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: September 20, 2016

International Animal Law Sections and Committees:

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

The 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: Diana Bray

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
Co-Chair: Alison R. Ferrante
Co-Chair: Sara L. Dent
Contact: Wendell Chin

Connecticut
Connecticut Bar Animal Law Section
Co-Chair: Suzan Porto
Co-Chair: Colette Griffin

Florida
Florida Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Gregg Riley Morton
Chair-elect: Jennifer Dietz

Georgia
The State Bar of Georgia Animal Law Section
Chair: Betsy Choder
Vice Chair: Alyssa Myers

Idaho
Idaho State Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Ashley R. Marelius
Vice Chair: Jared J. Hight

Illinois
Illinois State Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: David H. Hopkins
Vice-Chair: Lisa Velez

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

Kentucky
Kentucky Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Megan M. Engle
Chair Elect: Lisa K. Bryant
Vice-Chair: Nancy S. Hancock

Kentucky
Kentucky State Bar Equine Section
Chair: Robert Charles Webb
Vice-Chair: Bernard F. Lovely

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

Maryland
Maryland State Bar Animal Law Section
Chair: Esther Anne Benaroya

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 SectionChair: Christine Hinrichs
Vice Chair: Kathy Mock
Contact: Christina Walters

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

Nevada
State Bar of Nevada Animal Law Section
Chair: Kathy McCarthy
Vice Chair: Melissa Roose

New Jersey
New Jersey State Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Chair: Andrea Joy Albrecht

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

New York
New York State Bar Association Special Committee on Animals and the Law
Chair: Amy M. Pontillo

Ohio
Ohio State Bar Animal Law CommitteeChair: John “Jeff” Holland

Oregon
Oregon State Bar Animal Law SectionChair: Stacy McKerlie   
Chair Elect: Nicole Schaefer

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Nadia Adawi

South Carolina
South Carolina Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Kelsey J. Gilmore-Futeral

Tennessee
Tennessee Bar Association Animal Law SectionChair: Dusty King

Texas
Texas State Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Michael Murray

Washington
Washington State Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Wynn Kerr

West Virginia
West Virginia State Bar Animal Law Committee
Chair: Melissa Lyons

Regional Bar Sections and Committees:

Austin, TX
Austin Bar Association Animal Welfare Committee
Chair: Kelley Dwyer
Co-Chair: Donna Murphy

Chicago, IL
Chicago Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Chair: Justin Shlensky

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: Christina Fojas 

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

New York, NY
New York City Bar Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals Committee
Chair: Lori A. Barrett

San Diego, CA
San Diego County Bar Association Animal Law Section
Chair: Alanna Pearl
Vice-Chair: Shawn Huston

Suffolk County, NY
Suffolk County Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Chair: Amy Chaitoff

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

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

White Plains, NY
Westchester County Bar Association Animal Law Committee
Co-Chair: Carol Simon