluv, treating couples in distress. He is presently chair of the Amuta for Education & Health, which funds cross boundary projects, worker health and Israel Palestinian water projects.
Professor Laster served as Chair of the Kidron/Wadi Nar Basin Master Plan and Implementation Plan team. The team continues to work with Israelis and Palestinians to improve the historic valley that runs from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. (Read the blog post on the Kidron/Wadi Nar Basin on the GNHRE Community Blog).
Professor Laster has published extensively on environmental law, environmental problems and pollution-related health problems in Israel. He, together with Dan Livney, authored the book “Environmental Law in Israel”, published in 2017, which is updated annually for the Kluwer International Encyclopedia of Environmental Law. His published research covers environmental issues, both nationally and internationally, including chemical legislation, water management, open spaces, soil protection, and worker health.
Professor Laster has drafted legislation in the environmental and worker health field. His significant achievement was to create legislation to convert Israel’s Drainage Authorities to Basin Authorities. He serves as legal advisor to several basin authorities and an association of towns for environmental protection.