Animal Law Guild Presents Exceptional Inaugural Conference "Trailblazers of Animal Law"

Los Angeles - Lawyers and law students were treated to an exceptional program at the Animal Law Guild's inaugural sold-out animal law conference, "Trailblazers of Animal Law."  The conference was held at Loyola Law School on September 27 and included attendees from across California and throughout the country.  Nicole Herft and Shelley Rizzotti, founders of the Animal Law Guild and trailblazers themselves, secured an impressive lineup of legal heavyweights at the podium and in the audience.  Bon Appétit Management Company, the first food service company to develop a comprehensive animal welfare plan, sponsored the event.

The program included topics for everyone.  In private practice, Bruce Wagman and David Casselman, two well-known attorneys with a long history of animal cases, shared their career paths and precedent-setting cases.  On the academic front, Sande Buhai, Loyola clinical professor of law, and Sonia S. Waisman, co-author of the first animal law casebook, now in its fifth edition, discussed animal law in the classroom and what the future may hold. 

At the local level, Jason Insalaco, district director, assemblyman Mike Gatto; Deborah Knaan, L.A. Deputy D.A.; and, Tannaz Kouhpainezhad, Deputy A.G. at the California Department of Justice, provided an inside look at local government action in investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty.  In the landmark case of People v. Chung, Ms. Kouhpainezhad argued successfully that exigent circumstances permit warrantless entry to aid a live animal being abused.  The case is the first of its kind in the nation. 

In a more sobering tone, frontline organizations Compassion Over Killing and Mercy for Animals were on hand to remind the audience of the work still to be done in farm animal protection.  Cheryl Leahy and Vandhana Bala emphasized the importance of undercover operations in exposing cruelty in factory farms.  Peter Brandt, Senior Attorney with The Humane Society of the United States, inspired law students with his "not to direct" career path to animal law.  David Edward Burke, Expand Animal Rights Now COO, gave hands-on advice to anyone interested in a career in animal law.

"We are thrilled that the conference was such a success," said Nicole Herft, Chair of the Animal Law Guild.  "This is the first step in bringing stakeholders together to 'Raise the BAR for Animals' and continue to move the law forward for animals."

The Animal Law Guild is a nonprofit think tank of attorneys and law students dedicated to making the world a better place for the animals we share it with through legal advocacy.