The UK Centre for Animal Law - A-law

The UK Centre for Animal Law - A-law The UK Centre for Animal Law (A-LAW) is a UK charity committed to pioneering a better legal framework for animals and inspiring the next generation of lawyers.
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We help campaign groups, provide education and promote animal protection law. The Association of Lawyers for Animal Welfare (ALAW) is an organisation of lawyers interested in animal protection law. We see our role as pioneering a better legal framework for animals and ensuring that the existing law is applied properly. The organisation promotes interest in animal protection law and campaigns to im

prove the law relating to animals. We believe that lawyers should, as well as interpreting laws, ask questions about the philosophy underlying them: they have always played a central role in law reform. There is also a real need to educate professionals and the public alike about the law. Animal cruelty does not recognise national boundaries and we are building up a network of lawyers who are interested in animal protection in many different countries. ALAW's Mission Statement:

- harness the interest of many lawyers in animal protection;
- use a range of law-related techniques to secure more favourable interpretation and better enforcement of existing animal protection laws;
- secure more comprehensive and effective laws, based on a coherent philosophy. PLEASE NOTE:
The focus of ALAW is on wider policy issues of animal welfare. We cannot advise nor become involved with individual animal welfare cases. For more information, please visit:
http://alaw.org.uk/resources/frequently-asked-questions/

🐋 ‘Exemption to Extinction? The Real Cost of the Historic ESA Exemption in the Gulf’ - New Blog🌊 By grace✩ (Grace Law Wo...
06/08/2026

🐋 ‘Exemption to Extinction? The Real Cost of the Historic ESA Exemption in the Gulf’ - New Blog

🌊 By grace✩ (Grace Law Woodhouse)

In a highly controversial decision, the Trump administration has exempted oil and gas activities in the Gulf of Mexico from key requirements under the US Endangered Species Act.

This blog examines what the exemption could mean for the Gulf’s vulnerable marine inhabitants - including the critically endangered Rice’s whale, of which only around 50 individuals remain - and more than 20 other threatened and endangered species.

It also considers the wider legal precedent created by using national security grounds to override statutory wildlife protections, as environmental groups launch legal challenges against the decision.

🖇️ Read the blog here: https://www.alaw.org.uk/blog/2026/08/06/exemption-to-extinction-the-real-cost-of-the-historic-esa-exemption-in-the-gulf/

🐴 New blog: ‘A carriage too far: why New York should retire Central Park’s horses’, by Acland Bryant and Mikhail Popov 🧲...
01/08/2026

🐴 New blog: ‘A carriage too far: why New York should retire Central Park’s horses’, by Acland Bryant and Mikhail Popov 🧲

For more than a century, horse-drawn carriages have been an iconic feature of New York City’s Central Park. 🏙️ But following a series of high-profile incidents – including the tragic death of a carriage horse in June 2026 – growing questions are being asked about whether the industry has a place in a modern city.

In this blog, Acland and Mikhail examine the legal, ethical and welfare concerns surrounding Central Park’s carriage horses, and explore why they believe New York should retire the industry for good.

🖇️ click the link in our bio to read this blog.

🐕 Looking for a quick summary and update on the UK’s position on greyhound racing?In this blog titled, “Is It Time to Ba...
24/07/2026

🐕 Looking for a quick summary and update on the UK’s position on greyhound racing?

In this blog titled, “Is It Time to Ban Greyhound Racing in England?”, Niamh McConnell examines the growing calls for the sport to be banned in England. Scotland and Wales have already introduced legislation prohibiting greyhound racing, citing the serious injuries, deaths and lasting psychological harm associated with the industry. England, however, continues to regulate rather than prohibit it.

With more than 35,000 injuries and 1,357 trackside deaths recorded between 2017 and 2024, the blog asks whether existing welfare rules go far enough - or whether Westminster should follow Scotland and Wales and bring greyhound racing to an end.

🖇️ Click here to read this blog: https://www.alaw.org.uk/blog/2026/07/08/is-it-time-to-ban-greyhound-racing-in-england/

📚 About the author: Niamh is a first-year Law student at the University of Exeter. After completing an EPQ on animal law, she has continued to develop her interest in this area by volunteering with a small dog rescue charity and supporting its campaign for greater regulation of dog rescues.

🐣 How Close Are We to Ending Male Chick Culling in the UK? By Jenny Canham ✨This blog explores the progress being made t...
22/07/2026

🐣 How Close Are We to Ending Male Chick Culling in the UK? By Jenny Canham ✨

This blog explores the progress being made towards ending the routine culling of male chicks in the UK.

Every year, millions of male chicks are killed shortly after hatching because they cannot lay eggs and are not considered commercially viable. Yet technology now exists to determine the s*x of chicks before they hatch, offering a humane alternative.

The blog examines recent progress, including political momentum, industry developments and advances in in-ovo s*xing technology that could finally bring this outdated practice to an end.

It also asks what steps are still needed for the UK to catch up with countries that have already committed to ending male chick culling.

