Schedule
March 17-18, 2026 Registration Details
The Comparative Animal Law Postgraduate Workshop is a free two-day virtual event. Please note that each day uses a separate link. The full schedule (in London time) is below.
- To attend on Day 1 (no preregistration is required), hosted by the University of Timișoara, Romania, join via Google Meet with this link.
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To register and receive the link for Day 2, hosted by the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School via Zoom, visit this link.
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 - Hosted by University of Timisoara
10:00-10:10am (London: GMT)
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks by Alexandra Mercescu, Assistant Professor at the West University of Timisoara (Romania)
10:10-10:40am (London: GMT)
Presentation by Victoria Vercruysse (France), CEU Cardinal Herrera University, Spain
“From Moral Status to Legal Status: Philosophy as a Framework for Animal Law”
Discussant: Shreya Padukone, Head of Programs of the Animal Law Centre at NALSAR University of Law (India)
10:40am-11:00am (London: GMT)
BREAK
11:00-11:30am (London: GMT)
Presentation by Mariam Sawan (Italy/France), Nantes Université, France and Università degli studi dell’Insubria, Italy
“Sentience and Legal Status of Companion Animals in Italy and France”
Discussant: Olivier Le Bot, Professor of Public Law, Aix-Marseille University (France)
11:30am-11:45am (London: GMT)
BREAK
11:45am-12:15pm (London: GMT)
Presentation by Yarí Elisa Cruz Ríos (Puerto Rico), University of Puerto Rico
“Recognizing Animal Sentience: Challenges and Opportunities in Caribbean Legislation”
Discussant: Alexandra Mercescu, Assistant Professor at the West University of Timisoara (Romania)
12:15pm-12:45pm (London: GMT)
BREAK
12:45-1:15pm (London: GMT)
Presentation by Anne Bedford (United States), Indiana University Maurer School of Law, United States
“Bridging the Gap between Sentience Declarations and Meaningful Reforms for Animals: The Animal Protection Agency Approach”
Discussant: David Bilchitz, Professor of Law, University of Johannesburg (South Africa) and University of Reading (United Kingdom)
1:20-1:50pm (London: GMT)
Presentation by Tushti Chopra (India), NALSAR University of Law, India
“Intersection of Human Violence and Animal Abuse: A Legal Study from India in Comparison with UK and USA”
Discussant: Megan Senatori, Executive Director, Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School (United States)
1:55-2:25pm (London: GMT)
Presentation by Sabrina Hilali (Bangladesh), NALSAR University of Law, India
“Cruelty Without Conviction: Evidence Law, Municipal Power and Animal Protection in Bangladesh and India”
Discussant: David Bilchitz, Professor of Law, University of Reading (United Kingdom)
2:25-2:30pm (London: GMT)
Closing Remarks by Shreya Padukone, Head of Programs of the Animal Law Centre at NALSAR University of Law (India)
Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 - Hosted by CALS via Zoom
4:00-4:40pm (London: GMT)
Welcome and Opening Keynote Presentation
Opening Remarks by Rajesh K. Reddy, Assistant Professor of Law and Animal Law Program Director, Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School (United States)
Keynote Presentation by Geoffrey Samuel, Professor Emeritus, Kent Law School (United Kingdom), “How Should a Comparative Lawyer Engage With Animal Law?”
Discussant: Alexandra Mercescu, Assistant Professor at the West University of Timisoara (Romania)
4:45-5:15pm (London: GMT)
Presentation by Bengisu Koşarhan (Turkey), Central European University, Austria
“Immunity, Community, and the Governance of Street Animals: A Comparative Biopolitical Analysis of Animal Law”
Discussant: Rajesh K. Reddy, Assistant Professor of Law and Animal Law Program Director, Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School (United States)
5:15-5:30pm (London: GMT)
BREAK
5:30-7:00pm (London: GMT)
Roundtable Discussion with Paula Cardoso, General Counsel, Mercy for Animals (Brazil); Gauri Maulekhi, Trustee, People for Animals India (India); and Valeria Picazo Zamarripa, Veterinarian & MSL in Animal Law (Mexico)
Panel Discussion: Strategic Litigation Against Global Industrial Animal Agriculture
Discussant: Hira Jaleel, Visiting Assistant Professor, Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School (United States)
7:00-7:15pm (London: GMT)
BREAK
7:15-7:45pm (London: GMT)
Presentation by Giulia Bianchessi (Italy), University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy
“The Legal Position of Animals in Global Supply Chains: A Comparative Analysis of Corporate Regulation Frameworks and Their Limitations”
Discussant: Olivier Le Bot, Professor of Public Law, Aix-Marseille University (France)
7:50-8:20pm (London: GMT)
Presentation by Savannah Sherman (United States), Lewis & Clark Law School, United States
“The Animal Welfare Act: What the United States can Learn from New Zealand”
Discussant: Bianka Atlas, Animal Law LLM (’20, New Zealand), Lewis & Clark Law School (United States)
8:25-8:55pm (London: GMT)
Presentation by Taylor J. Black & M. Tyanne Benallie (United States), University of New Mexico School of Law, United States
“Reservation Dogs & Roaming Horses on the Navajo Nation: Legal & Policy Perspectives from University of New Mexico Law Students”
Discussant: Kaitilyn Bestor, Animal Law Teaching Fellow, Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School (United States)
8:55-9:00pm (London: GMT)
Closing Remarks by Megan Senatori, Executive Director, Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School (United States)
