Conference theme 2026: The Future of Animal Law
The conference is co-hosted by the UK Centre for Animal Law (A-LAW) and The Multispecies Collective, which is based at the University of Birmingham.
Sponsors
A special thanks to all our sponsors.
Platinum Sponsor, GREY2K USA Worldwide.
Gold Sponsors, 42BR Barristers and Richard Buxton Solicitors.
Silver Sponsor, Center for Animal Law Studies.
Where
Arts Building,
University of Birmingham,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham
B15 2TT
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If you have any questions about the conference, email conference@alaw.org.uk.
Conference Vision
The UK Animal Law Conference is the nation’s definitive meeting place for academics, lawyers, NGOs, and students working toward full protection for animals in the UK’s law and internationally. As such, the conference aims are:
1. Educating one another about the national and international legal landscape for animals, the latest research, and recent updates on law, policy, and education.
2. Network-building to create connections between academics, lawyers, NGOs, and students interested in animal law, and enhance the impact of work toward full protection for animals in law.
3. Collaborating to generate new ideas and share good practice toward better legal futures for animals.
The scope of the conference encompasses animal law, ethics, policy, and education. The conference spans the full range of animal law issues, also covering animal law’s interaction with environmental law, international trade law, and more.
Accommodation and travel
Hotel accommodation is available at Edgbaston Park Hotel or Peter Scott House, which are both located on the University of Birmingham campus.
Alternatively, use the website Visit Birmingham to explore accommodation options across the city of Birmingham.
Trains from Birmingham New Street station in the city centre run regularly to the University train station and take around 7 minutes. Taxis from the city centre to the campus take around 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic.
Parking is available at the North East Multi-Storey Car Park (B15 2SA). Charges start from £3.40 and are capped at £10 (as of October 2024) Monday to Friday. EV charging stations can be found on roof level. Please note that this car park does not have a lift.
Call for papers
The Call for Papers for the UK Animal Law Conference 2026 is now closed.
Read about our incredible line-up of speakers below.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the UK Animal Law Conference 2026.
Click below to find out more about supporting the UK Animal Law Conference.
With special thanks to our Platinum Sponsor, GREY2K USA Worldwide.
With special thanks to our Gold Sponsors, 42BR Barristers and Richard Buxton Solicitors.
With special thanks to our Silver Sponsor, Center for Animal Law Studies.
Keynote speakers
Kathy Hessler
Animal Law: The Future is Now
Kathy is Assistant Dean for Animal Law, Director of the Animal Legal Education Initiative at the George Washington University Law School, and has been a clinical law professor for more than 30 years and has been teaching animal law since 2000. She is the first law professor in the world hired to teach animal law full-time. She helped develop the Center for Animal Law Studies, the Animal Law Clinic, and the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative at Lewis & Clark Law School. At GW Law she created programs focusing on aquatic animals, legal education, law and science, and partnerships across the globe.
Kim Stallwood
Preserving the History of Animal Law and Animal Rights
Kim Stallwood is an animal rights author, curator, and independent scholar with 50 years of personal commitment as a vegan and professional experience in leadership positions with some of the world’s leading animal advocacy organisations. The British Library in London acquired the Kim Stallwood Archive in 2020. Tier im Recht, the Zurich-based animal law organisation, established the Kim Stallwood Collection in 2022. He is writing the biography of Topsy, the female Asian elephant electrocuted to death on Coney Island, New York, in 1903. He is a member of the Culture & Animals Foundation advisory board.
Melanie Challenger
Towards a foundation of agency
Melanie Challenger writes, researches and broadcasts on the history of ideas, the history and philosophy of science and the relationship between humans and the living world. She is the author of How to Be Animal: What it Means to Be Human, among other works, and host of the podcast The Psychosphere. Melanie is internationally active in bioethics, Vice President of the RSPCA, and co-director of Animals in the Room. She is also an award-winning poet and librettist for opera and oratorios, and a National Geographic Explorer.
Our speakers
Read about our fantastic line-up of speakers below.
