Highlights & Reflections

Held October 12–14, 2018, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, the conference welcomed 373 registrants for three days of education, discussion, and connection. The program explored the rapidly evolving field of farmed animal law and spotlighted the many fronts—legal, political, environmental, cultural—on which progress is accelerating.

The weekend opened Friday evening with a warm welcome reception, providing attendees an opportunity to reconnect and build community over plant-based appetizers and drinks. Welcoming remarks from Pamela Frasch of the Center for Animal Law Studies and Stephen Wells of the Animal Legal Defense Fund set the tone for an engaging event.

The opening keynote, Imagining Our Vegan Future, was delivered by Seth Tibbott, founder of The Tofurky Company, who offered an inspiring look at the past, present, and future of vegan culture and innovation.

Saturday’s full day of programming focused on a wide range of issues confronting farmed animals and those working to protect them. The morning began with a grounding session on the realities faced by farmed animals in industrial agriculture, followed by a panel examining emerging legal strategies designed to increase industry transparency and accountability through litigation, legislation, and criminal prosecutions.

Afternoon panels expanded the conversation to the broader impacts of factory farming—on the environment, human health, workers, and communities—and highlighted the fast-growing landscape of plant-based food innovation and the legal and policy questions that accompany it. An ethics session offered guidance tailored to attorneys working in the animal law space.

Saturday evening featured the conference banquet dinner and keynote presentation, Seeing the Victims and Survivors of the Anthropocene, delivered by acclaimed photojournalist, author, and educator Jo-Anne McArthur of We Animals. Through powerful storytelling and imagery drawn from her work documenting animals across nearly 60 countries, McArthur illuminated both the suffering and the resilience of the animals most often hidden from public view. The keynote was followed by a well-attended book signing.

Sunday’s programming continued with a strong focus on movement-building and emerging issues. Sessions addressed diversity in the animal law field, lesser-known forms of intensive confinement affecting species beyond traditional farmed animals, and the growing use of criminal anti-cruelty statutes to protect farmed animals. Additional panels explored global perspectives on factory farming and debated the strategic paths of reduction versus replacement in the shift away from animal-based food systems. Closing remarks brought the weekend to an uplifting close.

What stood out throughout the 2018 conference was the shared commitment to advancing justice for farmed animals through rigorous legal analysis, innovative strategy, and inclusive community collaboration.

If you were unable to attend the 2018 Animal Law Conference, you can revisit the weekend’s insights and discussions through our available session recordings.