Conference 2014 Speaker Bios
Peter Brandt, Senior Attorney, Farm Animals, Animal Protection
Litigation, The Humane Society of the United States
Peter Brandt is the Senior Attorney for Farm Animal Litigation with the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Protection Litigation (APL) section. APL conducts precedent-setting legal campaigns on behalf of animals in state and federal courts around the country. With a staff of 15 lawyers and a network of over 1,000 pro bono lawyers, APL is the largest Animal Protection Litigation program in the country. Peter has been involved in animal protection issues for over a decade, and currently oversees the entire farm animal litigation docket for The HSUS. He received his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and he holds a B.A. from Whitman College.
Peter Brandt is the Senior Attorney for Farm Animal Litigation with the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Protection Litigation (APL) section. APL conducts precedent-setting legal campaigns on behalf of animals in state and federal courts around the country. With a staff of 15 lawyers and a network of over 1,000 pro bono lawyers, APL is the largest Animal Protection Litigation program in the country. Peter has been involved in animal protection issues for over a decade, and currently oversees the entire farm animal litigation docket for The HSUS. He received his J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School and he holds a B.A. from Whitman College.
Vandhana Bala, General Counsel, Mercy for Animals
Vandhana Bala serves as general counsel for Mercy For Animals and oversees the organization’s legal initiatives, which include working with investigations department staff and local law enforcement for criminal prosecutions of farmed animal abusers, developing lawsuits and initiating complaints to governmental agencies relating to illegal agribusiness operations.
Since joining MFA in 2011, Vandhana has worked on several investigations that have led to successful criminal prosecutions of farmed animal abusers, including the first-ever felony conviction for cruelty to factory-farmed poultry and charges of criminal animal abuse brought against two different factory farm owners. She also filed a successful petition with the Federal Trade Commission regarding false advertising by an egg factory farm. Vandhana has presented several talks to bar associations and law schools across the country, and has been a speaker at the Animal Rights National Conference. She has also been interviewed by numerous media outlets on ag-gag bills and MFA’s undercover investigations.
Vandhana Bala serves as general counsel for Mercy For Animals and oversees the organization’s legal initiatives, which include working with investigations department staff and local law enforcement for criminal prosecutions of farmed animal abusers, developing lawsuits and initiating complaints to governmental agencies relating to illegal agribusiness operations.
Since joining MFA in 2011, Vandhana has worked on several investigations that have led to successful criminal prosecutions of farmed animal abusers, including the first-ever felony conviction for cruelty to factory-farmed poultry and charges of criminal animal abuse brought against two different factory farm owners. She also filed a successful petition with the Federal Trade Commission regarding false advertising by an egg factory farm. Vandhana has presented several talks to bar associations and law schools across the country, and has been a speaker at the Animal Rights National Conference. She has also been interviewed by numerous media outlets on ag-gag bills and MFA’s undercover investigations.
Sande Buhai, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of Public
Interest Department, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Upon graduation from law school, Buhai served as a Research Attorney for the Los Angeles Superior Court. She was then appointed Deputy Attorney General for the State of California, serving in the Civil Licensing section for five years. She joined the Loyola faculty in 1989, first as Visiting Professor and Executive Director of the Western Law Center for Disability Rights, then as Clinical Professor and Director of the Public Interest Law Department. In 2005, she received the AALS Section on Pro Bono and Public Service Opportunity’s Father Robert Drinan Award for her work on behalf of public interest law.
Upon graduation from law school, Buhai served as a Research Attorney for the Los Angeles Superior Court. She was then appointed Deputy Attorney General for the State of California, serving in the Civil Licensing section for five years. She joined the Loyola faculty in 1989, first as Visiting Professor and Executive Director of the Western Law Center for Disability Rights, then as Clinical Professor and Director of the Public Interest Law Department. In 2005, she received the AALS Section on Pro Bono and Public Service Opportunity’s Father Robert Drinan Award for her work on behalf of public interest law.
David Edward Burke, Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder, Expand Animal
Rights Now
David Edward Burke brings both political and legal experience to his role as EARN’s Chief Operating Officer. After graduating from UCLA in 2004 with a degree in Political Science, David moved across the country to work for the House Ways and Means Committee in the United States Congress. While in DC he worked on two successful Congressional campaigns and learned the value of emphasizing practical solutions and building unlikely coalitions.
David returned to UCLA for law school in 2006, where he served on student government, taught legal writing to first year students, and was named the Outstanding Attorney in the Akin Gump Mock Trial Competition and an Outstanding Oral Advocate in the Jones Day Moot Court Competition. David also worked for the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division before graduating from UCLA School of Law in 2009. After graduation David clerked for Los Angeles Superior Court Judges Ralph Dau and Zaven Sinanian.
David's interest in animal rights dates back to the first time he read Fast Food Nation. He began working on behalf of animals in 2008 as the West Los Angeles Captain for the Yes On Proposition 2 campaign and hasn’t stopped since. David subsequently worked on the Fur Free West Hollywood campaign and helped organize Worldfest, Southern California’s largest Earth Day festival that also promotes veganism.
