University of London v Harvie-Clark and others [2024] EWHC 2895 (Ch)
Kester Lees KC and Taylor Briggs recently acted for the successful Claimant in University of London v Harvie-Clark and others [2024] EWHC 2895 (Ch).
Mr Justice Thompsell has granted a precautionary interim injunction restraining three named Defendants and persons unknown from undertaking various protest activities on land owned by the University of London.
The background is that, on 6 May 2024, a group of protestors established an encampment on land belonging to the University of London, as part of a protest, under the banner of “boycott, divestment, and sanctions”, directed at the School of Oriental and African Studies. At a hearing before Deputy Master Rhys on 31 July 2024 in earlier proceedings, Kester Lees KC and Taylor Briggs, appearing on behalf of the University of London, successfully obtained a possession order. Although the original encampment dispersed shortly after, the protestors established a further encampment on another parcel of land owned by the University. After this too was dispersed, the protestors established a third encampment on nearby land owned by a third party, which they used as a “base” from which they mounted further disruptive protests on the University’s land.
The University sought a precautionary injunction restraining the Defendants from, amongst other things, establishing a further encampment on its land and, further, from carrying out protests without first complying with its regulations governing protest activities.
Mr Justice Thompsell, applying the approach laid down by Ritchie J in Valero Energy v Persons Unknown [2024] EWHC 134 (KB), was satisfied that there was a real risk that, if a precautionary interim injunction were not granted, then the University would face unauthorised and unplanned invasions of its land, giving rise to cost, reputational damage, and damage to the educational needs of its students.
Kester Lees KC and Taylor Briggs were instructed by Alicia Foo, Craig Downhill, and Connor Merrifield of Pinsent Masons. A copy of the judgment can be found here.
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