Robyn holds a BA in Physics from Duke University and a JD from Harvard Law School, both earned with honors. She practiced as a tax attorney for ten years at Morrison & Foerster in the Bay Area, where she counseled multinational corporate clients on complex state tax issues and assisted with cases involving constitutional implications at the California and U.S. Supreme Courts.
After taking a hiatus to raise her family, Robyn returned to the legal field to pursue her lifelong passion for animal advocacy. She spent an incredible year attending in-person animal law classes at the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School, earning her LLM summa cum laude. Her work during this time led to the publication of her article on the ritual slaughter exemption in the Journal of Animal and Environmental Lawand inspired her to establish Compassion Unchained, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the interests of animals. She also externed with the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Criminal Justice Program, where she researched and drafted materials on anti-cruelty laws and proposed state legislation, and developed a resource document for prosecutors on corporate liability for employee animal abuse.
Since obtaining her LLM, Robyn has advanced the interests of animals by organizing community screenings of factory farming documentaries, overseeing Animal Law externs, and working to develop a spay/neuter program for her local community. Robyn also serves as a Vice Chair of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee, Humane Policy Volunteer Leader with the Humane Society of the United States, pro bono attorney with the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Hotline Operator for the Chintimini Wildlife Center. Robyn continues to leverage her legal training and experience to protect animals and defend their rights.