David currently works as a civil litigation attorney, specializing in animal rights law. He is also an avid writer. He has written articles and given interviews about reducing the corrosive influence of money in politics, about the possibility of animals obtaining rights as legal persons, and about other topics pertaining to social justice.
David Edward Burke brings both political and legal experience to his role as EARN’s Chief Operating Officer. After graduating from UCLA in 2004 with a degree in Political Science, David moved across the country to work for the House Ways and Means Committee in the United States Congress. While in DC he worked on two successful Congressional campaigns and learned the value of emphasizing practical solutions and building unlikely coalitions.
David returned to UCLA for law school in 2006, where he served on student government, taught legal writing to first year students, and was named the Outstanding Attorney in the Akin Gump Mock Trial Competition and an Outstanding Oral Advocate in the Jones Day Moot Court Competition. David also worked for the Department of Justice, Antitrust Division before graduating from UCLA School of Law in 2009. After graduation David clerked for Los Angeles Superior Court Judges Ralph Dau and Zaven Sinanian.
David's interest in animal rights dates back to the first time he read Fast Food Nation. He began working on behalf of animals in 2008 as the West Los Angeles Captain for the Yes On Proposition 2 campaign and hasn’t stopped since. David subsequently worked on the Fur Free West Hollywood campaign and helped organize Worldfest, Southern California’s largest Earth Day festival that also promotes veganism.
David currently works as a civil litigation attorney, specializing in animal rights law. He is also an avid writer. He has written articles and given interviews about reducing the corrosive influence of money in politics, about the possibility of animals obtaining rights as legal persons, and about other topics pertaining to social justice.
David Casselman, Principal Trial Partner, Casselman Law Group
David Casselman is a highly regarded civil trial lawyer, having secured literally hundreds of millions of dollars of verdicts and settlements. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, with remarkable success. He may be the only lawyer to hold two of the top ten largest verdicts in one year in the State of California. Remarkably, in one of those cases he represented the plaintiff and in the next, he represented the defendant, cross complainant.
Mr. Casselman is the past Los Angeles President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); past California President of ABOTA; and a National Board member of ABOTA. The American Board of Trial Advocates is an elite organization of jury trial lawyers, each with a minimum of 20 jury trials. As the National Chair of the Civility & Professionalism Committee, Mr. Casselman wrote, produced and directed “Civility Matters” which is a video used by ABOTA and Inns of Court across the country to teach young lawyers and law students about the importance of Civility in the practice of law.
Mr. Casselman is a former law school professor, a frequent public speaker, and an original author of the 3 volume Rutter Book on California Insurance Litigation. He was also a co-author of the materials used at the Judicial College to train new judges regarding issues of California Insurance law. He has also co-authored legislation (including the Hayden Law) as well as several other bills which are now part of the California statutory law. For over 30 years, Mr. Casselman was the Senior Trial Partner in the firm of Wasserman, Comden & Casselman in Tarzana. He has recently formed The Casselman Law Group, where he continues to try cases.
Recognizing the need, and tapping into his passion as an animal welfare advocate, for thirty years Mr. Casselman has found the time to lend his legal expertise, pro bono, to help animals throughout Los Angeles. Recognizing that they are the truly voiceless among us, he has consistently found creative ways to protect animals, fighting where ever possible to stop animal cruelty.
One of his more high profile cases involves a 6 year crusade to close the Elephant Exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo. The case was dismissed on Summary Judgment, but reversed by the Court of Appeal. Then, Mr. Casselman successfully took the case to trial. After losing multiple mandatory injunctions, the City elected to appeal the adverse trial judgment. In behalf of the elephants, Mr. Casselman cross-appealed, continuing to fight to close the exhibit. That case is still pending. Mr. Casselman has also recently taken up the case of two White Tigers, denied a permit to allow them to live in a remote area of Malibu.
Apart from his legal work, Mr. Casselman is the founder and co-director of the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS). CWS is partnering with the Cambodian government to protect the last remaining one million acres of unmined jungle land in Cambodia. Their goal is to protect the critically endangered habitat of Cambodia and its animals. To accomplish this, the Wildlife Sanctuary is fighting logging and poaching on a daily basis, while developing a world class eco-tourism facility. Mr. Casselman is also a founder and co-director of Elephants In Crisis, an organization focused on the plight of elephants worldwide. Over the years, Mr. Casselman has also been the recipient of various animal advocacy awards.
David Casselman is a highly regarded civil trial lawyer, having secured literally hundreds of millions of dollars of verdicts and settlements. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, with remarkable success. He may be the only lawyer to hold two of the top ten largest verdicts in one year in the State of California. Remarkably, in one of those cases he represented the plaintiff and in the next, he represented the defendant, cross complainant.
