Title: Attorney
Company: Animal Legal Defense Fund
Location: Bradenton, Florida, United States
Nicole Jergovic Harris, JD, Attorney at Animal Legal Defense Fund, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in litigation, conflict resolution, and animal law.
Exposed to the legal profession at an early due to the presence of lawyers in her family, Ms. Harris initially pursued an education at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English literature in 1997. During her time as an undergraduate, she developed a strong foundation in communication and analytical thinking, skills that would later serve her well in the courtroom. She continued her studies at Marquette University Law School, from which she graduated with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2000. Ms. Harris also gained valuable experience through several legal internships, including in the Criminal Litigation and Consumer Protection Unit of the Wisconsin Department of Justice and Hawks Quindel, S.C. between 1998 and 2000.
Ms. Harris became a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 2000 to 2008 and has been associated with the Oregon State Bar since 2002. Her legal career began as an assistant district attorney in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, in 2001, where she gained her first experience as a prosecuting attorney. Soon thereafter, she practiced law before the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Ms. Harris subsequently served as a lead-level deputy district attorney and the prosecuting litigation attorney with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office in Oregon between 2003 and 2023.
During her time as a prosecutor, Ms. Harris handled high-profile cases involving violent crimes, including gang homicides, assaults, and shootings, and became the sole attorney in her office to handle animal cruelty cases, for which she became known at a national level. Moreover, she served as a volunteer and team leader at the Oregon Humane Society from 2007 to 2018, and fostered animals through organizations like The Pixie Project and Sans Collier ASBL. Ms. Harris also contributed to the Animal Cruelty Advisory Committee of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys since 2017.
Outside of her responsibilities in the courtroom, Ms. Harris has been active as an adjunct assistant professor at Western Business College in Portland, Oregon. Appointed as senior vice president of operations at J&H Law LLC from 2001 to 2003, she has found further success as a senior vice president and associate general counsel at Sherlock’s Home Base LLC and as an in-house counsel for the CrowdDoing Program since 2023. Additionally, Ms. Harris continues to excel as a contract attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, a testament to her long-standing passion for animal law.
Ms. Harris’ professional achievements have not gone unnoticed, having been recently recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Pinnacle Professional Member in 2024. In 2015, she was honored as the “Best Animal Law Attorney” by Spot Magazine. Notably, Ms. Harris was previously presented with the Diamond Collar Award by the Oregon Humane Society in 2012.
Renowned for her resilience, hard work, and her commitment to her profession and causes, Ms. Harris has aided the legal community through writing and public speaking. She has proudly authored national conference programs for the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys and offered her wealth of expertise to the Multnomah County Justice Reinvestment Program, which reduced incarceration costs while lowering recidivism rates. In the coming years, she envisions shifting her attention toward the corporate sector, where she aims to become affiliated with a growing company and help expand its legal team. As of 2024, Ms. Harris hopes to garner her certification with the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE), reflecting her desire to build upon her expertise in compliance.
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