About us
Animalia Law is a specialist legal charity advancing thoughtful, evidence-based approaches to animal law. We work with governments, NGOs, institutions, and researchers in New Zealand and globally.
Working at the intersection of law, policy, and public interest, we support the development of legal frameworks that respond to complex, cross-cutting challenges affecting animals globally.
Our work reflects the interconnected nature of animal welfare, human rights, and environmental protection, bringing integrated legal thinking to provide clear and practical insight. Guided by independence, integrity, and a public benefit purpose, we contribute through research, advisory work, and collaboration to achieve better decision-making and more effective legal outcomes for animals and the communities connected to them.
Animalia Law was established in September 2024 and was registered as a charity in July 2025.
Mission, vision and values
Mission
Animalia Law’s mission is to improve legal protections and outcomes for animals through rigorous research, evidence-based advocacy, and strategic law and policy reform, prioritising neglected areas where legal change can make the greatest difference.
Vision
Our vision is a legal system that recognises animals as sentient beings, respects their interests, and provides meaningful protection for all animals, especially those most often overlooked.
Values
Rigour
We apply high standards of legal analysis and reasoning. Our work is grounded in evidence, informed by interdisciplinary research, and designed to withstand scrutiny in legal and policy contexts.
Impact
We focus our efforts where law and policy can deliver meaningful, lasting improvements for animals - particularly where the scale of harm is significant, issues are neglected, and there is a credible opportunity for change.
Integrity
We act independently, transparently, and consistently with our mission. Our positions are grounded in evidence, careful analysis, and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for animals.
Clarity
We make complex legal, policy, and scientific issues understandable and accessible, helping policymakers, organisations, advocates, and the public make informed decisions.
Collaboration
We work across disciplines, sectors, and jurisdictions, recognising that durable legal and policy change is strengthened by diverse expertise, shared knowledge, and collective effort.
Interconnection
We recognise that animal welfare, human well-being, and environmental systems are interconnected. We consider these relationships in developing thoughtful, coherent, and sustainable legal and policy approaches.
Governance
Animalia Law is governed to uphold its charitable purpose, ensuring independent decision-making, transparency, and accountability.
Our team
Bianka Atlas
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bianka Atlas is the founder of Animalia Law and a New Zealand-qualified lawyer with more than 15 years’ experience across law, policy, advocacy, and the non-profit sector. Her work focuses on strengthening legal protections for animals, particularly aquatic animals, neglected species and issues, and gaps in existing legal frameworks.
Bianka holds a Master of Laws (Hons) in Animal Law from Lewis & Clark Law School (USA), where she was a Brooks Institute for Animal Rights Law and Policy International Scholar. She also holds a Master of Science from the University of Edinburgh, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Auckland, and a Certificate in Animal Welfare Investigations.
Her professional experience spans government, international and non-profit organisations, encompassing legal research, regulatory policy, strategic advocacy, campaign management, and governance. She has published and presented internationally on animal law issues, including aquatic animal protection, international wildlife law, and the intersection of animal abuse and family violence.
Drawing on her background in animal law, human rights and interdisciplinary research, Bianka combines rigorous legal analysis with practical advocacy and policy engagement to advance meaningful and lasting improvements in animal protection.
Our role within the broader landscape
Animalia Law complements the work of advocacy organisations by focusing specifically on legal and policy analysis.
Our approach is characterised by:
a primary focus on law and regulatory systems
attention to neglected, high-impact areas
an emphasis on evidence-based, tractable reform
This focus enables us to contribute specialised expertise to areas that are critical, but often under-resourced.
Structural gaps in legal protection
Legal frameworks play a critical role in shaping how animals are treated. However, existing systems in New Zealand and globally do not adequately reflect current scientific understanding or the scale of animal use.
Scale without visibility
Large numbers of animals, particularly aquatic species and invertebrates, are regulated in aggregate (e.g. by weight), obscuring individual welfare considerations.
Regulatory limitations
Legislation such as New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act 1999 relies on delegated standards that are incomplete or permissive in practice.
Lag between science and law
Advances in scientific understanding of sentience and welfare needs are not consistently reflected in legal standards.
Fragmented governance
Animal welfare, fisheries, conservation, and trade regimes often operate in silos, leading to gaps and inconsistencies in protection.
Addressing these gaps requires targeted, legally grounded intervention.
A focused, evidence-based approach
Animalia Law applies legal expertise to identify and advance reforms that are both tractable and high-impact. Our work also supports improved accountability, informed decision-making, and the development of animal law as a field in New Zealand and globally.
Core pillars:
01
Legal and regulatory analysis
We assess legislation, delegated instruments, and decision-making processes to identify gaps, inconsistencies, and opportunities for reform.
02
Science-to-law translation
We synthesise interdisciplinary evidence and translate it into legally relevant frameworks and standards.
03
Strategic focus on neglected areas
We prioritise species and issues that are under-represented in law and policy but significant in scale and impact.
Intended outcomes:
Our work is directed toward strengthening the effectiveness, coherence, and scope of legal protection for animals.
Improved legal standards
More robust and scientifically informed regulatory frameworks.
Reduced protection gaps
Greater inclusion of neglected species and issues within legal regimes.
Enhanced decision-making
Policy actors equipped with clear, evidence-based legal analysis.
Stronger accountability mechanisms
Increased scrutiny of regulatory processes and outcomes.
Capacity building
Growth of legal expertise and engagement in animal law and policy.
Our supporters
Animalia Law is grateful for the support of a number of individuals and organisations, including:
