Twenty-nine Oxford colleges have launched High Court proceedings against insurance firm Aviva. The case, which was filed last month, concerns Aviva’s alleged breach of contract through failing to pay out for losses sustained during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The claim will be heard in the Commercial Court, a specialist court of the High Court of Justice. All undergraduate colleges are involved except Corpus Christi, Merton, Oriel, Queen’s, Regent’s Park, St Hilda’s, and St John’s. Postgraduate colleges including St Anthony’s, Linacre, and Wolfson are also listed among the claimants, alongside several colleges’ commercial ventures. These include LMH Hospitality Services Limited and Magdalen College Educational Conferences Limited.
Since the pandemic, there has been a flurry of litigation surrounding business interruption insurance, which indemnifies policyholders when an unexpected event brings a halt to trading. In January 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that COVID-19 counted as a single “catastrophe” under a reinsurance contract.
The coronavirus pandemic is widely seen as having had a largely negative impact on higher education institutions’ finances. This impact has ranged from lower international student numbers to lost revenue from accommodation rentals, catering, and event hire. Given Oxford’s location and prestige, hosting conferences and summer schools has become a big earner for many colleges.
A spokesperson for the colleges involved in the case did not provide further comment due to the ongoing legal proceedings. Aviva Insurance Ltd was similarly unable to comment.
