“We will be bringing the mediation process to life”

With ILM Conference 2026 fast approaching, over the next few weeks, we will be sharing a bit more about what you can expect from the day, with insights from our esteemed speakers, who will be sharing details of their sessions.

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Taking to the stage to deliver a Mediation Masterclass, will be experienced practitioners, Leticia Jennings and Lucinda Ellen from Leading Charity law firm, Bates Wells.

“This interactive masterclass will guide delegates through the mediation process in legacy disputes – from the initial letter of claim to the final settlement agreement (or not!),” says Luticia.

The session will explore key decision points such as when to mediate, how to prepare effectively, and how to navigate complex dynamics with co-beneficiaries.

Leticia continues: “Through real-life examples and insights from Megan Paul of Cancer Research UK and Kate Vowden of British Heart Foundation, we’ll bring the process to life and share practical strategies for managing mediation with confidence.

This session will also delve into common tactics used during mediation and how to respond to them, helping attendees feel better equipped to make informed decisions, protect their charity’s interests, and achieve constructive outcomes.

“We have seen a number of clients interested in practical, interactive sessions that explore the mediation process so that they are prepared in case a situation arises.”

Leticia explains that the key take aways for members will be to:

• Understand the pros and cons of mediation to make informed decisions in legacy disputes.
• Recognise when mediation is appropriate – and when it may not be.
• Learn how to get the most value from the mediation process.

About Bates Wells
Bates Wells is a full service charity law firm with over fifty charity lawyers and a specialist charity legacy team that understands the sector inside out. Their team helps with a range of charity legacy matters, from advice and assistance on day-to-day legacy administration, through to advising on more complex legacy issues such as permanent endowment; trusts and trust disputes; gifts of shares, property; art-work and IP rights; challenges to legacies left by Will; claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975; claims in proprietary estoppel, cy-près schemes, ex gratia payments; and the refusal of gifts where necessary or appropriate. They also help charities with legacy fundraising, including preparing and reviewing legacy marketing materials, advising on setting up new legacy fundraising campaigns, and advising on all regulatory and compliance issues.
Bates Wells advise more of the top 3,000 charities than any other UK law firm, and are consistently ranked in the top tier for Charities by the leading legal directories Chambers & Partners UK and Legal 500.

Speaker – Leticia Jennings (Partner and Head of Dispute Resolution & Litigation, Bates Wells)
Leticia is head of Bates Wells’ Dispute Resolution & Litigation team, where she leads on a variety of contentious matters with a particular focus on litigation relating to charities, charity governance, charity legacies and charity fraud. She is often instructed by charities and other not-for-profits who wish to make a positive impact by bringing or supporting claims with strategic objectives, including those relating to climate change. Leticia is recognised by leading legal directory, Chambers & Partners UK, for charity legacy disputes and is a contributing author to The Charities Acts Handbook.

Speaker – Lucinda Ellen (Senior Associate, Bates Wells)
Lucinda is a senior associate at Bates Wells. She works with charities to resolve disputes relating to their legacies, including claims brought under the 1975 Act and challenges to the validity of wills. She also advises charities on requests for ex gratia payments. Lucinda provides training on these issues including as part of the ILM member training programme.

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Have you booked your ticket?

ILM Conference 2026 | Friday 8th May | 133 Houndsditch, London

As the biggest Legacy event in the calendar, the ILM Conference brings together the greatest minds across the full breadth of legacy related fields, to provide expert insights and share best practice for an unmissable day of learning and networking.

If you haven’t yet booked your tickets for Conference 2026, you’ll need to be quick as tickets are selling fast!

Book Now