The 6th annual UK Animal Law Conference for academics, lawyers, NGOs and students will take place in-person on 3-4 June 2026 at the
University of Birmingham.
It is co-hosted by the UK Centre for Animal Law and The Multispecies Collective, which is based at the University of Birmingham.
Registration opens early 2026.
Conference Theme 2026
The Future of Animal Law
UK Animal Law Conference 2026 Countdown
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Call for Papers & Keynote Speaker Announcements Coming Soon
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.
If you have any questions about the conference, email [email protected].
IYAN OFFOR
Assistant Professor in Environmental Law, University of Birmingham
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.
MICHELLE STRAUSS
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.
BETHAN SMITH
PhD researcher, University of Birmingham
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.
MO ESAN
PhD researcher, University of Birmingham
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.
BLANCHE KOENIG
A-LAW Trustee & Volunteer
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.
SAM HAZLE
CLAIRE LATHWELL
PhD researcher, Birmingham City University
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.
NATALIE HARNEY
A-LAW Trustee & Volunteer
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.
LOVE 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.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the UK Animal Law Conference 2026. More details coming soon.