Mr. Casselman is the past Los Angeles President of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); past California President of ABOTA; and a National Board member of ABOTA. The American Board of Trial Advocates is an elite organization of jury trial lawyers, each with a minimum of 20 jury trials. As the National Chair of the Civility & Professionalism Committee, Mr. Casselman wrote, produced and directed “Civility Matters” which is a video used by ABOTA and Inns of Court across the country to teach young lawyers and law students about the importance of Civility in the practice of law.
Mr. Casselman is a former law school professor, a frequent public speaker, and an original author of the 3 volume Rutter Book on California Insurance Litigation. He was also a co-author of the materials used at the Judicial College to train new judges regarding issues of California Insurance law. He has also co-authored legislation (including the Hayden Law) as well as several other bills which are now part of the California statutory law. For over 30 years, Mr. Casselman was the Senior Trial Partner in the firm of Wasserman, Comden & Casselman in Tarzana. He has recently formed The Casselman Law Group, where he continues to try cases.
Recognizing the need, and tapping into his passion as an animal welfare advocate, for thirty years Mr. Casselman has found the time to lend his legal expertise, pro bono, to help animals throughout Los Angeles. Recognizing that they are the truly voiceless among us, he has consistently found creative ways to protect animals, fighting where ever possible to stop animal cruelty.
One of his more high profile cases involves a 6 year crusade to close the Elephant Exhibit at the Los Angeles Zoo. The case was dismissed on Summary Judgment, but reversed by the Court of Appeal. Then, Mr. Casselman successfully took the case to trial. After losing multiple mandatory injunctions, the City elected to appeal the adverse trial judgment. In behalf of the elephants, Mr. Casselman cross-appealed, continuing to fight to close the exhibit. That case is still pending. Mr. Casselman has also recently taken up the case of two White Tigers, denied a permit to allow them to live in a remote area of Malibu.
Apart from his legal work, Mr. Casselman is the founder and co-director of the Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS). CWS is partnering with the Cambodian government to protect the last remaining one million acres of unmined jungle land in Cambodia. Their goal is to protect the critically endangered habitat of Cambodia and its animals. To accomplish this, the Wildlife Sanctuary is fighting logging and poaching on a daily basis, while developing a world class eco-tourism facility. Mr. Casselman is also a founder and co-director of Elephants In Crisis, an organization focused on the plight of elephants worldwide. Over the years, Mr. Casselman has also been the recipient of various animal advocacy awards.
Ryan Gordon, Associate Attorney, Radcliff & Saiki, LLP
Chair, Animal Law Guild Conference 2014
Ryan Gordon is an attorney at the Los Angeles law firm of Radcliff & Saiki, LLP, and also Of Counsel at the Law Office of Lee and Baghoomian. He focuses primarily on civil business litigation, writs, appeals, and trust administration and litigation. Ryan became a lawyer for the purpose of practicing animal law and wants to work on advancing animal rights through judicial and legislative avenues. He worked as research attorney for the Nonhuman Rights Project for several years, he interned with the animal protection unit at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, and he has done volunteer legal work for various groups like the Sierra Club and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Ryan is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.
Chair, Animal Law Guild Conference 2014
Ryan Gordon is an attorney at the Los Angeles law firm of Radcliff & Saiki, LLP, and also Of Counsel at the Law Office of Lee and Baghoomian. He focuses primarily on civil business litigation, writs, appeals, and trust administration and litigation. Ryan became a lawyer for the purpose of practicing animal law and wants to work on advancing animal rights through judicial and legislative avenues. He worked as research attorney for the Nonhuman Rights Project for several years, he interned with the animal protection unit at the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, and he has done volunteer legal work for various groups like the Sierra Club and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Ryan is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.
Nicole Herft, Associate Attorney, Winston & Strawn LLP & Chair, Animal
Law Guild
Chair, Animal Law Guild
Vice President, The Animal Protectorates - TAPS
Nicole is an attorney in the Los Angeles office of Winston & Strawn LLP who concentrates her practice in complex commercial, intellectual property and class action litigation. Nicole has experience with consumer class actions, false advertising, unfair competition, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, securities fraud, financial services, False Claims Act and a broad array of other complex commercial claims, including business torts and contract disputes. Nicole is also passionate about animal protection and devotes a significant amount of pro bono time to animal law issues in an effort to improve the treatment, protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Nicole is the Vice-President of The Animal Protectorates - TAPS and serves as Chair of the Animal Law Guild, the advocacy arm of The Animal Protectorates whose mission of advocacy is fulfilled through the Animal Law Guild. Nicole has previously served as Chair of Animal Legal Defense Fund - Los Angeles. She is also an active member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee. Nicole's recent article titled “‘Ag Gag’ Laws: Will Courts Decide Criminalizing Undercover Investigations at Factory Farms is Unconstitutional?” was published on the front page of the Summer 2014 ABA Animal Law Committee newsletter.
Nicole’s other pro bono matters include representation of an animal rescue organization in a trademark dispute, a class action of people with disabilities unable to access court facilities and programs, an immigrant seeking political asylum, and a prisoner in a habeas matter.
