Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance advises pro bono on legal challenge of UK lynx reintroduction

International law firm Clifford Chance is advising The Lynx UK Trust on its formal licence applications to reintroduce Eurasian lynx to sites in England and Scotland.

Highly anticipated  in wildlife and conservation circles, the possibility of returning the lynx to the UK is taking big steps forward in the coming months. Clifford Chance's pro bono client, Lynx UK Trust, has announced a public consultation as a final stage in its preparations to formally request reintroduction licences.

With the potential to be one of the most exciting wildlife projects ever undertaken in the UK, the consultation will seek to gauge public opinion whilst highlighting any specific concerns which will then be researched and addressed during the trial. Licence applications are expected to be made this year for a highly controlled scientific trial.

Roger Leese, partner leading the Clifford Chance team comments:

"Clifford Chance is delighted to be supporting Lynx UK Trust on its pioneering mission to bring these wild cats back to the British Isles. The project was a natural fit for us given the complex and challenging questions it poses with regard to both UK and international law. For Lynx UK Trust to be successful, a combination of social, economic and ecological factors must be carefully weighed against international legal obligations, all within the context of specific UK regulation, which makes this an exciting undertaking for our firm." 

Dr Paul O’Donoghue, Chief Scientific Advisor for Lynx UK Trust, comments:

“People have talked about the reintroduction of lynx for the past 20 years but no tangible progress has been made. Over the last year we've brought together an incredibly experienced team of international experts which puts us in a unique position to take this exciting project forward.”

If the applications are successful, the trial will see the first Lynx  released onto privately owned land in the UK. The Lynx will be monitored 24 hours a day to see how they adapt and settle into the environment and this data will then be used to decide whether a UK wide reintroduction should be progressed.