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Community Spotlights

Community Spotlight: Joshua Libling, Founder & Managing Director, Arcadia Finance

By John Freund |

When not reading fantasy novels or torturing his family with off-key showtunes, Joshua Libling manages Arcadia Finance's operations and financial analytics. For clients, his focus is on translating subjective legal merits assessments into trackable risk data that informs Arcadia’s investment decisions and portfolio construction. It’s a topic he loves to discuss, so don’t ask him what that means if you’re looking for a short conversation.

He is also responsible for modeling and operations at Arcadia. Joshua joined the litigation finance industry at the beginning of 2020, quickly gravitating to risk analysis and control. For his work, he has been recognized among Lawdragon’s “Global 100 Leaders in Legal Finance.” Before co-founding Arcadia in June of 2024 with fellow Managing Directors Ronit Cohen and David Kerstein, Joshua served as a member of the senior leadership at Validity Finance, with primary responsibility for risk analysis and pricing tools. He was previously a litigator at Boies Schiller Flexner, where he was involved in some of the country’s highest-profile and highest-stakes litigations.  

Company Name and Description: At Arcadia Finance, we go beyond traditional litigation finance to provide frictionless funding, empowering clients and partners to achieve their legal goals through customized financial solutions and unparalleled support. Our seamless collaboration, clear deal terms, and broad mandate empower clients to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and secure capital - fast.

Led by industry veterans with over $425 million invested across 80+ deals, Arcadia Finance offers adaptable solutions for all–from litigation boutiques to AmLaw firms and corporations. Arcadia Finance's mission is to invest in meritorious litigation, and with backing from multiple and flexible capital providers, we find new ways to help clients and law firms finance, monetize, and share risk on their legal assets. Our solutions include everything from traditional single-case funding and law firms portfolios, to purchasing companies or patent portfolios whose primary value is litigation. At every stage from pre-litigation to appeal and enforcement, Arcadia has the experience, flexibility, and capital to assist.

Company Website: arcadiafin.com

Year Founded: 2024

Headquarters: New York, New York

Area of Focus: With a focus on U.S.-based commercial and patent litigation and domestic and international arbitration, Arcadia Finance is open to the full spectrum of litigation-based assets, from mass torts to law firm lending to patent acquisition, including cross-border and offshore matters. We consider cases in all federal and state courts, as well domestic and international arbitrations.    

Member Quote: "At Arcadia Finance, we specialize in helping our partners find the path from a good legal claim to a good legal investment."

Announcements Consumer

Express Legal Funding Launches Custom-Designed Website Redesign

By Aaron Winston |

The following was contributed by Aaron R. Winston, Strategy Director of Express Legal Funding.

Express Legal Funding, a nationally recognized pre-settlement funding company, is proud to announce the launch of its completely redesigned website. Built on a fully custom WordPress theme, the new website reflects the company’s commitment to innovation, usability, and educating clients through high-quality resources.

Custom-Built for an Exceptional Experience

Unlike generic templates, Express Legal Funding's new site is crafted from the ground up to provide a tailored experience for its users. The custom theme ensures superior functionality, faster load times, and an optimized design that serves both plaintiffs and attorneys. Key elements were developed to improve user engagement and make essential resources more accessible.

Highlighting the Blog: A Resource Hub for Legal Education

One of the standout features of the new site is the expanded and enhanced blog section. The blog serves as a comprehensive resource hub, offering expert insights, step-by-step guides, and practical advice for personal injury plaintiffs and attorneys. Articles are carefully curated and optimized for clarity, ensuring visitors gain valuable knowledge about legal funding and related topics.

Recent posts include:

Aaron Winston, Strategy Director at Express Legal Funding, shared, “Our blog has become an indispensable tool for helping consumers make informed legal and financial decisions. With the redesign, we’ve elevated it to a new level, blending visually engaging content with highly relevant information.”

Key Features of the Redesigned Website:

  • Custom Theme Development: Tailored design and functionality to meet the unique needs of Express Legal Funding’s clients and partners.
  • Interactive Case-Type Summaries: A dynamic widget allows visitors to explore various case types and their funding options in detail.
  • Responsive Design: Built with mobile-first principles, ensuring a seamless experience across all devices.
  • Enhanced Blog: A centralized platform for high-quality, SEO-optimized content that provides actionable insights and legal education.
  • Transparent Pricing Comparison: A detailed section highlights how Express Legal Funding’s rates outperform competitors, reinforcing its commitment to affordability and fairness.

