Richard Tauwhare
Independent Advisor |
Richard Tauwhare

Richard Tauwhare* is an independent advisor for Dechert, providing expertise on international, EU and UK trade regulation. Mr. Tauwhare has extensive experience in UK, EU and U.S. export controls and sanctions and provides clients with strategic guidance on post-Brexit strategy. As a former senior UK diplomat with over 30 years’ experience, he has a deep understanding of promoting and regulating UK exports and inward investments; negotiating international controls on arms and dual-use goods; the design, negotiation and implementation of UN, EU, US and OSCE sanctions and embargoes; and of counter-proliferation, human rights and international humanitarian law issues.

Mr. Tauwhare is the former Head of Export Control Policy in the Defence and International Security Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where he led on strategic export licensing decisions, directed risk assessments, developed UK export controls policy and negotiated international arms controls agreements. Prior to this role, he worked in a wide range of roles with the FCO in Africa, Europe, the UN in Geneva and New York, and in the Caribbean as Governor of a UK Overseas Territory. In 2013, he was awarded the Civil Service International team award for leading a cross-government team which secured overwhelming international support for the UN Arms Trade Treaty. Mr. Tauwhare worked for four years as a Senior Director in the International Trade and EU Regulatory practice in Dechert’s London office. The Legal 500 stated that he "provides excellent, practical advice" and "finds solutions."

*Not engaged in the practice of law.

Brexit

  • A UK trade association for a major manufacturing sector on analysing the impact of the main potential Brexit models, on practical actions to mitigate these risks and on strategies for engagement with UK and EU policy makers, including drafting detailed treaty text to demonstrate to the negotiators how to protect the sector’s interests in practical terms.
  • A UK car manufacturer on a methodology to compile robust details on the originating status of its products, to inform decisions on their supply chain and approach to export markets.
  • A global pharmaceutical company on analysis of the potential impacts of Brexit on all aspects of their European business and practical steps for mitigate these including customs, finance and tax, tariffs, export licensing, regulatory requirements (e.g. product certification), intellectual property rights, workforce, contractual provisions and continuity of data flows.
  • A major U.S. telecommunications equipment business, a German engineering company, a Japanese multinational electronics company and a range of other manufacturing and service companies in sectors including pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, medical technology, automotive, commercial and emergency vehicle, pet food, life sciences, energy, general industrial and natural resources, in similar advisory matters.

Export Controls and Sanctions

  • A US technology firm on export control and sanctions compliance issues related to its acquisition of a number of UK businesses, and designing improved procedures.
  • A UK University’s sanctions and export control procedures and recommending practical improvements in the challenging arena of transfers of technology.
  • A UK oil company on the sanctions-related aspects of purchasing shares of companies with interests in Syria, including engaging with the UK regulatory authorities.
  • Oil projects in Russia on UK Open Individual Technical Assistance Licences.
  • Multinational banks on the sanctions aspects of transactions related to Russia.
  • A US information security company in applying for a UK Open Individual Export Licence. 
  • A global supplier of IT security equipment on an export controls and sanctions compliance audit and drafting strengthened procedures. 
  • A US life sciences firm on a voluntary disclosure to the UK authorities on export control breaches and on licensing issues related to the transfer of manufacturing from the UK to Asia.

Trade Regulation

  • A major agri-products exporter to the EU on the drafting of a new EU Regulation, co-ordinated with a wide range of stakeholders. As a result, the Commission’s proposals were amended and the final Regulation met the client’s objectives. 
  • A Middle Eastern company in drafting a comprehensive Compliance and Ethics policy and procedures for re-instatement as a UN supplier following debarment for allegations of corruption.
  • A UK chemicals company on responding to proposals by the EU to restrict their product, engaging with decision-makers to set out the scientific and legal arguments. 
  • A range of UK and multinational companies on compliance with the UK Modern Slavery Act, providing training and drafting policies, and Annual Statements for publication.
Services Industries
    • University of Cambridge, M.A. (Hons), History, 1980
    • English
    • French
    • Swahili
    • Brexit Sub-Committee of the UK’s Export Group for Aerospace, Defence and Dual-Use Goods (EGADD), Chair
    • EGADD Executive Committee, Elected Member since 2016
    • techUK Trade Controls and Customs Group, Member
    • Editorial Board of the World Export Control Review Journal, Member
    • The Export Control Profession, Institute of Export, Full Member