Origin of Project

J. Triplett (Trip) Mackintosh, a retired US lawyer who specialized in U.S. non-proliferation controls (export laws) and trade sanctions, began the Pandemic Mitigation Project (the “Project”). 

In early 2020 as the world began its struggle with the Covid crisis, he observed that there were no treaties or other mechanisms with enforceable obligations that would have compelled China (or any other country) to notify other nations of an epidemic/pandemic event and to allow immediate access by specialists to assist in isolation and mitigation. He examined treaties, conventions and agreements in the area of international trade and uncontrollable weapon systems (nuclear, biological and chemical), the International Health Regulations (2005), the Global Health Security Agenda and the Constitution of the World Health Organization. He concluded that a convention with simple, discrete and enforceable obligations, as proposed by the Project, would be helpful in mitigating future pandemics.

With suggestions from bio-defense experts, medical professionals and an international treaty specialist, he drafted the proposed convention and its argument for implementation. He received assistance from legal professionals in France with respect to formation of the French NGO, the “Association” and drafting of related documents.

He has no affiliation with any law firm or company. He has received no funding from any party in support of this initiative. The Project does not solicit contributions.

He serves as an unpaid Board Member of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control https://www.wisconsinproject.org and the Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law at the University of Denver https://www.law.du.edu/ved-nanda-center-for-international-law

Mr. Mackintosh retired from Holland & Hart https://www.hollandhart.com in 2018. While practicing, he was ranked among top global professionals for his legal work in the area of trade sanctions and export controls.  See https://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/03/prweb11699318.htm and  

https://www.newswire.com/news/holland-hart-attorneys-and-practice-recognized-in-chambers-global-2017-6038283

His practice included representing foreign and domestic companies with respect to compliance, as well as regulatory and criminal defense. For 20 years he was an adjunct at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law where he taught courses on trade sanctions, export controls and white-collar defense. He holds a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center, an M.A. from the Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver and a B.A. from Regis University, Denver. He resides in California.