Before becoming an attorney, Nicole had a successful career as an organizational psychologist specializing in market research, brand strategy and strategic planning. She ran her own consulting business while attending Loyola Law School’s evening program where she graduated 1st in her class. Nicole has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Davis, an M.A. in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento, a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The Ohio State University, and a J.D., summa cum laude, from Loyola Law School.
Chair, Animal Law Guild
Vice President, The Animal Protectorates - TAPS
Nicole is an attorney in the Los Angeles office of Winston & Strawn LLP who concentrates her practice in complex commercial, intellectual property and class action litigation. Nicole has experience with consumer class actions, false advertising, unfair competition, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, securities fraud, financial services, False Claims Act and a broad array of other complex commercial claims, including business torts and contract disputes. Nicole is also passionate about animal protection and devotes a significant amount of pro bono time to animal law issues in an effort to improve the treatment, protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. Nicole is the Vice-President of The Animal Protectorates - TAPS and serves as Chair of the Animal Law Guild, the advocacy arm of The Animal Protectorates whose mission of advocacy is fulfilled through the Animal Law Guild. Nicole has previously served as Chair of Animal Legal Defense Fund - Los Angeles. She is also an active member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee. Nicole's recent article titled “‘Ag Gag’ Laws: Will Courts Decide Criminalizing Undercover Investigations at Factory Farms is Unconstitutional?” was published on the front page of the Summer 2014 ABA Animal Law Committee newsletter.
Nicole’s other pro bono matters include representation of an animal rescue organization in a trademark dispute, a class action of people with disabilities unable to access court facilities and programs, an immigrant seeking political asylum, and a prisoner in a habeas matter.
Before becoming an attorney, Nicole had a successful career as an organizational psychologist specializing in market research, brand strategy and strategic planning. She ran her own consulting business while attending Loyola Law School’s evening program where she graduated 1st in her class. Nicole has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Davis, an M.A. in Psychology from California State University, Sacramento, a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from The Ohio State University, and a J.D., summa cum laude, from Loyola Law School.
Jason Insalaco, Attorney at Law & District Director, Assemblyman Mike Gatto
Jason Insalaco is the District Director for Assemblyman Mike Gatto of the 43rd District. Prior to working in politics, Jason served as an executive with CBS Radio, CBS Television and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. Jason’s legal experience includes negotiating talent deals and drafting agreements for both talent and media companies. He also has extensive intellectual property experience that includes the discovery of a long-lost film by famed director, Edward D. Wood, Jr. Jason obtained a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Jason Insalaco is the District Director for Assemblyman Mike Gatto of the 43rd District. Prior to working in politics, Jason served as an executive with CBS Radio, CBS Television and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment. Jason’s legal experience includes negotiating talent deals and drafting agreements for both talent and media companies. He also has extensive intellectual property experience that includes the discovery of a long-lost film by famed director, Edward D. Wood, Jr. Jason obtained a B.A. from Boston College and a J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Deborah Knaan, Deputy District Attorney and Supervisor, Animal Cruelty Division at Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
Deborah Knaan has been a Deputy District Attorney since 1996. Her assignments have included prosecuting hardcore gang crimes and sexual assaults and child molestation.
In 2004 Ms. Knaan was appointed to the Los Angeles City Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services by Mayor Jim Hahn. As a commissioner, Ms. Knaan was responsible for overseeing and setting policy for the Department of Animal Services, hearing appeals in cases involving issues that pertained to animals and public safety, drafting and approving local ordinances, and reviewing city contracts.
In 2006 Ms. Knaan was given a leave of absence from the District Attorney’s Office to serve as Assistant General Manager of Operations for the Department of Animal Services. In that position Ms. Knaan oversaw the day-to-day operations of the six City-run animal shelters and supervised the field officers who were responsible for enforcing various animal related offenses and investigating incidents of animal cruelty.
In 2007 Ms. Knaan returned to the District Attorney’s Office to create and head up the office’s first animal cruelty prosecution program, the only one of its kind in the country. There are currently 31 specially trained prosecutors assigned to prosecute animal abuse cases. As the District Attorney’s Office’s Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator, Ms. Knaan is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of all felony animal cruelty cases within the County of Los Angeles. Ms. Knaan regularly trains prosecutors and animal control and law enforcement agencies on how to investigate, file, and prosecute cases in which animals have been mistreated. She is frequently invited to speak at professional conferences, and to agencies and groups that play a critical role in recognizing, reporting, or investigating animal cruelty cases.
During her tenure as Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator Ms. Knaan has devised and implemented many programs, including a dog fighting tip line, a court-ordered curriculum for defendants convicted of animal neglect, and a public awareness campaign that warns members of the public of the dangers (and illegality) of leaving animals in hot vehicles. Ms. Knaan has also authored legislation that strengthens protections afforded to animals under the law.
