University of Oxford

The complainant has requested information relating to correspondence between her solicitors, Morgan Cole LLP, to the University of Oxford’s (the University) solicitors, Nabarro LLP, regarding the alteration of a reference from a named professor. The University’s position is that the information which is not the complainant’s personal data is exempt from disclosure under section 42 of the FOIA as it is subject to a claim of legal professional privilege. The Commissioner’s decision is that the University was correct to rely on section 42 to withhold the requested information. However, in responding outside the prescribed 20 working days, the Commissioner finds that the council has breached section 10. Therefore, he does not require the University to take any steps.