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Cooper v Lehtimaki & Ors

17/01/20

This week saw a five-justice Supreme Court panel hear its first case of 2020, Cooper v Lehtimaki & Ors. The claim emerged out of the divorce of two of the UK’s leading philanthropists and an attempt to split the charitable foundation they co-founded.

The issues were (i) the extent of the court’s inherent jurisdiction to administer trusts and (ii) whether members of charitable corporations owe fiduciary duties.

Theo Barclay was first junior for the Respondent, led by Guy Morpuss QC and Professor Sarah Worthington QC.

Lord Pannick QC, Simon Taube QC, Jonathan Crow QC, Robert Pearce QC and Edward Cumming QC appeared for the other parties.

The verdict is expected later this year.