Rebeka is the founding lawyer at Breder Law - Western Canada’s first exclusive animal law firm of its kind. Rebeka’s combined experience of over 33 years in the animal protection movement and as a practising lawyer (including at another large firm), is what makes her a leading animal law lawyer in Canada. She has experience at all levels of court and various tribunals. Rebeka’s passion for animal protection and welfare started at an early age, while she was growing up in Montreal. Rebeka is known as a trailblazer in developing Animal Law in Canada.  Rebeka founded the first Animal Law section of the Canadian Bar Association in Canada and is the founder and current Chair of the Animal Law section, B.C. Branch. She dedicates a lot of her time to animal protection causes and sits on the board of directors of various animal protection organizations.

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Rebeka’s animal law practice includes: defending “dangerous” dogs, pet custody disputes, general urban animal and wildlife matters, challenging government over the protection of animals, breeder disputes, condominium disputes involving companion animals and veterinary malpractice suits. Rebeka acts exclusively in matters that can develop the rights and welfare of animals. Depending on the client, Breder Law also contracts with other well-respected lawyers to assist in our cases.

See practice areas here. ​Rebeka’s advocacy on animal protection has also been reflected in changes to the law that benefit animals, including major changes to British Columbia’s Family Law Act that now includes specific provisions dealing with pet custody and ensuring the best interest of animals, as well as the ban on the sale and possession of shark fin products. Overall, Rebeka strives to make a positive difference for non human animals every day in her personal and professional life.

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​Rebeka is a founder of the UBC (Allard Law) Animal Law course, and since 2011, Rebeka taught as an adjunct professor and as a guest lecturer in Animal Law at law schools including UBC Allard Law, TRU, McGill, University of Victoria, University of Alberta, University of Leicester (UK), and Lewis and Clark Law School. Local, national and international media also frequently interviews Rebeka on various animal law issues.

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Rebeka was voted as one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada in 2019, winning the Changemakers category in Canadian Lawyer magazine. She received the SEEDS Award from The International Society of Animal Rights in 2019. She was also voted by her peers as one of Canada’s best lawyers by Best Lawyers Canada in 2022 and 2023 and 2024. Rebeka also had the privilege of being selected as a TEDx speaker in 2022. In 2023, Rebeka was appointed as an Associate Fellow of the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics.

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Rebeka is fluent in English, French, and Serbo-Croatian, and she has knowledge of Hebrew and Yiddish. Rebeka lives in Metro Vancouver with her husband, daughter, and their rescue dog and cats, where they all enjoy British Columbia’s beautiful outdoors.