National Animal Law Leader And Respected Pioneer

An important and emerging new legal field, animal law includes all types of legal actions involving the rights, protection, and welfare of animals, as well as long-established commercial interests. Barbara J. Gislason is recognized nationwide and globally as an animal law pioneer and visionary. Her groundbreaking work has included the creation of animal law committees in both national and state lawyer bar associations, and the drafting and passing of laws, model laws, and guidelines pertaining to animals.

Following Hurricane Katrina, Barbara founded and led the American Bar Association (ABA) Animal Disaster Relief Network, which included participants from more than 70 nonprofits, law schools, and businesses. She wrote regularly published reports and created and convened the ABA-TIPS Select Legal Panel on Emergency Management Regarding Animals.

Handling All Legal Matters Affecting Animals

For more than 10 years, Barbara has been dedicated to working with individuals, families, corporations, and governmental entities on a broad range of animal-related issues. She provides legal advice and counsel to clients regarding transactional and litigated matters, including those that go to mediation, such as:

Whether representing a client in a dangerous dog proceeding or a contractual dispute over a pet adoption, Barbara continuously challenges the existing laws, as well as the beliefs and assumptions of judges and lawyers. She strives to develop new laws and doctrines so that pets can have their own statute within property law and show that they belong in a classification somewhere between property law and child custody disputes, given their unique place in the American family. She believes that animals have civil rights and are entitled to due process.

History and Achievements in Animal Law

Barbara Gislason was the founding chair of the Animal Law Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) and the MSBA Animal Law Section . Minnesota was the sixth state in the country to achieve section status in animal law. Section status has the effect of both demonstrating acceptance and mainstreaming a practice area within the legal profession.

To learn more about Barbara’s pioneering efforts and achievements in the area of animal law, please review her animal law testimonials, animal law accomplishments, and public policy achievements.

Barbara has authored and contributed to numerous publications on the topic of animal law. She wrote a book on this subject for the American Bar Association’s Section of Family Law entitled Pet Law and Custody: Establishing a Worthy and Equitable Jurisprudence for the Evolving Family. The book explores the cultural role of animals in our lives, asks important questions regarding our treatment of animals, and discusses how the law should be applied in a manner that is in the best interests of both humans and animals.

Barbara is passionate about all matters involving animals and would be happy to meet with you to discuss your legal issue concerning any pet or animal.

Contact Barbara J. Gislason for any Animal-Related Legal Matter

To arrange a consultation with one of the country’s leading animal law attorneys in Minneapolis, call the Law Office of Barbara J. Gislason at 763-220-2983 or email the firm to arrange a consultation. The firm serves clients statewide, including in Anoka County, Hennepin County and Ramsey County.