Barbara J. Gislason
Top rated Family Law attorney in Fridley, Minnesota
Law Office of Barbara J. Gislason
Practice areas: Family Law, Animal Law, Entertainment & Sports; view more
Licensed in Minnesota since: 1980
Education: William Mitchell College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 1994, 1996 - 2002, 2006 - 2009 Call today:
763-220-2983
Law Office of Barbara J. Gislason
7362 University Avenue NE, Suite 120Fridley, MN 55432 Visit website
Barbara Gislason is a Minnesota-based Family Law and Animal Law attorney with a nationally and internationally distinguished practice. Serving clients throughout the Twin Cities metro and beyond, she represents individuals and families in complex Family Law matters, including divorce, custody, property disputes, and pet custody issues at the forefront of modern Family Law.
A third-generation lawyer, Ms. Gislason is widely recognized as one of the founders of Animal Law in the United States and Europe. She authored the American Bar Association’s legal standard, Pet Law and Custody: Establishing a Worthy and Equitable Jurisprudence for the Evolving Family, which has shaped how courts, lawyers, and policymakers address companion animals in Family Law disputes.
Ms. Gislason is known for her ability to combine high-level legal analysis, courtroom advocacy, and strategic negotiation, particularly in cases involving emotionally charged and legally novel issues. Her practice also includes Art and Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property Law, allowing her to serve clients with complex assets, creative industries, and cross-disciplinary concerns.
Her work has been recognized by the Minnesota State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Bar Fellows. Internationally, she has received two Presidential Medals from the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), a leading global bar association, where she has also served in senior leadership roles.
Ms. Gislason is admitted to practice in Minnesota state courts, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. She has been named a Top Family Law Attorney and a Leading American Attorney in Family Law and Animal Law.
Practice areas
Family Law, Animal Law, Entertainment & Sports, Estate Planning & Probate, Intellectual PropertyFocus areas
Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Domestic Violence, Entertainment, Sports & Leisure Law, Estate Planning, Father's Rights, Intellectual Property Law, Marital Property, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law
- 60% Family Law
- 10% Animal Law
- 10% Entertainment & Sports
- 10% Estate Planning & Probate
- 10% Intellectual Property
First Admitted: 1980, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: https://www.gislason-law.com/attorney/barbara-j-gislason/
Bar / Professional Activity
- American Bar Association
- American Bar Association (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Section (IPLS), Past Chair, Section Task Force Regarding Comments for China's Anti-Monopoly Policy
- Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA), Council of American Bar Association (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Section 2015-2020
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Past State Chair, Law Day
- Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA), Past Chair, International Committee
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Past Symposium Chair, MSBA Bar Media Committee
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1980
- American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Family Law:
- American Bar Association (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Section (IPLS), Chair, ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Division IV
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Founding Chair, Animal Law Committee
- Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), President of U.S. Delegation to the Paris-based Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA)
- American Bar Association (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Section (IPLS), Liaison to Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA)
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), ABA Advisor to Uniform Law Commission Regarding Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act
- Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), Chair and Moderator of The Right to Medical Treatment Program at 56th Congress
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Past Chair, Family Law Section Blue Ribbon Panel on Rules of Professional Conduct
- Minnesota, 1980
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Past Member, MSBA Assembly & Legislative Committee
- Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA), Past Chair, Copyright Committee
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Past Executive Committee, MSBA Computer Law Section
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1983
- Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), Course Chair for Seminar in Budapest, Hungary in 2014
- American Bar Association (ABA), Past Liaison, ABA Special Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Host, Emergency Management Podcasts for Legal TIPS
- American Bar Association (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Section (IPLS), Past Chair, Insurance and Risk Management Committee
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Section Liaison to Uniform Law Commission
- Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), Liaison from ABA Intellectual Property Law Section
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Past Legislative Committee Member, MSBA Family Law Section
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Past Liaison, ABA Special Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Past Chair, MSBA Bar Admissions Committee
- Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA), Representative to State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO/US Bar Liaison Council)
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Founding Chair, MSBA Art & Entertainment Law Section
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1998
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Founding Chair, MSBA Animal Law Committee & Section
- American Bar Association (ABA), Past Chair, ABA Emergency Management in Family Law Task Force
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Past Chair, ABA Animal Disaster Relief Network
- American Bar Association (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Section (IPLS), Past Vice Chair, ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Division VI
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Past Chair, ABA TIPS Intellectual Property Law Committee
- Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA), President of Biotechnology Law Working Group
- American Bar Association (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Section (IPLS), Past Co-Chair, Section Task Force on Reverse Payments
- American Bar Association (ABA) Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), Member, Book Publishing Board
Pro bono / Community Service
- Minnesota Film Arts Board of Directors
- Hubert Humphrey (Fulbright) Fellows Host
- U.S. Department of Justice Advisory Panel
- American Bar Foundation
- Minnesota Icelandic Association President
- Minnesota State Arts Board Advisory Panel
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisor
- Alexandra House for Battered Women Legal Panel
- Shakespeare Book Club
- Minnesota Opera Association Board of Directors
- Minnesota Animal Disaster Coalition
- Neighborhood Justice Board of Directors
- Super Lawyer
Educational Background
- Carleton College, Northfield, MN, B.A., 1974
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Presented Paper called Human Hybrids and Chimeras: Exploring the Implications of Biobanks and Pluripotent Cells With Regard to Species Integrity and National Security at 55th Congress, Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA)
- Presented Paper called The Future of the Mind in Law and Science at 57th Congress, Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA)
- Pet Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Presenter, Section Spring Meeting, American Bar Association (ABA)
- Pet Law and Pet Custody Disputes: A New Practice Area Unfolds, for American Bar Association Book Publishing (publication pending)
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Quoted in "Posthumous Pet Care Catching On: Animal Lovers Find Alternatives to Trusts," by Amy Forliti, Associated Press
- Quoted in "Taylors Falls Council Allows Resident to House Dangerous Dog," Chicago County Press
- Profiled in the article "One Person Can Make a Difference," No Kill Nation: Maddie's Fund Newsletter
- Featured in Rescued: Saving Animals From Disaster by Allen and Linda Anderson
- Quoted in "New Breed of Lawyer Gives Every Dog His Day in Court," by Warren St. John, Sunday Styles Section, New York Times
- Quoted in "The Attraction of Animal Law," by Michelle Lore, Minnesota Lawyer
- Guest on a variety of radio shows in the U.S. and abroad, including: Discovery Channel, American Public Radio, Australian Public Radio, Pat Miles Show, and Animal Wise Radio
- Quoted in "Dangerous Dog Allowed Back in Taylors Falls," Standard Press Newspaper
- Featured in "Pet Project: New ABA Committee on Animal Law Focuses on Post Katrina Rescue Efforts," ABA Journal, 2005
- Quoted in "Animal Law Comes Into Its Own," by Patricia Collier, Animal Planet News
- Quoted in "Speaking up for Animals: Lawyers Organize a Network for Better Management and Protection of Companion Animals in Disaster Situations," by Bliss Foster, Bark: The Modern Dog Culture Magazine
- Quoted in "Splitting Couples Snarl Over Furry Friends," by Catherine Donaldson-Evans, Fox News
- Quoted in "Dubbed Dangerous Dog Returned to Owner," Inter-County Leader
- Appeared in "Left Behind Without a Choice," a documentary by Kim Walsh on Katrina animals, 2008
- Quoted in "Are You Ready? Don't Wait for Disaster to Strike--Create an Evacuation Plan for Your Dog," by MaryAnn Mott, DogFancy; Featured in cover story, "A Malpractice Doctrine," DVM Newsmagazine, 2007
- Quoted in "Legal World Going to the Dogs--and Cats and Cows and Deer and Tigers," by Pam Louwagie, Star Tribune, 2004
- Profiled in "Animal Instincts," Minnesota Law & Politics
- Interviewed for Equine Veterinary Management on the subject of Veterinary Malpractice
Honors
- American Bar Foundation
- Monique Raynaud-Contamine Award Winner
- Selected as a "Top 40" Family Law Attorney by Minnesota Law & Politics
- Outstanding Achievement Awards
- Leading American Attorney in Art and Entertainment Law by the American Research Corporation
- Selected for the Minnesota Super Lawyers List
- Leading American Attorney
Industry Groups
- Animal Law
Office location for Barbara J. Gislason
7362 University Avenue NE, Suite 120
Fridley, MN 55432
Phone: 763-220-2983
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 1994, 1996 - 2002, 2006 - 2009
