Biography
Robyn Pekala is a Professor of Practice at the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she teaches the Animal Law Clinic. Her work focuses on animal law and animal protection, with particular emphasis on animal cruelty proceedings, legislative reform, and the role of legal institutions in shaping outcomes for animals.
Her work spans litigation, policy, and legislative advocacy. She has contributed to a wide range of animal related matters through legal research, analysis, and briefing, supporting animal protection cases across multiple areas of law. She is also engaged in legislative and policy initiatives addressing gaps in existing frameworks, such as revising local dangerous dog ordinances and advancing court involvement in animal cases, including work to establish a Courtroom Animal Advocacy Program (CAAP) in Oregon.
Beyond her work at CALS, Professor Pekala will service as Co-Chair of the Crimes Against Animals Subcommittee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (2026–2027). She currently served as Vice Chair of Administration and Recordkeeping for the Animal Law Committee (2025–2026) and has been active in related subcommittees.
Prior to focusing her work on animal law, Professor Pekala practiced state and local tax law for nearly a decade at Morrison & Foerster in the San Francisco Bay Area. She counseled multinational corporate clients on complex state tax matters, represented clients before administrative agencies and appellate courts, and worked on cases involving constitutional issues before the California and United States Supreme Courts. She also testified before the California Senate and Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committees and published and presented on California tax issues.
Specialty Areas and Course Descriptions
- Animal Law
- Animal Law Clinic
- Animal Law and Criminal Enforcement
- Animal Law and Civil Remedies
Academic Credentials
- LLM in Animal Law, Lewis & Clark Law School (summa cum laude)
- JD, Harvard Law School (cum laude)
- BA in Physics, Duke University (magna cum laude)
Bibliography
- Bridging Species: Legal and Ethical Implications of AI-Assisted Animal Communication, The Brief, Winter 2025, at 32.
- Maintaining the Ritual Slaughter Exemption: Achieving Balance Between Religious Freedom and Animal Welfare by Strengthening the Regulation of Pre-slaughter Handling, 16 Journal of Animal & Environmental Law 26 (2025).
- The Ramsar Convention and Animal Agriculture: An Introductory Guide to the Issues and Opportunities, Global Alliance for Animals and the Environment (Apr. 2024) (contributor).