Legal Response International
The LRI provides free high-quality legal support to poor and particularly climate vulnerable developing countries and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in relation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations.
Objects
OBJECT 1.1 TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BY PROVIDING PRO BONO LEGAL EDUCATION, PRO BONO LEGAL SUPPORT AND CAPACITY BUILDING TO (I) LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDCS) AND OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH ARE SIMILARLY VULNERABLE TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND LACKING IN LEGAL RESOURCE CAPACITY AND (II) CHARITIES PROVIDING SUPPORT TO LDCS AND SUCH OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AS A MEANS OF ACHIEVING: (A) THE PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PRUDENT USE OF RESOURCES; (B) THE RELIEF OF POVERTY AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE IN SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES; AND (C) THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE MEANS OF ACHIEVING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND REGENERATION; IN EACH CASE WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS TO LDCS OF MITIGATION OF AND ADAPTATION TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT MEANS DEVELOPMENT WHICH MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS. OBJECT 1.2 TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY AND THE SKILLS OF THE MEMBERS OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES IN LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES (LDCS) AND OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH ARE SIMILARLY VULNERABLE TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND LACKING IN LEGAL RESOURCE CAPACITY BY PROVIDING THEM WITH FREE HIGH-QUALITY LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING TO ENABLE THEM TO BETTER IDENTIFY AND HELP MEET THEIR NEEDS AND PARTICIPATE MORE FULLY IN SOCIETY. OBJECT 1.3 TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL (AND PARTICULARLY AMONG LAWYERS AND PARTICIPANTS IN THE UNFCCC PROCESS FROM LDCS AND OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH ARE SIMILARLY VULNERABLE TO THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND LACKING IN LEGAL RESOURCE CAPACITY) ON THE SUBJECT OF PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW AS IT APPLIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE CONVERSATION AND PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND RELIEF OF POVERTY.SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CONTEXT MEANS DEVELOPMENT THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE PRESENT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR OWN NEEDS.
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a surplus of £6,642 and unrestricted reserves of £362,133, which the trustees consider acceptable given funding uncertainty. The charity remains heavily reliant on a small number of key funders, specifically the UK government, and has set a reserves policy target of six months of expenditure. The independent examiner confirmed that no matters came to their attention that would cause concern regarding the accounts.
What the accounts disclose
“The number of employees whose remuneration exceeded £60,000 for the year was 1 (2024: 1).” — page 16
“Total Fee income 294,708”
“To that end they have set a target for reserves of a minimum of 6 months expenditure.”
“Included in office expenses is an amount of £23,680 representing the estimated value of the rent free office space and associated office support services the charity received during the year from Simmons and Simmons LLP.” — page 15
Policies the charity declares
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
Trustees
- Alina Averchenkova
- Anne Miller
- Birsha Ohdedar
- Caroline Dihl Prolo
- Eve Harriet Farnsworth
- Jannis Bille
- Lydia Akinyi Omuko-Jung
- Matthew David Morton
- Nicola Jane Mwase-Vuma
- RICHARD DYTON
- Roohi Khanna
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 30/09/2025 | £321k | £314k |
| 30/09/2024 | £323k | £302k |
| 30/09/2023 | £260k | £268k |
| 30/09/2022 | £289k | £279k |
| 30/09/2021 | £302k | £250k |
Common questions
Is Legal Response International financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity ended the year with a surplus of £6,642 and unrestricted reserves of £362,133, which the trustees consider acceptable given funding uncertainty. The charity remains heavily reliant on a small number of key funders, specifically the UK government, and has set a reserves policy target of six months of expenditure. The independent examiner confirmed that no matters came to their attention that would cause concern regarding the accounts. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.