Litigation Funder Working as General Counsel at DOGE
As the future of litigation funding regulation continues to be a hot topic across many jurisdictions, it is worth considering the level of influence litigation funders have at the highest echelons of government. A new report suggests that in the US, one litigation funder’s founder has a role in Elon Musk’s new organization targeting government efficiency.
An article in Pro Publica highlights the role of prominent lawyers who have been appointed to positions within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the temporary organization created by President Trump via executive order on January 20. The three lawyers, who have been identified by Pro Publica through a review of records that list DOGE email addresses at the Executive Office of the President, are Keenan Kmiec, Jacob Altik and James Burnham.
Burnham stands out among these three names, as in addition to his new role as general counsel at DOGE, he is also the President and founder of litigation funder Vallecito Capital. According to a Bloomberg Law article, Burnham launched Vallecito Capital in July 2023 with a $50 million fund, with the aim to fund lawsuits against companies that are engaged in “unambiguously bad behaviour.” The size of the $50 million fund and Burnham’s ownership, largely through a company called Deep Creek LLC, is confirmed in an application for investment adviser registration filed with the SEC.
Burnham has an extensive legal background that includes time as a litigation partner at Jones Day, the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice, and a Senior Associate Counsel to the President. In addition to these roles, Burnham has also clerked for Justice Neil Gorsuch on the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Alex Kozinski on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
As well as founding his own litigation funding business, Burnham is also listed as the founder of boutique law firm, King Street Legal.