Citation for Duncan McNair – Law Society of England & Wales’ “Legal Hero Of The Year 2024” Award
Text of Citation by Judges:
“The award is based upon the nominations received but when looking at this solicitor it is clear even before the work that leads to this award, they have had a distinguished career with a number of significant leading cases under their belt as well as an influential report named after them.
It is ten years ago in 2014 that this solicitor went on a fact finding mission to India. So appalled were they by what they found in respect of the suffering of Asian elephants – including the brutal training methods used to ‘break in’ Asian elephants for the tourist trade – that they determined something must be done.
And the thing that marks him out today (and it is a him) is that rather than just saying ‘something must be done’, he went on to do very significant work.
First he formed and developed the Save the Asian Elephants charity- where he is still CEO – which has grown to be one of the top ten charities in this field
He and his organisation gathered evidence of the seriousness of the animal abuse and realised that one of the driving forces behind the problem was that UK travel companies promoted unethical trips which fed the demand that led to the cruelty evidenced
But it was the Solicitor and the legal training side of him that realised that changing the law in England & Wales could help:
- He organised a petition which, with aligned petitions, ended up gathering 35 million signatures which is the largest petition in the world for any animal species.
- And with the petition and evidence behind him he was able to mount a major campaign building an animal welfare team, engaging with the media.
- And obtaining the support of ministers and cross party political support for the introduction of a parliamentary bill (which he was asked to draft) to protect not just the East Asian Elephants but indeed all animals.
- With his involvement and the support he had built, the Bill went through parliament with no division nor amendment and became law in September 2023.
The Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 will make it an offence to advertise or sell trips outside the UK involving unethical activities with animals.
It is a world first law for England and may well be copied in other major countries and is likely to make a very real difference to animal welfare across the world.
It is a truly stunning use of the law by a Solicitor with unbelievable determination and I have no hesitation in asking DUNCAN MCNAIR to come forward and collect an award as a Law Society Legal
Hero.”
Frances Avancena, Events Officer
The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
