Timeline of Events: 1231 Writs of Protection and Institutional Trust (2025)

This page provides a factual chronology of key events surrounding the rediscovery and return of the 1231 Cambridge Writs of Protection, alongside the legal and institutional developments relating to the Studentship Agreement (Ref: G552392) and the High Court claim (Ref: BL‑2025‑001116).

It documents a convergence of history and law, where founding principles, contractual duties, and modern governance met in a live test of institutional integrity.

This chronology captures the convergence in 2025 of two charters dating to 1231: the University of Cambridge’s Writs of Protection for scholars, and the Bohuš family charter in law and governance, reaffirmed in 1262 and 1520. They meet in the modern context of an unprotected scholar. History does not repeat itself lightly, but it has a way of crossing paths again when foundational duties require restoration. This effort arose where institutional practice had drifted too far from its origin, and where the principles of modern scholar protection required re-examination.

Where institutional practice no longer reflected the principles upon which it was founded, responsibility for upholding those principles necessarily shifted from institution to individual. The High Court proceedings therefore represent an effort to give modern effect to the protections originally intended for scholars, translating historic duties into contemporary legal accountability through enforceable contract.

This matter extends beyond a single dispute. It engages questions of institutional trust, investor confidence, and the integrity of the research ecosystem. Where scholars are left without effective protection, contractual certainty weakens, and confidence erodes. The withdrawal of international funding partners following governance uncertainty illustrates the tangible consequences of such breakdowns.

History does not repeat itself lightly, but it has a way of crossing paths again when foundational duties require restoration. In this instance, ancient charters and modern contracts converge to test whether founding principles remain operative in practice—and whether accountability, when absent institutionally, must be embodied and pursued through law.

The return of the lost 1231 Writs of Protection was undertaken to restore the University’s historical foundations relating to scholar protection. The restoration of the writs was subsequently declined.

All entries are supported by available records, filings, and correspondence, and are published here in the public interest for transparency, education, and historical preservation.

Timeline:

25-26 November 2024 — The University of Cambridge issued a PhD Studentship Agreement for admitted students (Ref: G552392). The agreement was executed by Bayer US, NIAB, Bohuš, and the University of Cambridge.

18 December 2024 — NIAB Christmas Dinner Event.

November 2024 – February 2025 — Early engagement with the doctoral project commenced, including preliminary work with NIAB.

January 2025 — Commencement of AI training connected to the doctoral project.

21 February – 14 April 2025 —Between these dates, at least four requests were made to the University of Cambridge for disclosure of the Board of Graduate Studies (BGS) terms governing the studentship, which were expressly incorporated by reference into the Studentship Agreement and Letter of Undertaking but had not been provided at execution. Despite repeated follow-up requests, the governing BGS terms were disclosed on 14 April 2025 in response to a Subject Access Request, shortly before the contractual PhD start date.

25 March 2025 — Formal letter (I) sent to the Registrary requesting internal resolution for the PhD studentship agreement relied upon by NIAB, Bayer US and Bohuš.

2 April 2025 — Follow up letter (II) sent to the Registrary.

15 April 2025 — Follow up letter (III) sent to the Registrary.

29 April 2025 — Contractual PhD start date under the Studentship Agreement. The project did not commence following the University of Cambridge’s decision not to proceed with the studentship.

29 April 2025 — A new partner joined Shakespeare Martineau LLP. Responsibility for conduct of the University’s defence in this matter later transferred to that partner as part of an internal transition.

1 May 2025 — The University of Cambridge formally instructed Shakespeare Martineau LLP as its legal representatives.

15 May 2025–12 November 2025 — Between these dates, multiple proposals for Alternative Dispute Resolution were made in pre-action correspondence, including an initial proposal on 15 May 2025, a further proposal on 20 August 2025, a structured mediation proposal on 10 October 2025, and a final letter on 12 November 2025 reiterating the invitation to engage in ADR. No ADR process was ultimately undertaken, and proceedings were thereafter commenced by way of a Part 7 claim.

26 June 2025 — Bayer US notified the University of Cambridge of its withdrawal from the Studentship Agreement (Ref: G552392), following the University’s decision to release the admitted student from the programme.

1 July 2025–1 August 2025 — A positive comment referencing free speech and current events was removed from LinkedIn without explanation; the removal was reported. During this period, the University confirmed that, while reviewing its disciplinary arrangements, existing procedures must be interpreted and applied consistently with legislative and regulatory duties, explicitly including OfS registration condition E6 coming into force on 1 August 2025, with the Freedom of Speech Code taking precedence in the event of conflict.

