Kristina Bergsten

Kristina Bergsten is an attorney and the founder and owner of The Animal Law Firm, a practice dedicated exclusively to representing pets and their owners. Bergsten graduated from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and began her legal career in Pennsylvania, where she worked on a federal lawsuit involving the shooting death of a dog by State Police. She started practicing animal law in Philadelphia before relocating to Colorado. Her firm expanded to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, establishing itself as the first national law firm focused on animal law and pet representation. With more than a decade of exclusive experience in animal law, Bergsten has developed a practice centered on pet custody disputes, dog bite defense, service animal and emotional support animal representation, breeder contract disputes, puppy lemon law violations, veterinary malpractice, shelter and rescue representation, agister liens, and equestrian contracts. Her clients have included a wide range of animals, such as horses, snakes, sheep, goats, llamas, chickens, pigs, dogs, and cats.

Bergsten is a graduate of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Leaders program and the Colorado Bar Association Leadership Training program. She serves on the Board of Directors for Colorado Voters for Animals and is an active member of the Colorado and Denver Bar Associations, the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar Associations, the New Jersey Trial Lawyers Association, and the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association. She has been recognized as a Colorado Super Lawyers Rising Star Honoree and a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers Rising Star Honoree. Bergsten has also appeared on the cover of EliteX Magazine's "Prominent Women in the Legal World."

Bergsten is a keynote speaker and industry expert on animal law, service animal compliance, pet custody, and veterinary malpractice. She has presented at the Association for Professional Dog Trainers Conference and has been featured in media outlets including American Bar Association Journal, CBS Colorado, and People Magazine. Bergsten has been a guest on podcasts such as "All My Children Wear Fur Coats" and "Show up with Sarah," and hosts her own podcast, "Fighting for the Underdog," which she writes, directs, and produces.

Bergsten has spoken about overcoming personal adversity during law school while living as a domestic violence victim, an experience that shaped her resilience and commitment to animal welfare. As a vegan, her advocacy for animal rights extends beyond her legal practice. Bergsten and her team work to advance animal law and improve the legal landscape for animals and their owners.