A Commitment to Transparency and User Empowerment

The new website demonstrates Express Legal Funding’s dedication to educating and empowering its audience. Each feature is designed with transparency and ease of use in mind, ensuring that clients have the tools and information they need to make confident decisions about pre-settlement funding.

“Our custom redesign reflects who we are as a company—dedicated, transparent, and forward-thinking innovators,” said Winston. “We’re excited to share our new look and continue to be a trusted resource for personal injury plaintiffs and attorneys.”

Visit the New Website Today

The newly redesigned website is now live at ExpressLegalFunding.com. Explore the updated features and discover how Express Legal Funding continues to bridge the gap between lawsuits and settlements through affordability, transparency, and client-centric services.

About Express Legal Funding:

Express Legal Funding is a pre-settlement funding company based in Plano, Texas, offering financial support to plaintiffs during their legal battles. With an emphasis on education, affordability, and transparency, the company empowers clients to cover essential living expenses while pursuing fair settlements.

Announcements Commercial People Moves

Delta Capital Partners Welcomes Accomplished Professionals to C-Suite

By Harry Moran |

Delta Capital Partners Management, an SEC registered investment adviser specializing in litigation and legal finance, is pleased to announce as additions to the firm Jason Searfoss as Chief Financial Officer, Elinoar Sofer as Chief Operations Officer, and Michael Ouliel as Chief Intelligence Officer. 

Mr. Searfoss will be responsible for Delta’s finance, accounting, and administrative functions and will oversee all capital market activities, tax and valuation matters. Ms. Sofer will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of Delta, while Mr. Ouliel will assist with business intelligence activities in the firm’s management and monitoring of the cases in its portfolio or under consideration for investment.

Mr. Searfoss, an advisor to numerous startup and growth-stage technology companies, is a Cofounder of and served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Boomtown, a leading technology startup accelerator with more than 200 portfolio companies. A veteran of the litigation finance industry, Mr. Searfoss was also the founding Chief Financial Officer, a General Partner, and member of the Investment Committee of Longford Capital, a leading litigation funder. “I have known and worked closely with Chris DeLise and the Delta team for well over a decade and I am excited about the future of the organization. Litigation finance is an attractive and evolving asset class, and Delta’s strengths stand out in the industry,” said Searfoss.

Prior to joining Delta, Ms. Sofer previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of BlackSwan Technologies, a leading global technology AI startup. In this capacity, she scaled the company across six subsidiaries within the US, EMEA and Asia and successfully raised capital and secured valuable commercial partnerships with leading Fintech companies. “I am thrilled to be joining the very talented team at Delta and I am looking forward to collaborating with Chris DeLise and the senior team in building on their ongoing success and executing Delta’s ambitious growth plans,” said Ms. Sofer.

Before his tenure at Delta, Mr. Ouliel founded and acted as the CEO of Ripples Homeland Security Group. Ripples was a global technology company with a focus on building large and complex intelligence and investigation systems for governments and large multinational enterprises globally. Mr. Ouliel was also the founder and CEO of BlackSwan Technologies, where he was named among the Top 50 AI CEOs of 2021 by Technology Innovators magazine. In recent years, Mr. Ouliel has been acting as a special advisor to multiple governments and federal agencies in the area of technology, primarily focused on intelligence, counter terror, HUMINT, and extremism. Mr. Ouliel expressed that he is “thrilled and excited to join the excellent team at Delta” and that the opportunity presented an “outstanding value proposition and business model for which his “skills and expertise will bring unique opportunities to the litigation funding market.”

Christopher DeLise, Delta’s founder, CEO and Co-CIO stated that he is “very proud to have such esteemed professionals join Delta as it is continues its growth and development in dynamic markets and verticals. The litigation finance industry has significantly changed over the past 14 years, which necessitates bringing on board very seasoned professionals to best enable the firm to adapt and profit from these developments. I have known each of Jason, Michael and Elinoar for over a decade, frequently collaborating on one-off projects, and therefore it made great sense to have them join the Delta team on a permanent basis as we embark on our latest set of growth initiatives and new product offerings.”   

