Leticia Jennings

Your complete grasp of the issues, your competence and diplomatic skills were all essential

Client feedback
We were incredibly fortunate in having you working for us, and especially at mediation

Client feedback
Your contribution was way over the call of duty and over lawyer's standard obligations

Client feedback
We would not be where we happily are now without you

Client feedback
Thank you so much for your support, advice and skill over the last 2 and a bit years in dealing with a complete nightmare

Client feedback
There is no way that we would ever have recovered those funds without your input

Client feedback
I know that without your advice and action on our behalf, this matter may never have been resolved

Client feedback
She is excellent

Client feedback

Experience

I am a Partner in Bates Wells’ Dispute Resolution & Litigation team, where I lead on a variety of contentious matters with a particular focus on litigation relating to charities, charity governance, charity legacies and charity fraud. I regularly speak at industry events and contribute commentary and know-how to leading publications on these issues.

My other practice areas include contract disputes, shareholder disputes, claims brought under the False Claims Act, asset recovery and the enforcement of judgments.

I am an experienced Supervising Solicitor appointed by the High Court on the execution of search orders, and often work in conjunction with other members of the team on complex, multi-venue searches.

I acted for philanthropist Jamie Cooper in the leading charity law case Cooper v Lehtimaki & Ors

This was regarding the role and status of members in charitable companies and the court’s special jurisdiction in relation to charities. The successful outcome of this case unlocked $360M of charitable funds and secured an additional $80M for the UK charity sector ([2017] EWHC 1379 (Ch); [2018] EWCA Civ 1605; [2020] UKSC 33)
I acted for the Advisory Council of the Warburg Institute

This was regarding its successful defence of a claim brought by the University of London. Regarding the university's obligations as trustee to house, fund and maintain the world renowned Warburg Institute (University of London v Professor Prag and another [2014] EWHC 3564 (Ch); [2015] WTLR 705].
I acted for a major international development charity in a dispute with executors who had wrongly paid the charity’s legacy to a third party.

I negotiated full payment of the legacy from the executors personally plus a significant contribution towards the charity’s costs, avoiding costly and time-consuming court action for the charity.
I acted for an international animal charity in a high value contract dispute concerning data storage.

Following the issue of proceedings, I negotiated a financial settlement in my client's favour, but on terms that maintained the commercial relationship going forward.

I advised and acted for a care home (a registered charity) in relation to the recovery of sums fraudulently misappropriated by a former senior manager. I secured full recovery of the sums taken plus legal costs, and worked to protect the client’s reputation by advising on communications with the Charity Commission, CQC, staff and residents. I also advised on an audit of systems to avoid a repeat situation in the future.
I advised and acted for an international global relief charity to recover significant sums fraudulently misappropriated by a senior member of staff over a number of years. I obtained a full admission of liability and put in place a payment plan which resulted in the charity recovering the vast majority of the misappropriated funds plus costs. This was a particularly sensitive and high profile case and much of my advice related to reputational management.
I regularly advise charities (in particular NGOs) in relation to allegations of fraud and claims brought under the False Claims Act (FCA).