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. References External links Living people 1941 births Brazilian diplomats Brazilian philosophers Cornell University alumni Members of the Brazilian Academy of Letters Recipients of the Great Cross of the National Order of Scientific Merit (Brazil) Government ministers of Brazil University of São Paulo faculty Place of birth missing (living people) Brazilian people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent 20th-century Brazilian politicians 21st-century Brazilian politicians Foreign ministers of Brazil