Deborah Knaan has been a Deputy District Attorney since 1996. Her assignments have included prosecuting hardcore gang crimes and sexual assaults and child molestation.
In 2004 Ms. Knaan was appointed to the Los Angeles City Board of Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services by Mayor Jim Hahn. As a commissioner, Ms. Knaan was responsible for overseeing and setting policy for the Department of Animal Services, hearing appeals in cases involving issues that pertained to animals and public safety, drafting and approving local ordinances, and reviewing city contracts.
In 2006 Ms. Knaan was given a leave of absence from the District Attorney’s Office to serve as Assistant General Manager of Operations for the Department of Animal Services. In that position Ms. Knaan oversaw the day-to-day operations of the six City-run animal shelters and supervised the field officers who were responsible for enforcing various animal related offenses and investigating incidents of animal cruelty.
In 2007 Ms. Knaan returned to the District Attorney’s Office to create and head up the office’s first animal cruelty prosecution program, the only one of its kind in the country. There are currently 31 specially trained prosecutors assigned to prosecute animal abuse cases. As the District Attorney’s Office’s Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator, Ms. Knaan is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of all felony animal cruelty cases within the County of Los Angeles. Ms. Knaan regularly trains prosecutors and animal control and law enforcement agencies on how to investigate, file, and prosecute cases in which animals have been mistreated. She is frequently invited to speak at professional conferences, and to agencies and groups that play a critical role in recognizing, reporting, or investigating animal cruelty cases.
During her tenure as Animal Cruelty Case Coordinator Ms. Knaan has devised and implemented many programs, including a dog fighting tip line, a court-ordered curriculum for defendants convicted of animal neglect, and a public awareness campaign that warns members of the public of the dangers (and illegality) of leaving animals in hot vehicles. Ms. Knaan has also authored legislation that strengthens protections afforded to animals under the law.
Tannaz Kouhpainezhad, Deputy Attorney General at California Department of
Justice, Criminal Division
Ms. Kouhpainehzad is a state prosecutor with the Appeals, Writs, and Trials division of the California Department of Justice since 2007, handling mainly violent felony appeals and writs in both state and federal courts, including the California Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit. The majority of Ms. Kouhpainezhad’s caseload includes hardcore gang crimes, murders, and sexual crimes.
In 2007, after handling her first animal cruelty appeal, Ms. Kouhpainezhad has requested, and continues to handle most of the animal cruelty appeals in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Her most notable animal
cruelty case is People v. Chung, where the California Court of Appeal concluded, in a published opinion that exigent circumstances permit warrantless entry of an individual’s home to aid a live animal that police officers reasonably
believe is being abused. This case is the first of its kind in the nation, and has helped numerous law enforcement agencies in prosecuting animal cruelty cases.
Ms. Kouhpainezhad has also been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she has taught Animal Law and Appellate Advocacy. In 2011, the Animal Legal Defense Fund named Ms. Kouhpainezhad as one of the nation’s “Top Ten Animal Defenders.”
Ms. Kouhpainehzad is a state prosecutor with the Appeals, Writs, and Trials division of the California Department of Justice since 2007, handling mainly violent felony appeals and writs in both state and federal courts, including the California Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit. The majority of Ms. Kouhpainezhad’s caseload includes hardcore gang crimes, murders, and sexual crimes.
In 2007, after handling her first animal cruelty appeal, Ms. Kouhpainezhad has requested, and continues to handle most of the animal cruelty appeals in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Her most notable animal
cruelty case is People v. Chung, where the California Court of Appeal concluded, in a published opinion that exigent circumstances permit warrantless entry of an individual’s home to aid a live animal that police officers reasonably
believe is being abused. This case is the first of its kind in the nation, and has helped numerous law enforcement agencies in prosecuting animal cruelty cases.
Ms. Kouhpainezhad has also been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she has taught Animal Law and Appellate Advocacy. In 2011, the Animal Legal Defense Fund named Ms. Kouhpainezhad as one of the nation’s “Top Ten Animal Defenders.”
Cheryl Leahy, General Counsel, Compassion Over Killing
Cheryl Leahy is a leading animal rights lawyer. She is general counsel for Compassion Over Killing, a nonprofit animal advocacy organization based out of Washington, D.C., and leads their legal advocacy program. Compassion Over Killing works to end animal abuse, focuses on cruelty to animals in agriculture, and promotes vegetarian eating. As general counsel, Leahy's work targets large-scale abuse of farmed animals through investigation and litigation. This litigation includes criminal animal cruelty prosecutions and their equivalent, challenges to federal administrative agencies, false advertising claims against companies misleading consumers about the way their animals are treated, and unfair business practices cases, among others. In 2011 Leahy conducted the initial case research and development for an antitrust class action alleging a price fixing scheme by the American dairy industry. Leahy also currently serves as counsel for the Humane Party, where her duties include legal tasks related to the establishment and popularization of a new and emergent national political party.