About Delta

Delta Capital Partners Management LLC is a US-based, global asset management firm specializing exclusively in litigation and legal finance, judgment and award enforcement, and asset recovery.  Delta creates bespoke financing solutions for professional service firms, businesses, governments, financial institutions, investment firms, and individual claimants to enable them to investigate claims, pursue litigation or arbitration, recover assets, enforce judgments or awards, and more effectively manage their risks, cash flow, and capital expenditures.

Case Developments Commercial

Burford Capital Funds Competition Claim Against Google

By Harry Moran |

Law firm Geradin Partners has revealed that, alongside Dr Or Brook, they will be filing an opt-out competition damages claim against Google in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). The claim, which is being brought on behalf of UK-domiciled advertisers, focuses on allegations that Google abused the market dominance of its search engine services and engaged in anticompetitive behaviour to charge unreasonably high prices for these advertisers.

Geradin Partners said that the claim is estimated to be valued at over £5 billion, with the action being supported by litigation funding from Burford Capital. Alongside Geradin Partners, Dr Brook has engaged a legal team including: Robert O’Donoghue KC (Brick Court), Kieron Beal KC (Blackstone Chambers), and Daniel Carrall-Green (Fountain Court). The announcement did not specify a date, but said that the claim would be filed in the CAT “shortly”.

Dr Brook explained the reasoning behind bringing the action, saying: “Google has adopted a deliberate strategy to maintain its dominance in online search through a range of anticompetitive behaviours aimed at excluding its rivals, to the severe detriment of advertisers. I am bringing this litigation to ensure that advertisers in the UK are given the opportunity to be compensated for the harm they have suffered at Google’s hands as a result of these unfair practices.”

Damien Geradin, Founding Partner of Geradin Partners, provided the following statement: “Google has eliminated rivals on the general search services and general search text advertising markets through a variety of exclusionary practices, which has led UK-domiciled advertisers to be overcharged by billions of pounds. We are committed and well-resourced to obtain redress on their behalf.” 

Case Developments Commercial

Omni Bridgeway Funds Class Actions Targeting Mining Companies’ Sexual Harassment

By Harry Moran |

Two class actions have been filed against BHP Group and Rio Tinto Group, over claims that their Australian mining sites created environments of sexual harassment and gender discrimination against female employees. The class actions, which were filed earlier this week in the Federal Court of Australia, allege that the female employees put at risk and also punished via demotion or dismissal when these issues were reported to the companies.

BNN Bloomberg reports that the class actions are being funded by Omni Bridgeway, with JGA Saddler providing legal representation for the claimants. The amount of funding provided by Omni Bridgeway has not been publicly reported.

Joshua Aylward, director at JGA Saddler, said that in the process of bringing these lawsuits they “have heard reports of everything from unwanted touching and sexual harassment to rape, violence and physical threats.” He went on to explain that the class actions are both about seeking justice for the victims and will also “give a voice to these women, many of whom have been too afraid to speak out for fear of losing their jobs or workplace reprisals.”

In statements from the companies targeted by the class actions, BHP said they “deeply regret and apologize unreservedly to anyone who has ever experienced any form of harassment,” whilst Rio said that it would treat these claims with “the utmost seriousness”.

Case Developments Commercial

Sarama Resources Commences Arbitration Against Burkina Faso, Funded by Locke Capital

By Harry Moran |

Third-party legal funding continues to be the tool of choice for companies looking to pursue arbitration proceedings against nation states, with corporations in the mining and exploration sector repeatedly appearing as users of outside funding.

An announcement from Sarama Resources reveals that the company has formally commenced arbitration proceedings against Burkina Faso, seeking at least A$180 million in damages. The arbitration claim is centred on allegations that the government of Burkina Faso illegally withdrew the Sarama’s permit for the Tankoro Deposit, which was the focus of the company’s Sanutura Project.

As LFJ previously reported in October, Sarama has secured A$6.7 million in funding from Locke Capital, which Sarama’s President and CEO, Andrew Dinning said would “cover all expenses related to the Company’s arbitration case.” Sarama has brought on Boies Schiller Flexner to provide legal representation during the proceedings.

