Caitlin Hawks

Caitlin Hawks is a lifelong animal advocate with many years of nonprofit leadership experience. As Chief Programs Officer, Caitlin oversees the Animal Law, Criminal Justice, Legislative Affairs, Litigation, and Pro Bono Programs. Prior to joining the Animal Legal Defense Fund, she founded and oversaw the litigation division at the PETA Foundation. She has handled matters arising under the Endangered Species Act, consumer protection statutes, the First Amendment, public nuisance law, the Freedom of Information Act and state public records statutes, and the Administrative Procedure Act, and likewise advised on criminal animal cruelty issues and proposed legislation.

Before transitioning to animal law on a full-time basis, Caitlin practiced complex commercial and intellectual property litigation at Milbank LLP in Los Angeles and Savitt Bruce & Willey LLP in Seattle, and handled a variety of animal law and prisoners’ rights matters on a pro bono basis. She received her law degree from the UCLA School of Law in 2008.

Caitlin lives in Seattle with her partner and their rescue mutt, Huddie. Outside of work, she spends her free time chasing live music around the Pacific Northwest and obsessing about her never-ending quest to make the perfect loaf of sourdough bread.