Our history

The Centre's establishment in 2024 was made possible by the UCL Laws Faculty's successful application to the Leverhulme Trust's International Professorship grant. The Leverhulme International Professorship grant is one of the most competitive and prestigious awards, aimed at attracting world-leading researchers to the UK. This grant supports Professor Delaney’s work at UCL and the GCDC, fostering international collaboration and enhancing the university’s research capabilities. The Centre commenced operations in the 2024-25 academic year, with the appointment of its Director, Erin Delaney, the Leverhulme Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law.

Following a retreat at Penshurst Place -- the former family seat of English republican theorist Algernon Sidney -- a group of UCL Laws faculty members set out a governance structure and research direction for the Centre. The Centre builds on a tradition of public law scholarship at the Faculty, through the longstanding Public Law Group (PLG). The Public Law Group has been integrated into the Centre, with its seminar series rebranded as the Public Law Seminar Series (PLSS). 

About the Leverhulme Trust 

Since its foundation in 1925, the Leverhulme Trust has provided grants and scholarships for research and education, funding research projects, fellowships, studentships, bursaries and prizes; it operates across all academic disciplines, the intention being to support talented individuals as they realise their personal vision in research and professional training. Today, it is one of the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK, distributing approximately £120 million a year. https://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/  @LeverhulmeTrust