As part of its formal commencement of proceedings, Sarama has submitted a Request for Arbitration (RFA) to the International Centre for Investment Disputes (ICSID). The company noted that the RFA has been submitted following the end of the 60-day consultation period, which was required after Sarama had provided Burkina Faso with its Notice of Intent to Submit Claims to Arbitration. Sarama explained that the consultation period had passed without any response from the Government of Burkina Faso, and therefore no settlement had been achieved.

Community Spotlights

Community Spotlight: Gabriel Pardo Lelo de Larrea, Founder & CEO, RIDER Litigation Finance

By John Freund |

Gabriel Pardo Lelo de Larrea—a Mexican lawyer with international experience, business executive, and entrepreneur—has come up with a technological solution that aims to transform the litigation funding space by streamlining and optimizing the traditionally time-consuming funding process.

With a Law Degree from Mexico’s prestigious Universidad Panamericana, a Business Degree from IPADE Business School, and a Master’s in Finance from Duke University, Gabriel brings extensive expertise in arbitration, capital raising, private equity, and litigation finance. Recognizing a critical gap in the industry, he designed a democratized, efficient platform that empowers investors of all sizes to participate while providing owners of legal rights, across a broader spectrum of claim values, with accessible funding opportunities.

Company Name:   RIDER LITIGATION FINANCE, L.L.C.

Company Description:  Built on proprietary technology, RIDER’s automated and efficient processes address a critical need: simplifying and expediting deal sourcing, closing, and post-closing updates. Acting as a matchmaker within its carefully curated network, RIDER connects claimholders, law firms, and investors already registered on its platform.

By democratizing litigation funding, RIDER makes the industry accessible to investors of all sizes while empowering claimholders with large, medium, and smaller-scale claims to secure the financial support they need. This disruptive model expands the litigation finance ecosystem, delivering fairness and efficiency to all stakeholders. RIDER serves as the ultimate dealmaker enabler on a global scale.

  1. Tailored Applications: RIDER meticulously prepares Funding Applications in a format funders prefer, presenting key financial and material aspects with clarity and precision.
  2. Rigorous Filtering: We pre-select cases with a high likelihood of success, backed by double Legal Opinions, ensuring funders are presented with only the most compelling opportunities.
  3. Aligned Expectations: Before negotiations begin, all stakeholders are fully informed about financial expectations and other critical terms, fostering transparency and reducing delays.
  4. Streamlined Negotiations: RIDER’s assistance during negotiations accelerates agreement finalization, providing funders and claim holders with a seamless experience.

Year Founded:   2022, Launching Operations in November 2024.

Headquarters:  Mexico City, although with Global reach.

Area of the Company:   Founder & CEO

Member Quote:   "Democratizing Justice, Empowering Investment on a Global scale".

The LFJ Podcast
Hosted By John Freund |

In this episode, we sit down with Richard Culberson, CEO of Moneypenny & VoiceNation North America. Richard discusses how Moneypenny can save costs and increase operational efficiency for law firms and litigation funders through enhanced client communication services.

Announcements Commercial People Moves

LCM Announces Appointment of Chief Financial Officer to the Board of Directors

By Harry Moran |

Litigation Capital Management Limited (AIM:LIT), a leading international alternative asset manager of disputes financing solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of David Collins, Chief Financial Officer, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

David has brought significant expertise and fresh perspective to LCM during his first five months as CFO, making a positive impact on the company's financial operations and strategic planning. David is a Chartered Accountant and brings more than 20 years' experience in senior finance and capital markets roles across a range of leading institutions including EY, Morgan Stanley, Och-Ziff Capital (now Sculptor Capital) and Prudential plc.

Jonathan Moulds, Chairman of LCM, commented: "David's appointment to the Board reflects our confidence in his capabilities and his contributions to the business in a short period. We look forward to leveraging his experience as we continue to execute on our strategy for growth and value creation."

The following information is disclosed in accordance with Schedule 2(g) of the AIM Rules for Companies:

David Andrew Collins, aged 47, holds/has held the following directorships/partnerships in the last five years:

Current directorships:Previous directorships held in the past 5 years:
Greatham Advisors LimitedHoway Investments Ltd