Thomas J. Schoenbaum

Thomas John Schoenbaum (August 15, 1939 – June 8, 2026) was an American lawyer, legal scholar and author. His work focused on maritime law, international trade law, and environmental law, and he championed the role of international law in the peaceful settlement of disputes. His career included 50 years in academia (1968–2018), service with multiple law firms, and the authorship of over 100 books and articles.

Schoenbaum was a life member of the American Law Institute.

Tulane, Georgia, and Later Appointments At Tulane University Law School (1979–1983), Schoenbaum served as Associate Dean for Graduate Programs and solicited the foundation grant that established the Tulane Maritime Law Center.

Major publications and recognition Schoenbaum's written work has been influential in multiple fields of law.

Admiralty and Maritime Law Schoenbaum was the author of the treatise Admiralty and Maritime Law, first published in 1987. The work, now in its seventh edition, is considered an authoritative text in its field. Its influence is demonstrated by its frequent citation by federal and state courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Prize-Winning Scholarship His book The World Trade Organization: Law, Process, and Policy, co-authored with Mitsuo Matsushita and Petros Mavroidis, received the American Society of International Law's 2003 Certificate of Merit for its "preeminent contribution to creative scholarship."

Other books Waging Peace and War: Dean Rusk in the Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson Years (1988) The Law and Legal System of the United States (3rd Edition) International Environmental Law (co-authored with Michael Young) Islands, Capes, and Sounds: The North Carolina Coast (1979)

Fulbright Program Schoenbaum's work has been supported by six Fulbright scholarships, which permitted him to live and work in several countries: Belgium (1961–62): As a student at the University of Louvain. Germany (1971–72): As a Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Cologne. Soviet Union (1975): As a Fulbright Research Scholar at the Institute of State and Law in Moscow. Belgium (1978): As a Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Liège. South Africa (1992): As a Fulbright Scholar at the University of the Western Cape. In this capacity, his role was to teach the courses of Professor Kader Asmal, a move which enabled Asmal to participate full-time in the negotiations to end apartheid. At Asmal's request, Schoenbaum also contributed to the drafting of a new South African constitution by submitting memoranda on federalism and human rights. Austria (2001): As a Fulbright Distinguished Professor of International Law at the University of Innsbruck.