Animal Law

Barbara J. Gislason is a pioneer in the development of Animal Law as a practice area, both in Minnesota and nationally. In June 2003, she became the founding chair of the Animal Law Committee of the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), and a year later, the founding chair of the Animal Law Section. This is also the second time in her legal career that Gislason obtained section status for a new practice area. Minnesota was the sixth state in the country to achieve section status in Animal Law.

In January 2004, Gislason co-taught the first Animal Law course offered in Minnesota at Hamline University School of Law. Gislason then founded the Minnesota Common Law Project in Animal Law. During orientation week in August 2004, students from three law schools, under Gislason’s guidance, qualitatively interviewed 38 judges and referees in six counties. The information was used 1) to gain insight into the court’s current knowledge and understanding of this practice area, 2) to gather courtroom stories and experiences, and 3) to consider how courts are bridging the gaps between codified law and case law, in a rapidly changing field.

Gislason keynoted at the annual meeting for MN FRAC, the largest Agricultural Consortium in Minnesota, participated on a panel with renowned Professor Bernard Rollin at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Veterinary Association, and spoke about animal law at the MSBA’s Rural & Farm Institute. She gave a lecture on “Animal Law and the Livestock Industry” at the University of Minnesota Department of Animal Science in September 2004, and also the Edina Rotary Club. She chaired the Continuing Legal Education program called “Animal Law” at the annual MSBA Convention, and gave a speech on the Endangered Species Act. Gislason has also been a guest on a variety of radio shows, including Discovery Channel, American Public Radio, and the Pat Miles show. She has been quoted by news outlets around the country, including Animal Planet.com, and FoxNews.com, as well as newspapers affiliated with the Minneapolis StarTribune, where she was featured in a story.

On October 9, 2004, Gislason brought Animal Law to the American Bar Association (ABA). By unanimous vote, the Council for the ABA's prestigious Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section made Animal Law a committee and Gislason its first Chair. This is the only Animal Law Committee in the ABA and its scope is broad, ranging from equine, family, engangered species, and criminal law, to torts and insurance law. While Gislason served as Chair, the committee received two TIPS Innovation awards. She served as the editor-in-chief of the Animal Law Committee Newsletter and published articles in ABA TIPS' The Brief, Tort Source and Tort Trial & Insurance Law Journal and will be a contributor to an upcoming book.

When Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast in the fall of 2005, Gislason expanded her ABA efforts. She created and directed the ABA-TIPS Animal Disaster Relief Network, and created and convened the ABA- TIPS Select Legal Panel on Emergency Management Regarding Animals, which fast-tracked model language on hold periods. Gislason was appointed the ABA-TIPS Advisor to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) regarding the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act (UEVHPA). There, she was influential in having veterinarians included in the Act and drafted model language concerning them.

In 2006, Gislason spoke at the Humane Society of the United States on Animals in Disaster National Conference, the Virginia Animal Control Association Conference, the Michigan Animal Law Symposium, the Minnesota Animal Law Section Annual Conference, and the Lewis & Clark Animal Law Conference. In 2007, she spoke at a variety of venues including the Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, India, ALDF, the Harvard University Animal Law Conference, and the American Veterinary Medical Law Association (AVMLA) Annual Meeting. At the 2007 ABA Annual Meeting, she presented "Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act: Designing a Poison Pill For a Social Movement" as part of the TIPS Freedom of Speech symposium, which was a presidential selection for the Annual Meeting. She appears in producer/director Kim Walsh's documentry "Left Behind Withough a Choice," and was featured in the DVM News Magazine, the premier veterinary publication in the country, on the subject of veterinary malpractice.

Gislason serves on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Project Advisory Committee for the Regional Institute for Comminutiy Policing (RICP) Animal Rescue and Restore Project, and on the Animal Work Group for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security National Response Plan (NRP) revision. In 2007, she made the first in-house presentation on Animal Law for Thomson University, formerly known as West Publishing Company. In the presentation, she helped the lawyers and editors at the leading legal book publisher in the world understand the complexities and growth of Animal Law. Her presentation was re-broadcast to legal editors around the country. Her contribution to Animal Law was acknowledged in the New York Times and she has been featured in the ABA Journal, Minnesota Law & Politics, the Maddie's Fund Newsletter and the book Rescued: Saving Animals From Disaster. A contributor to the Animal Wise Radio program, and a guest on national radio shows in the U.S. and abroad, Dr. Phil McGraw called her "the top animal advocate in the country" on the Dr. Phil Show.

Gislason is actively involved in the practice of Animal Law in Minnesota and has a law office in Fridley, MN. She is an effective negotiator and a tenacious litigator. This practice area includes drafting agreements, disputes about ownership, harassment, land use, dangerous and exotic animals, deceptive trade practices, veterinary malpractice, defamation and injury to pets. She consults with lawyers from around the world.

Although less experienced attorneys may offer a free consultation, Gislason requires a reduced fee for the first half hour, and her hourly fee applies thereafter. Come prepared with questions, pertinent documents, and a chronological summary of events related to the primary areas of concern. This will result in a more efficient use of Ms. Gislason's time.

More information on Animal Law

7400 University Avenue NE
Fridley, MN 55432
Tel: 763.572.9297
Fax: 763.571.1576