Leahy is the author of "Large-Scale Farmed Animal Abuse and Neglect, Law and its Enforcement," Journal of Animal Law and Ethics, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Fall 2011, and she is a co-author of "Farm-Animal Welfare, Legislation and Trade," Journal of Law and Contemporary Problems, Duke University School of Law, Spring 2007.
Leahy earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies with honors from the University of Chicago in 2003. She then received her J.D. from UCLA in 2006, where she served as president of the Animal Law Society as well as its director of development and outreach. Also during law school, Leahy was a semi-finalist and earned honorable mention in the National Center for Animal Law's animal advocacy moot court competitions held at Harvard Law School in February 2005.
Cheryl Leahy is a leading animal rights lawyer. She is general counsel for Compassion Over Killing, a nonprofit animal advocacy organization based out of Washington, D.C., and leads their legal advocacy program. Compassion Over Killing works to end animal abuse, focuses on cruelty to animals in agriculture, and promotes vegetarian eating. As general counsel, Leahy's work targets large-scale abuse of farmed animals through investigation and litigation. This litigation includes criminal animal cruelty prosecutions and their equivalent, challenges to federal administrative agencies, false advertising claims against companies misleading consumers about the way their animals are treated, and unfair business practices cases, among others. In 2011 Leahy conducted the initial case research and development for an antitrust class action alleging a price fixing scheme by the American dairy industry. Leahy also currently serves as counsel for the Humane Party, where her duties include legal tasks related to the establishment and popularization of a new and emergent national political party.
Leahy is the author of "Large-Scale Farmed Animal Abuse and Neglect, Law and its Enforcement," Journal of Animal Law and Ethics, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Fall 2011, and she is a co-author of "Farm-Animal Welfare, Legislation and Trade," Journal of Law and Contemporary Problems, Duke University School of Law, Spring 2007.
Leahy earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies with honors from the University of Chicago in 2003. She then received her J.D. from UCLA in 2006, where she served as president of the Animal Law Society as well as its director of development and outreach. Also during law school, Leahy was a semi-finalist and earned honorable mention in the National Center for Animal Law's animal advocacy moot court competitions held at Harvard Law School in February 2005.
Shelley Rizzotti, Attorney at Law & Chair, Animal Law Guild
Vice Chair, Animal Law Guild
Treasurer, The Animal Protectorates - TAPS
Shelley can’t ever remember a time when she didn’t have an animal in her life. She took in abandoned kittens before she was 7 years old and had her first internship when she was 10 - at a veterinarian’s office. She had horses and cows and even raised sheep to show through the 4H club. It was after winning a blue ribbon at a 4H show when she was in 8th grade that she found out what was happening to the sheep she raised - a turning point in her social awareness of the plight of animals. As an entrepreneur, Shelley started multiple companies, but even with the success, it never seemed like she was doing enough. Realizing that she could help animals through law, she set her focus on law school.
After finishing Loyola Law School, she jumped right in by working on "puppy mill" legislation in her home town of Burbank (legislation, that was ultimately passed after over a year of continuous grassroots community outreach and education). Shelley has also volunteered for the Animal Legal Defense Fund and when she was contacted by them about a hoarding case in neighboring Riverside County, she and a devoted group of animal protection advocates from varying backgrounds came together and shone a light on this situation which had gone unfettered for decades with likely thousands of animals dying. Again, through presentations at the local government level, the hoarder was arrested and will be standing trial on misdemeanor and felony animal charges. Shelley believes that grassroots efforts are critical in improving the lives of animals and she considers a law degree another arrow in the quiver in protecting them.
Shelley's message about the animal protection movement is that “effective animal advocates come from all different backgrounds and walks of life - political, religious, economic - the most important thing we can remember as a whole is to present ourselves professionally and focus on our commonalities and not our differences in order to move the law forward for animals.” In 2013, Shelley was recognized as Burbank’s Best Attorney by The Burbank Leader for her work in animal welfare.
Shelley is the Co-Founder and Treasurer of The Animal Protectorates - TAPS and serves as Vice-Chair of the Animal Law Guild, the advocacy arm of The Animal Protectorates. Shelley has previously served as Vice-Chair of Animal Legal Defense Fund - Los Angeles. She is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.
Shelley regularly fosters orphaned animals and also serves her community as the Vice-President of the Burbank Police Foundation.
Vice Chair, Animal Law Guild
Treasurer, The Animal Protectorates - TAPS
Shelley can’t ever remember a time when she didn’t have an animal in her life. She took in abandoned kittens before she was 7 years old and had her first internship when she was 10 - at a veterinarian’s office. She had horses and cows and even raised sheep to show through the 4H club. It was after winning a blue ribbon at a 4H show when she was in 8th grade that she found out what was happening to the sheep she raised - a turning point in her social awareness of the plight of animals. As an entrepreneur, Shelley started multiple companies, but even with the success, it never seemed like she was doing enough. Realizing that she could help animals through law, she set her focus on law school.