1 July 2025 —A University-created Content Creator role with an initial application deadline of 1 September 2025, 5pm. Following the withdrawal of the CPR 31.16 hearing scheduled for 11 September (withdrawn several days prior), the job listing was updated and the application deadline extended beyond 11 September.

31 July 2025 — Correspondence concerning issues of student protection and institutional governance was personally read by the Royal Household, who replied within two days noting the matter with interest.

13 August 2025 — An enquiry was submitted to the University of Cambridge Archives and Heritage team requesting access to archival material relating to the University’s formal recognition by King Henry III in 1231. The enquiry arose from historical research noting that in parallel the Bohuš family received a royal charter in law and governance in 1231, reaffirmed in 1262 and 1520, prompting scholarly interest in viewing the University’s contemporaneous records. The request sought confirmation of whether the relevant documents were held by the University and guidance on accessing the original record or an authenticated copy.

14 August 2025 — The University of Cambridge confirmed that it did not hold the original 1231 Writs of Protection in its archives and that the records were understood to be lost.

August–November 2025 — Following confirmation that the 1231 Writs of Protection were considered lost, further historical research was undertaken in collaboration with the University archivist and The National Archives. This work led to the identification, verification, and restoration of the correct record (Close Rolls C 54/42, Membrane 13v).

11 September 2025 — A hearing date had been listed for pre-action disclosure under CPR 31.16 (Ref: BL-2025-000689). The application was subsequently withdrawn following a change in position, the provision of further documentation, and the decision to pursue a Part 7 claim.

11 September 2025 — A Part 7 claim (Ref: BL‑2025‑001116) was issued in the Business and Property Courts.

September 2025 — A University-created Head of Strategy role, appearing after the escalation of governance, legal, and reputational considerations linked to the ongoing dispute and associated public record activity.

10 October 2025 — The Competition and Markets Authority confirmed that correspondence concerning consumer protection, contractual reliance, and systemic risk in higher education had been passed to its Intelligence Team for analysis. The matter was logged under reference CMAE2500239.

16 October 2025 — The matter concerning student protections, contractual governance, and institutional obligations was formally logged with the European Commission under reference Ares(2025)6450788. The submission highlighted concerns around cross-border research agreements, UK–EU regulatory divergence post-Brexit, and the implications for academic mobility and trust in higher education partnerships.

11 November 2025 (Remembrance Day) — An initial folio identified in the 1902 printed edition Close Rolls of the Reign of Henry III, preserved in the Public Record Office (published under the superintendence of the Deputy Keeper of the Records) as containing the 1231 Writs of Protection (Close Rolls C 54/42, Membrane 14d) was delivered to the University of Cambridge at the Old Schools as part of the restoration process. Further verification work confirmed that the 1902 calendar reference was incorrect and that the 1231 Writs of Protection are in fact recorded on Close Rolls C 54/42, Membrane 13v.

November 2025 — A University-created Social Media Assistant role, following increased public-facing activity and sustained external attention across digital platforms.

November 2025 — A University-created NIAB–Cambridge coordination role, following the emergence of operational and communication gaps between the partner institutions during the dispute period.

December 2025 — A University-created Head of Post Award (Finance) role, following identified post-award financial and administrative issues arising during the dispute period.

3 December 2025 — By prior arrangement, the corrected historical record of the 1231 Writs of Protection (Close Rolls C 54/42, Membrane 13v; TNA Ref: RC7972178) was delivered to the University of Cambridge at the Old Schools. The Royal Household was informed of the delivery as part of the historical record.

4 December 2025 — Correspondence was received from the Department for Education (2025-0042509) addressing the studentship contract and institutional accountability. The Department confirmed that universities are subject to regulatory conditions under the Office for Students framework, including Condition C1 (consumer protection). The correspondence also acknowledged the systemic issue raised: that existing oversight mechanisms do not provide binding remedies for individual students, noting in particular that decisions of the Office of the Independent Adjudicator are not legally binding, and that the Office for Students and the Competition and Markets Authority do not intervene in individual contractual disputes.

23 December 2025 — The N1 Claim Form and Particulars of Claim, sent on 21 December 2025, were received by Shakespeare Martineau LLP at 7:12 on 23 December 2025 and are deemed effective from that date.

23 December 2025 — Following verification work carried out with the University of Cambridge archivist and The National Archives, the restored 1231 Writs of Protection (returned on 3 December 2025) were formally declined. At 17:17, the University of Cambridge confirmed it was not in a position to accept them.