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December 2008 |
SPOTLIGHT ON... In the furtherance of our enthusiastic commitment to serving the charities we assist, Schiff Hardin's Tax-Exempt Organizations practice is proud to present our Philanthropic Spotlight. Each month, we will turn over the microphone to one of the many organizations we work with so that you can learn about some wonderful work that is being done to make the world a better place. With that, we are proud to introduce you to The Animal Legal Defense Fund.
As far as the law is concerned, the situation for animals in this country is dire. And that's what makes ALDF's unique focus on the law so important. The Animal Legal Defense Fund's mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. We know that lasting change can only come when the law reflects what most of us already believe to be true — that abusing an animal is wrong. A nonprofit organization formed by a handful of attorneys in 1979, the Animal Legal Defense Fund is active in shaping the emerging field of animal law and leading the charge for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more compassionate treatment of animals in every corner of American life. We've filed suit against large federal bureaucracies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure they uphold their duty to protect animals; drafted historic animal protection laws, from tough state anti-cruelty statutes to international treaties protecting endangered species; and worked long hours to get neglected and exploited animals out of the hands of their abusers. Today, ALDF's groundbreaking efforts to push the legal system to end the suffering of abused animals are supported by hundreds of dedicated attorneys and more than 100,000 members. Bruce Wagman, a partner in Schiff Hardin's San Francisco office and head of the firm's Animal Law practice group, serves as Chief Outside Litigation Counsel for ALDF. In this role he helps to oversee and devise ALDF's nationwide animal protection litigation program. Meet Our Clients...The Animal Legal Defense Fund is hard at work pushing the boundaries of the law to help ensure the lives and interests of animals everywhere are protected — from assisting with small town cruelty cases to filing suit against the federal government. We may be the only lawyers on Earth whose clients are all innocent.
Watch a short video about the Animal Legal Defense Fund. For more information on how to get involved, visit www.aldf.org. RECENT PUBLICATIONS
ABOUT SCHIFF HARDIN LLP Schiff Hardin LLP is enthusiastically committed to serving the legal needs of tax-exempt organizations, matched by significant experience and practice capabilities in this area. Our attorneys provide comprehensive counsel to a wide array of public and private philanthropic, health care, medical and scientific research, housing, neighborhood redevelopment, cultural, artistic, civic, college and educational, and religious organizations, as well as social welfare organizations, trade associations and business leagues, business and housing cooperatives, and professional fundraisers.  |
As the holidays approach, many of us look forward to time spent gathered with our families — including, for many, our dogs, cats, and the other animals who share our homes with us. Do you think the laws that protect our families, neighbors, and friends from violence and abuse also protect our four-legged loved ones? Think again: