Download the full agenda
Friday, March 12, 2027
Welcome Reception
The conference kicks off with an evening reception in Grand Ballroom I at the Portland Hilton Hotel in downtown Portland, OR. Conference attendees will receive their event badge before being treated to a fun evening of networking with fellow attendees while enjoying plant-based appetizers and drinks. The welcome reception will not be livestreamed.
All plenary sessions on Saturday will take place in Grand Ballroom I & II at the Portland Hilton Hotel in downtown Portland, OR, and will be livestreamed via the virtual event platform.
Saturday, March 13, 2027
Registration, Light Breakfast & Coffee
Animal Law in Academia
From the founding of the first Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapter and the Animal Law Review to today’s growing network of courses, clinics, and programs, this panel explores the evolution of animal law in legal education. Speakers will reflect on the field’s history, current landscape, and future opportunities for students and scholars.
Break
Who’s Left Standing?
Animal protection advocates continue to navigate evolving legal theories and shifting judicial landscapes as they confront the ongoing question of achieving legal standing in court in order to advocate for animals. This panel examines recent developments and Supreme Court decisions, and innovative litigation strategies for advancing animals’ interests.
Lunch
The Global Evolution of Animal Law
How are animal protection laws evolving around the world? Global perspectives, including from Australia and countries across Africa will explore the movement from traditional welfare frameworks toward stronger legal recognition of animals and their interests.
Break
Legal Challenges in Industrial Aquaculture
The farming and raising of aquatic animals such as fish, shellfish, and other marine species, is a rapidly expanding form of industrial animal agriculture. This panel examines the legal and animal welfare issues associated with intensive aquaculture operations, as well as emerging litigation and advocacy strategies challenging these practices.
Break
Empirical Social Science and Animal Law
How can empirical social science inform animal law? This panel explores how research on consumer understanding, along with other empirical tools, can help inform legal questions involving food labels and plant-based products. Speakers will highlight how this evidence-based approach can provide an additional avenue for supporting effective legal advocacy and advancing animal protection.
Break
Pre-banquet Reception
Banquet Dinner, Awards Ceremony, and Keynote Presentation
Join us Saturday evening in Grand Ballroom I & II for the banquet dinner, awards ceremony, and keynote presentation by Joyce Tischler, Founder, Animal Legal Defense Fund and Professor of Practice, Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School. The awards ceremony and keynote presentation will be livestreamed via the virtual event platform.
Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Joyce Tischler, Founder, Animal Legal Defense Fund; Professor of Practice, Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School
Leadership in Animal Protection Award presented to Robert Klonoff, Schnitzer Professor of Law & former Dean, Lewis & Clark Law School
Animals in Focus Media Award presented to Brandon Keim, Independent Journalist & Author, “Meet the Neighbors: Animal Minds and Life in a More-than-Human-World”
All sessions on Sunday will take place in Grand Ballroom I & II at Portland Hilton Hotel in downtown Portland, OR, and will be livestreamed via the virtual event platform. The conference concludes today at 1:30 p.m. PT.
Sunday, March 14, 2027
Light Breakfast & Coffee
Protecting Animals & People
Animal abuse and human violence are deeply interconnected, particularly in cases involving domestic and family violence. This panel examines animal-inclusive protection orders, pet-inclusive domestic violence shelters, and the impact of animal abuse on survivors.
Break
Holding Factory Farms Accountable
Industrial animal agriculture presents complex challenges that require advocates to use multiple legal strategies. Panelists will explore public records laws, litigation, and holistic legal advocacy as tools for increasing transparency, accountability, and protection for animals.
Break
The Use of Data in Animal Protection Advocacy
Data can reveal how animal protection laws operate in practice, and where they fall short. This panel explores the use of empirical and legal data to assess the impact of anti-cruelty laws, strengthen strategies for enforcement and reform, and improve advocacy efforts.