Jim Leape was born in 1955 in Boston. Having studied law he began his career as an environmental lawyer, working on environmental protection cases in the United States, advising the United Nations Environment Programme and co-authoring the book “Environmental Regulation: Law, Science, and Policy”. In 1989 he joined WWF, one of the world's largest independent conservation organizations with staff and offices in more than 100 countries. Serving as Executive Vice President Leape directed its worldwide conservation programs. In 2005 James Leape officially took over as the Director General of WWF International.