Veterinary Legal Services

Comprehensive legal support for veterinarians dedicated to animal care and professional excellence.

Veterinarians dedicate their careers to caring for animals, but running a veterinary practice or working within one also comes with complex legal, regulatory, and business challenges. Our Veterinary Legal Services Practice Group provides comprehensive counsel to veterinarians, animal hospitals, and related professionals, helping them protect their practices, their licenses, and their reputations.

At Burns White, we combine deep industry insight with extensive legal experience to support veterinary professionals through every stage of their careers and business operations, from practice formation and employment issues to board investigations and litigation defense. Our team understands the unique realities of veterinary medicine and is committed to delivering practical, results-driven solutions that allow our clients to focus on what they do best: caring for animals.

Our Services 

Litigation & Dispute Resolution
We vigorously defend veterinarians and practices in all forms of litigation, including:

• Malpractice defense and professional liability matters
• Employment disputes, including wrongful termination and wage claims
• Breach of contract and commercial litigation
• Mediation and arbitration

Employment & Workplace Law
We advise on all aspects of the employer–employee relationship within veterinary practices, including:

• Employment agreements and restrictive covenants (non-compete, non-solicitation)
• Harassment, discrimination, and wage/hour claims
• Associate veterinarian contracts and exit negotiations
• OSHA and workplace safety compliance

Practice Management & Business Law
From launching a new practice to navigating complex transactions, we offer strategic counsel on:

• Practice formation (LLCs, partnerships, corporations)
• Buy/sell agreements, mergers, and acquisitions
• Partnership disputes and dissolutions
• Contract drafting and review with vendors, labs, and insurers

Professional Licensing & Regulatory Compliance
Our attorneys represent veterinarians in licensing and regulatory matters, including:

• Board investigations and disciplinary proceedings
• License defense before the State Board of Medicine
• Interpretation and compliance with state veterinary practice acts

Animal Law and Related Issues
We assist clients with matters unique to the veterinary field, such as:

• Animal welfare law compliance
• Liability involving dangerous animals, bites, or disease
• Custody disputes over animals in divorce or estate contexts
• Pet insurance coverage and dispute resolution

Risk Management & Preventive Counsel
Our team helps veterinary professionals avoid costly disputes and reputational harm through:

• Business disparagement and online defamation response
• Compliance audits for veterinary practices
• Policy and procedure development
• Staff training on legal and regulatory topics

Emerging Issues in Veterinary Practice
As the profession evolves, so do its legal needs. We provide forward-thinking guidance on:

• Telemedicine and mobile practice regulations
• Artificial intelligence in veterinary care
• Data privacy and client communication protocols

Who We Represent:

• Individual veterinarians
• Veterinary clinics and hospitals
• Corporate veterinary groups and consolidators
• Specialty practices (equine, exotics, emergency)
• Veterinary schools and academic institutions
• Industry professionals, including veterinary technicians and practice managers