Bar Association Animal Law Sections and Committees

Note: Animal Law Sections and Committees do not provide legal advice or assistance. Please do not contact them for anything other than information about the relevant committee. If you need legal information about an animal issue please see our legal information pages.

Updated: May 18, 2021

International Animal Law Sections and Committees:

ABA International Animal Law Committee
Contact: Joan Schaffner, Daina Bray, Cailen LaBarge

Canadian Bar Association, British Columbia Branch Animal Law Section
Contact: Rebeka Breder

Law Society of New South Wales, Young Lawyers Animal Law Committee
Chair: Tara Clarke
Vice Chair: Daniel Cung

National Animal Law Sections and Committees:

American Bar Association (ABA)
Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS)
Animal Law Committee
Chair: Lenore Montanaro

To join the Animal Law Committee, please contact TIPS Membership Coordinator, Linda Wiley.

State Bar Animal Law Sections and Committees:

Arizona
Arizona Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Raandi Morales

Connecticut
Connecticut Bar Animal Law Section
Co-Chair: Jessica Rubin
Co-Chair: Colette Griffin

Florida
Florida Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: John K. Powell
Chair-elect: Brent Spain

Georgia
The State Bar of Georgia Animal Law Section
Chair: David Michael Zagoria
Vice Chair: Megan Boyd

Idaho
Idaho State Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Jane McElligott
Vice Chair: Ashley R. Marelius

Illinois
Illinois State Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Scott W. Kummer
Vice-Chair: Stephen F. Hedinger

Indiana
Indiana State Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Chair: Courtney D. Mills

Kentucky
Kentucky Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Nolia G. Bainey
Chair Elect: Katie Brophy
Vice-Chair: Hannah Truxell

Kentucky
Kentucky State Bar Equine Section
Chair: Sonja Keating
Chair-elect: Andre Regard
Vice Chair: Chacey R. Malhouitre

Louisiana
Louisiana State Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Alyson Vamvoras Antoon
Vice Chair: Michele R. Morel

Maryland
Maryland State Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Fernando Guerra

Massachusetts
Massachusetts Bar Association’s Animal Law Practice Group
Contact: Pat Plasse

Michigan
State Bar of Michigan Animal Law Section
Chair: Ann M. Griffin
Chair-Elect: Alice Anna Phillips

Minnesota
Minnesota State Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Kristen Rice
Vice Chair: Kathy Mock
Contact: Christina Walters

Missouri
Missouri Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Daniel J. Kolde
Contact: Dana K. Apple

Montana
State Bar of Montana Animal Law Section
Chair: Stacey Gordon Sterling
Chair-Elect: Zack Strong

New Jersey
New Jersey State Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Co-Chair: Michelle A. Newton
Co-Chair: Thomas Leach

New Mexico
New Mexico State Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Guy Dicharry, Jr.
Contact: James Brian Smith

New York
New York State Bar Association Special Committee on Animals and the Law
Chair: Ashlee K. Cartwright, Esq.

Ohio
Ohio State Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Kyle Silvers

Oregon
Oregon State Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Ms. Maral G. Cavner   
Chair Elect: Ms. Kristen P. Farnworth

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Nadia Adawi

South Carolina
South Carolina Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Stacey Besser

Tennessee
Tennessee Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Rob Simpson

Texas
Texas State Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Eric Torberson
Vice Chair: Christiana Dijkman

Washington
Washington State Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Gemma Zanowski

West Virginia
West Virginia State Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Sherri Goodman Reveal

Regional Bar Sections and Committees:

Austin, TX
Austin Bar Association Animal Welfare Committee
Chair: Kelley Dwyer

Dallas, TX
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Animal Welfare Committee
Co-Chair: Shaun Hasset
Co-Chair: Rachael Nelson
Co-Chair: Eliot Walker
Co-Chair: David Newland
Co-Chair: Fernando Avelar

Houston, TX
Houston Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Chair: Diane McManus

Nassau County, NY
Nassau County Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Eileen J. Goggin
Contact: Elinor Molbegott

New York, NY
New York City Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Chair: Christopher Wlach

New York, NY
New York County Lawyers Association Committee on Animal Law
Chair: Kevan Cleary, Esq.

San Diego, CA
San Diego County Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Cheryl Nolan
Vice Chair: Shawn P Huston
Contact: Olga Blankson

Tulsa, OK
Tulsa County Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Contact: NA

Ventura County, CA
Ventura County Bar Association Animal Law Section
Contact: Katherine Becker