After finishing Loyola Law School, she jumped right in by working on "puppy mill" legislation in her home town of Burbank (legislation, that was ultimately passed after over a year of continuous grassroots community outreach and education). Shelley has also volunteered for the Animal Legal Defense Fund and when she was contacted by them about a hoarding case in neighboring Riverside County, she and a devoted group of animal protection advocates from varying backgrounds came together and shone a light on this situation which had gone unfettered for decades with likely thousands of animals dying. Again, through presentations at the local government level, the hoarder was arrested and will be standing trial on misdemeanor and felony animal charges. Shelley believes that grassroots efforts are critical in improving the lives of animals and she considers a law degree another arrow in the quiver in protecting them.
Shelley's message about the animal protection movement is that “effective animal advocates come from all different backgrounds and walks of life - political, religious, economic - the most important thing we can remember as a whole is to present ourselves professionally and focus on our commonalities and not our differences in order to move the law forward for animals.” In 2013, Shelley was recognized as Burbank’s Best Attorney by The Burbank Leader for her work in animal welfare.
Shelley is the Co-Founder and Treasurer of The Animal Protectorates - TAPS and serves as Vice-Chair of the Animal Law Guild, the advocacy arm of The Animal Protectorates. Shelley has previously served as Vice-Chair of Animal Legal Defense Fund - Los Angeles. She is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee.
Shelley regularly fosters orphaned animals and also serves her community as the Vice-President of the Burbank Police Foundation.
Bruce Wagman, Partner, Schiff Hardin LLP
Bruce Wagman is a partner in Schiff Hardin’s San Francisco office, with an almost exclusive focus on animal law matters, including litigation, legislative drafting and counseling, education, and private consultation. He has been active in animal law since 1992. He is a coeditor of the casebook Animal Law, and coauthor of A Worldview of Animal Law. He has been teaching Animal Law since 1996 and currently teaches on a rotating fashion at three Bay Area law schools. Bruce’s clients include numerous animal protection organizations as well as private individuals. He has worked on behalf of birds, cats, chickens, chimpanzees, cows, deer, dogs, dolphins, ducks, elephants, elk, gorillas, horses (domestic and wild), lions, mice, monkeys, pigs, sharks, turkeys, whales and wolves. The areas covered by his litigation/legislative practice have included the use of animals in entertainment, biomedical research, animal agriculture/food production, animal cruelty, animal shelters, private ownership, dog bites, animal custody, endangered species, wild horses, horse slaughter and biomedical research and wildlife control, as well as individualized cases involving injuries to, and caused by, animals. (Read more about Bruce's accomplishments for animals here.)
Bruce Wagman is a partner in Schiff Hardin’s San Francisco office, with an almost exclusive focus on animal law matters, including litigation, legislative drafting and counseling, education, and private consultation. He has been active in animal law since 1992. He is a coeditor of the casebook Animal Law, and coauthor of A Worldview of Animal Law. He has been teaching Animal Law since 1996 and currently teaches on a rotating fashion at three Bay Area law schools. Bruce’s clients include numerous animal protection organizations as well as private individuals. He has worked on behalf of birds, cats, chickens, chimpanzees, cows, deer, dogs, dolphins, ducks, elephants, elk, gorillas, horses (domestic and wild), lions, mice, monkeys, pigs, sharks, turkeys, whales and wolves. The areas covered by his litigation/legislative practice have included the use of animals in entertainment, biomedical research, animal agriculture/food production, animal cruelty, animal shelters, private ownership, dog bites, animal custody, endangered species, wild horses, horse slaughter and biomedical research and wildlife control, as well as individualized cases involving injuries to, and caused by, animals. (Read more about Bruce's accomplishments for animals here.)
Sonia S. Waisman, Partner, McCloskey Waring & Waisman LLP
Sonia S. Waisman is engaged in general business litigation, focusing on complex insurance coverage cases. She has been national environmental coverage counsel for several large insurance companies and has served as liaison counsel in multi-billion dollar cases. Throughout her career, she has handled a wide array of litigated and non-litigated complex insurance coverage matters, including environmental, toxic tort (including mold), personal injury and advertising injury liability coverage, oil and gas, construction defect and bad faith, among other issues, under various types of policies. She has litigated in both state and federal courts throughout the country at the trial court and appellate levels, obtaining favorable judgments as well as achieving successful resolution through mediation. She has written several articles regarding insurance coverage law in professional journals, as well as annual updates for an environmental insurance coverage text. Ms. Waisman also is actively involved in the development of animal law.
• She co-authored the first animal law casebook, now in its fifth edition (Animal Law: Cases and Materials , Carolina Academic Press 2014). She also co-authored Animal Law in a Nutshell (West 2011) and has written several articles on the subject.
• She has been an Adjunct Professor of Animal Law at Loyola Law School (L.A.); created and developed the first animal law course at California Western School of Law in San Diego; and was a Visiting Law Professor at Vermont Law School.
• She is also actively involved in the National Animal Law Appellate Moot Court Competition held annually at Harvard Law School.