Conference Committee
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Iyan OfforAssistant Professor in Environmental Law, University of Birmingham
MoreIyan Offor
Dr Iyan Offor is an assistant professor in environmental law and sustainable development at the University of Birmingham. Iyan is a critical socio-legal theorist conducting interdisciplinary research on multispecies legalities. His active research projects are: Solarpunk Narrative and Multispecies (Legal) Worlding; Transqueer Ecological Justice; Law’s Other – Posthumanist Legal Subjectivity in the Anthropocene; and a Research Agenda for Animal Law. Iyan recently published his monograph Global Animal Law from the Margins. Iyan is editor for the Journal of International Wildlife Law & Policy and academic consultant for the UK Centre for Animal Law.
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Michelle StrausPhD Candidate
MoreMichelle Straus
I am currently a final year PhD candidate at BCU, having spent over decade in private practice working as a solicitor in New Zealand and the UK. I am also a trustee of The Animal Advocacy Project.Â
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Bethan SmithPhD researcher, University of Birmingham
MoreBethan Smith
Bethan Smith is a PhD law student at the University of Birmingham. She is also a Postgraduate Teaching Assistant in law at the University. Bethan’s research focuses on the protection of marine animals, environments, and human culture. Researching animal law, environmental law, biodiversity conservation law, culture, environmental ethics, and critical animal and environmental legal theory. Bethan’s experience specialises in marine animal issues, but includes varied wild, farmed, and domestic animal issues. Working on international and national projects for animal and environmental protection. Bethan’s other experiences include being a researcher, guest writer, and speaker at the UK Animal Law Conference 2025.
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Mo EsanPhD researcher, University of Birmingham
MoreMo Esan
Mo Esan is a PhD researcher in Animal Law at University of Birmingham, funded by the Midlands4Cities Doctoral Training Partnership. Mo conducts research on African animal law, particularly the Animal Welfare Strategy for Africa and Third World Approaches to International Law (TWAIL), decolonial theory, and critical animal studies. Mo served as a research assistant for the Cambridge Centre for Animal Rights Law and is currently on the Animal Charity Evaluators Board. Mo’s work seeks to bridge scholarship and practice, advancing innovative frameworks for animal law and global justice, with Africa in mind.
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Blanche KoenigA-LAW Trustee & Volunteer
MoreBlanche Koenig
Blanche is a dual-qualified lawyer (UK & New York) with a background working in-house for various technology companies on a wide variety of corporate and commercial matters. Blanche is a trustee and treasurer for A-Law, and supports the Animals in Science working group.
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Sam HazlePhD researcher, University of Birmingham
MoreSam Hazle
Sam Hazle is a second year PhD candidate at Birmingham City University. Sam conducts research on animal law, intersectionality, and social justice. His qualifications include an LLB (Hons) from Newcastle University, and an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law from the University of Edinburgh.
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Claire LathwellPhD researcher, Birmingham City University
MoreClaire Lathwell
Claire Lathwell is a Doctoral Researcher in Law at Birmingham City University (BCU). Claire is conducting socio-legal research on animal law and criminal justice. Claire’s research interests also include environmental law, green criminology, 20th century continental philosophy (especially Foucault) and political philosophy. Prior to commencing her doctoral research at BCU in September 2024, Claire spent over 6 years practising environmental, human rights and immigration law as a Solicitor in England and Wales. Claire holds an LLM in Professional Legal Practice and a BA(Hons) degree in Philosophy and Politics.
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Natalie HarneyA-LAW Trustee & Volunteer
MoreNatalie Harney
Natalie has been volunteering for A-LAW since 2014 and became a trustee in 2020. Outside of A-LAW, she works full-time for the campaigning animal welfare charity, Naturewatch Foundation, where she leads the organisation’s work to end the low-welfare and illegal trade in dogs, cats and rabbits. She holds a BA English degree from the University of Birmingham and completed her GDL at Birmingham City University.
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Love AlfredEnvironmental and Energy Law Specialist
MoreLove Alfred
Dr. Love Alfred is an environmental and energy law specialist with over 4 years of teaching and research in international environmental law and public law. She co-developed a module that integrates sustainability into the teaching of law, and she reviews and publishes research in environmental law journals. She is a member of the Animals, Nature & Society Research Stream at Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Law.
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