Robyn Pekala is a professor of practice at the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she co-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. She is engaged in legislative and policy efforts addressing gaps in existing legal frameworks, including reforms to local animal protection laws and efforts to establish a Courtroom Animal Advocacy Program (CAAP) in Oregon, and has written on emerging issues in animal law, including the legal implications of artificial intelligence and animal communication. In addition to her work at CALS, she serves as co-chair of the crimes against animals subcommittee of the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section’s Animal Law Committee. After a career practicing corporate tax law, Professor Pekala earned an LL.M. in animal law, summa cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School and transitioned her practice to animal law. She also holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in physics from Duke University.