• Ms. Waisman also lectures and speaks at conferences on the subject of animal law. She has spoken at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon (15th Annual Animal Law Conference, Sept. 2007); New York University School of Law (Symposium, “Confronting the Barriers to the Court Room for Animal Advocates: Standing, Causes of Action and Cultural Transitions,” April 2006); and Yale Law School (“The Future of Animal Law” Conference, November 2004), to name a few.
• She was Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and has worked with that national non-profit organization and others in the development of a wide variety of issues related to animal law.
In addition to her law practice, Ms. Waisman served as Judge Pro Tem for the San Diego County Superior Court, Small Claims Division, until she relocated to Los Angeles in 2000. While in law school she was a judicial extern with the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District.
Ms. Waisman was a Partner in the Los Angeles office of Morrison & Foerster LLP before she joined Riedl, McCloskey & Waring LLP (now known as McCloskey, Waring & Waisman LLP) as Partner in the Los Angeles office November 1, 2008. She began her practice working with her current partner, Kathy Waring, in the San Diego office of Adams, Duque & Hazeltine, which later amalgamated into Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps. She joined Morrison & Foerster as Of Counsel in that firm's Los Angeles office in June 2000.
Ms. Waisman has received the highest rating (AV) from her peers.
Sonia S. Waisman is engaged in general business litigation, focusing on complex insurance coverage cases. She has been national environmental coverage counsel for several large insurance companies and has served as liaison counsel in multi-billion dollar cases. Throughout her career, she has handled a wide array of litigated and non-litigated complex insurance coverage matters, including environmental, toxic tort (including mold), personal injury and advertising injury liability coverage, oil and gas, construction defect and bad faith, among other issues, under various types of policies. She has litigated in both state and federal courts throughout the country at the trial court and appellate levels, obtaining favorable judgments as well as achieving successful resolution through mediation. She has written several articles regarding insurance coverage law in professional journals, as well as annual updates for an environmental insurance coverage text. Ms. Waisman also is actively involved in the development of animal law.
• She co-authored the first animal law casebook, now in its fifth edition (Animal Law: Cases and Materials , Carolina Academic Press 2014). She also co-authored Animal Law in a Nutshell (West 2011) and has written several articles on the subject.
• She has been an Adjunct Professor of Animal Law at Loyola Law School (L.A.); created and developed the first animal law course at California Western School of Law in San Diego; and was a Visiting Law Professor at Vermont Law School.
• She is also actively involved in the National Animal Law Appellate Moot Court Competition held annually at Harvard Law School.
• Ms. Waisman also lectures and speaks at conferences on the subject of animal law. She has spoken at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon (15th Annual Animal Law Conference, Sept. 2007); New York University School of Law (Symposium, “Confronting the Barriers to the Court Room for Animal Advocates: Standing, Causes of Action and Cultural Transitions,” April 2006); and Yale Law School (“The Future of Animal Law” Conference, November 2004), to name a few.
• She was Vice-Chair on the Board of Directors of the Animal Legal Defense Fund and has worked with that national non-profit organization and others in the development of a wide variety of issues related to animal law.
In addition to her law practice, Ms. Waisman served as Judge Pro Tem for the San Diego County Superior Court, Small Claims Division, until she relocated to Los Angeles in 2000. While in law school she was a judicial extern with the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District.
Ms. Waisman was a Partner in the Los Angeles office of Morrison & Foerster LLP before she joined Riedl, McCloskey & Waring LLP (now known as McCloskey, Waring & Waisman LLP) as Partner in the Los Angeles office November 1, 2008. She began her practice working with her current partner, Kathy Waring, in the San Diego office of Adams, Duque & Hazeltine, which later amalgamated into Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps. She joined Morrison & Foerster as Of Counsel in that firm's Los Angeles office in June 2000.
Ms. Waisman has received the highest rating (AV) from her peers.
Sepi Yagoobian, Associate Attorney, Manning Leaver Bruder & Berberich
Vice Chair Animal Law Guild Conference 2014
Sepi Yagoobian is excited to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Animal Law Guild Conference 2014. She is an attorney at the Los Angeles law firm of Manning Leaver Bruder & Berberich, focusing her practice on civil business litigation, appeals, insurance defense and class action litigation. Sepi is dedicated to animal welfare issues and is passionate about protecting animals through legal advocacy and education. Sepi is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and, in her spare time, volunteers with animal rescue organizations to promote pet adoptions.
Vice Chair Animal Law Guild Conference 2014
Sepi Yagoobian is excited to serve as the Vice-Chair of the Animal Law Guild Conference 2014. She is an attorney at the Los Angeles law firm of Manning Leaver Bruder & Berberich, focusing her practice on civil business litigation, appeals, insurance defense and class action litigation. Sepi is dedicated to animal welfare issues and is passionate about protecting animals through legal advocacy and education. Sepi is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee and, in her spare time, volunteers with animal rescue organizations to promote pet adoptions.