Check out this blog by Jenny Canham using this link 🐓: https://www.alaw.org.uk/blog/2026/06/12/how-close-are-we-to-ending-male-chick-culling-in-the-uk/

🐥 Jenny Canham is the Public Affairs Lead at the Vegetarian Society. An award-winning policy and advocacy professional, she has spent more than a decade leading animal protection campaigns and shaping food policy.

✨ A huge thank you to our UK Animal Law Conference 2026 sponsors! ✨It’s hard to believe it’s already been four weeks sin...
06/07/2026

✨ A huge thank you to our UK Animal Law Conference 2026 sponsors! ✨

It’s hard to believe it’s already been four weeks since the UK Animal Law Conference 2026. We wanted to take a moment to celebrate and thank the incredible organisations whose generous support helped make this year’s conference possible.

The UK Animal Law Conference 2026 would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors.

Your contribution helped bring together practitioners, academics, students and advocates from across the UK and beyond for two inspiring days of learning, discussion and collaboration. We are incredibly grateful for your support and for helping make this year’s conference such a success.

A special thank you to:
🧡 GREY2K USA Worldwide
🧡 Center for Animal Law Studies
🧡 Richard Buxton Solicitors
🧡 42BR Barristers
🧡 The Coller Animal Law Forum

We would also like to thank University of Birmingham for hosting us! 🏫

Thank you for supporting the future of animal law. We look forward to building on these relationships in the years ahead. ✨

On Wednesday 1 July, A-LAW’s Chair, Sonul Badiani-Hamment, attended the launch of the global coalition to abolish trophy...
03/07/2026

On Wednesday 1 July, A-LAW’s Chair, Sonul Badiani-Hamment, attended the launch of the global coalition to abolish trophy hunting at the Houses of Parliament, pictured here with Eduardo Gonçalves, founder of the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting. 🐘🦁🦏🐯

The event brought together MPs, peers, conservationists and public figures to call on the United Nations to take decisive action on trophy hunting worldwide.

Inspiring contributions came from Michaela Strachan, Heather Mills, Janna Giacoppo, and Jasmina Georgovska of the Jane Goodall Institute, who shared their perspectives on the global campaign to abolish trophy hunting.

We were pleased to support this important event and to engage with organisations, politicians, and campaigners working to advance discussions on wildlife protection and conservation.

To learn more about the campaign or sign the petition, visit: https://bit.ly/abolish-trophy-hunting

Yesterday, A-LAW attended the League Against Cruel Sports’ parliamentary summer reception at the House of Lords.The even...
01/07/2026

Yesterday, A-LAW attended the League Against Cruel Sports’ parliamentary summer reception at the House of Lords.

The event brought together political speakers, and wildlife experts and campaigners to discuss trail hunting and the next steps following the closure of the Government’s trail hunting consultation. It also provided members of the Time for Change (TFC) Coalition with an opportunity to engage with MPs on strengthening protections for wildlife.

Speakers included Emma Slawinski (CEO, League Against Cruel Sports), David Fielding (Chair), Kevin Lacks-Kelly (National Wildlife Crime Unit), Baroness Jenny Jones, Ruth Jones MP, and conservationist Megan McCubbin.

📢 The EU’s Overdue Animal Welfare Reform: Where Next?Join ICARE’s next online seminar in the Litigating and Legislating ...
23/06/2026

📢 The EU’s Overdue Animal Welfare Reform: Where Next?

Join ICARE’s next online seminar in the Litigating and Legislating for Animal Rights series.

The seminar will focus on the EU’s long-awaited animal welfare law reform package. It will offer a practical conversation on where the process currently stands, what has moved forward, what remains outstanding, and what advocates, lawyers, policymakers and researchers should be following next.

🗓 1 July 2026
🕓 16:00–17:30 CEST
💻 Live on Zoom

Featuring:
• Reineke Hameleers, CEO of Eurogroup for Animals
• Peter Stevenson, Chief Policy Advisor at Compassion in World Farming
• Tilly Metz MEP, Greens/EFA Group

Moderated by Dr Anna Caramuru P. Aubert.

Format: A 60-minute moderated conversation, followed by a 30-minute Q&A with the audience.

📎 Registration is free but mandatory via Luma to receive the Zoom link. Register here: https://luma.com/cguynkqp

23/06/2026

🦀 Take action for crustaceans today 🦞

Millions of crabs, lobsters and other decapod crustaceans are still being boiled alive, sent alive in the post, claws removed and torn apart alive to name a few of the cruel practices they endure due to not having adequate protections in animal welfare law.

You can help change that.

We’ve launched our MP postcard action – a quick, powerful way to ask your local MP to support better welfare protections for these sentient animals.

💌 It takes just a minute to send
📢 Your message goes straight to your MP’s desk
💥 Together, we can push for compassionate change

👉 Send your postcard now:
https://stopcrustaceancruelty.crustaceancompassion.justpost.cards/

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