WHO WE ARE
A Law Firm Built for Animal-Related Matters That Deserve Serious, Thoughtful Advocacy.
Thompson Animal Law is a dedicated animal law firm representing people, families, nonprofit organizations, and mission-driven businesses in legal matters involving animals. Our work is grounded in careful legal analysis, personal attention, and a clear understanding that these cases are often emotionally difficult as well as legally complex. We help clients navigate disputes involving veterinary malpractice, harm caused by pet care providers, dangerous dog proceedings, animal custody issues, shelter reform, and support for nonprofit and animal-focused organizations.
FIRM OVERVIEW
Thompson Animal Law is a dedicated animal law firm representing people, families, nonprofit organizations, and mission-driven businesses in legal matters involving animals. Our work is grounded in careful legal analysis, personal attention, and a clear understanding that these cases are often emotionally difficult as well as legally complex. We help clients navigate disputes involving veterinary malpractice, harm caused by pet care providers, dangerous dog proceedings, animal custody issues, shelter reform, and support for nonprofit and animal-focused organizations.
Our firm represents clients in civil litigation, administrative proceedings, family court, and custody-related disputes involving animal welfare and protection. We also support nonprofits and animal-friendly businesses with practical legal guidance designed to help strong missions operate on stronger legal footing. Across each matter, our goal is the same: to provide clear, strategic advocacy shaped around your situation, your concerns, and the needs of the animals involved.
MEET OUR FOUNDER
Sarah Thompson
Sarah Thompson is the founder of Thompson Animal Law and a nationally recognized advocate for animals and their guardians. She brings more than a decade of legal experience to her practice, along with a career-long commitment to animal welfare in litigation, teaching, writing, and public service.
Before founding Thompson Animal Law, Sarah served as a partner at Ryther Law Group, LLP, where she acted as lead counsel on more than 200 cases and helped grow and manage the firm's caseload of more than 150 clients. Her work has included veterinary malpractice claims (including a successful jury trial obtaining emotional distress and punitive damages), tort matters involving boarders, trainers, and groomers, dangerous dog and dog bite defense, shelter reform, nonprofit representation, and pet custody disputes, including matters intersecting with family law and domestic violence concerns.
Sarah has been named a Southern California Rising Star by Super Lawyers for seven consecutive years, from 2020 through 2026. She also serves as Adjunct Faculty at the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School, where she teaches Animal Law Trial Advocacy, and she has taught Legal Drafting at the University of San Francisco School of Law.
Her broader work in the field includes publishing and speaking on topics such as pet custody, farmed animal issues, wildlife protection, and animal rights. Sarah also serves in leadership roles within the legal community, including the American Bar Association’s Getting Started in Animal Law Task Force and the Los Angeles County Bar Association Animal Law Section, where she co-chairs the Farmed Animal Law Committee (about which she cares deeply, being vegan). In addition, she is the Co-Founder and President of Red Wolf Rescue, reflecting the firm’s broader commitment to strengthening protections for animals, including wolves and wolf dogs–a particularly personal passion as the mom of three rescue wolf dogs.
LLM in Animal Law, Lewis & Clark Law School, 2025, summa cum laude
JD, University of San Francisco School of Law, 2015, with honors, Public Law Certificate, and five CALI Awards
OF COUNSEL
Diane A. Thompson
Diane A. Thompson brings over 35 years of elite legal and corporate executive experience to her role as Of Counsel, offering Thompson Animal Law’s clients unparalleled sophistication in business and regulatory matters. An accomplished tax attorney, former big-law firm partner, and Fortune 500 corporate Senior Vice President, Diane has spent her career advising public, private, and non-profit organizations across multiple industries. Her extensive background includes acting as a court appointed received/CEO of a large pension services company, handling high-stakes IRS and Department of Labor audits, and teaching as an Adjunct Professor in the Masters of Tax program at California State University, Fullerton.
At Thompson Animal Law, Diane leverages this deep expertise to provide comprehensive corporate support tailored specifically to the needs of animal-friendly businesses. She provides strategic guidance across all aspects of general business issues, contract review, tax implications, executive compensation, and employee benefits—including the design and administration of incentive plans and qualified retirement or health programs. Whether your animal organization is navigating everyday corporate compliance, negotiating executive hiring and severance agreements, or structuring foundational tax and benefit frameworks, Diane’s seasoned guidance ensures your operation is legally sound, protected, and fully optimized to thrive.
JD, Loyola Law School, 1987
MA, Public Administration, California State University, Long Beach, 1980
BA, Political Science, California State University, Long Beach, 1977
GET IN TOUCH
Ready to Discuss
Your Situation
Whether you are a pet owner facing a custody dispute, a family confronting veterinary malpractice, or a nonprofit seeking counsel, our team is ready to listen and help you understand your options.