Potanin Foundation sues Barclays in London's commercial court

A high-stakes legal battle unfolds as a major charity takes on Barclays. What sparked this dispute—and why is the Charity Commission involved?

, and Administrator

2026 March 31 . 4:08 AM

1 min read

The image shows an old document with a red stamp on it, which appears to be a stock certificate... — The image shows an old document with a red stamp on it, which appears to be a stock certificate issued by the Russian government. The certificate has text written on it and is likely a document of some kind.

Potanin Foundation sues Barclays in London's commercial court

The Potanin Foundation, a UK-based charity with over £60 million in assets, has taken legal action against Barclays Bank. The claim was filed in London's Circuit Commercial Court, which handles business disputes under £1 million. The case is being led by Guy Hollander, the charity's interim manager appointed by the Charity Commission in 2023. The Charity Commission intervened in the Potanin Foundation last year, removing its founder, Vladimir Potanin, from involvement. Following this, Guy Hollander, a director at Forvis Mazars, was brought in to oversee the charity's operations.

Barclays Bank began providing banking services to the foundation in 2022, after JP Morgan ended its relationship with the organisation. Now, the charity—represented by law firm Keidan Harrison—has launched legal proceedings against Barclays. The bank has responded by instructing Addleshaw Goddard to handle its defence. The Charity Commission's inquiry into the Potanin Foundation remains ongoing, with no confirmed timeline for its conclusion.

The legal dispute centres on the charity's banking relationship with Barclays, though specific details of their collaboration since 2022 have not been publicly disclosed. The outcome of the case will depend on the court's findings, with both sides now preparing their arguments.