Trending Now
Announcements Commercial

Apex Litigation Finance report positive market adoption of non-recourse litigation for lower value claims in its first year

Apex Litigation Finance have announced a successful first calendar year of providing litigation funding targeted at small to medium sized claims. The firm reports positive acceptance of its innovative non-recourse funding model from the legal sector and both individual and corporate litigants.

Since the launch of its first fund in late 2019, the firm has successfully invested in 32 pieces of litigation, with anticipated claim values ranging from £30,000 to £27,000,000. Claim types have included financial mis-selling, professional negligence, intellectual property/copyright, shareholder disputes, breach of contract, contentious probate, group claims and various insolvency related matters.

Apex say that the positive response from investors confirms the attractiveness of a non-recourse model for lower value cases. Its first investor fund closed at the beginning of 2020, and within 12 months it had committed over two thirds of the available capital into funding cases. The firm believes its ability to attract applications and convert enquiries into funded cases further demonstrates the viability of its non-recourse model.

The other significant feature of Apex’s first year has been its commitment to using technology to increase efficiency and reduce costs. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) legal predictive claim analysis into its business model, Apex have significantly reduced total claim analysis costs – for the firm and its clients.

Apex initially partnered with a third-party AI development team, but in late 2020 brought development in-house. This has allowed Apex to create a tool which will continue to grow with the company and add greater value to its future funding proposition.

Many of the currently invested claims are expected to settle by the end of 2021. Model simulation tests predict a minimum 75-80% positive outcome, which Apex aims to enhance through a rigorous review and fluid investment process.

Maurice Power, CEO at Apex says: “I fully expect 2021 to see Apex firmly established as one of the litigation funders of choice. Plans are already advanced to grow the company, our share of the litigation funding market and the development of our technology.

“Building on our experience in litigation funding, legal review, AI and fund management, we have been successful in developing an investment team that we believe is unique within the industry. Our second investor fund is on course to launch this year and is projected to raise a minimum of ten times the amount secured in the first fund.”

Apex Litigation Finance Limited brings together experts from the legal and finance sectors to provide third party litigation funding to litigants (corporates, liquidators and individuals) who are unable to pursue a claim due to the prohibitive cost of litigation.

Although the claim may have merits, uncertainty over the total costs and the potential risk of being ordered to pay the defendant’s cost, should they lose the claim, prohibits access to justice for many claimants.
Our process is augmented by artificial intelligence systems to assess risk.

As a professional litigation funder, Apex will make available funds to pay legal and other costs associated with a claim in return for an agreed share of any successful return. If there is no recovery, or if the claim is lost, there is nothing to repay. For details please see https://www.apexlitigation.com

Announcements

View All
Announcements Comercial People Moves

Victory Park Expands Legal Credit Leadership with Maleson Promotion

By John Freund |

Victory Park Capital (VPC), a global alternative asset manager specializing in private credit, has announced that Justin Maleson will expand his role to Managing Director, co-heading the firm’s legal credit investment strategy. The promotion underscores VPC’s ongoing investment in its legal finance capabilities and follows Maleson’s initial appointment in 2024 as Assistant General Counsel.

An announcement from Victory Park Capital details Maleson’s new responsibilities, which include sourcing, analyzing, and managing investments across legal assets, while maintaining oversight of the firm’s legal operations. He joins Chad Clamage in co-leading the strategy, working alongside team members Hugo Lestiboudois and Andrew Pascal, under the continued oversight of VPC CEO and founder Richard Levy.

Maleson brings a strong background in litigation finance and commercial law to the position. Before joining VPC, he served as a director at Longford Capital, where he specialized in originating and managing litigation funding transactions. His earlier tenure as a litigation partner at Jenner & Block further deepened his exposure to complex legal matters, equipping him with the expertise needed to navigate the nuanced legal credit space.

VPC’s legal credit team emphasizes an asset-backed lending model, prioritizing downside protection and predictable income streams. The firm aims to capitalize on inefficiencies within the legal funding market by leveraging its internal expertise and broad network of relationships. With Maleson’s appointment, VPC signals its intent to further scale its legal credit strategy, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving legal finance sector.

Maleson’s elevation comes at a time of increasing sophistication in litigation finance, where experienced legal minds are playing a pivotal role in portfolio construction and risk management. As VPC bolsters its leadership, the move may foreshadow further institutionalization of legal asset investing and heightened competition in a maturing market segment.

Announcements Consumer

Golden Pear Upsizes Corporate Note to $78.7M Amid Growth Plans

By John Freund |

Golden Pear Funding has extended and upsized its investment-grade corporate note to $78.7 million, further bolstering the firm's capacity to serve the expanding litigation finance sector. The New York-based funder, a national leader in both pre-settlement and medical receivables financing, said the proceeds will support working capital and fuel strategic growth initiatives.

A press release from Golden Pear outlines how the capital raise reflects continued investor confidence in the firm’s business model. CEO Gary Amos noted that the infusion is critical as Golden Pear seeks to scale alongside the “rapidly expanding litigation finance market.” CFO Daniel Amsellem added that the new funding aligns with the company’s capital allocation strategy, aimed at optimizing operational efficiency and executing strategic projects.

Brean Capital, LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor and sole placement agent on the transaction.

Founded in 2008, Golden Pear has funded more than $1.1 billion to over 87,000 clients and remains one of the largest specialty finance companies in the U.S. Its business model spans legal case funding and medical receivables purchasing, with backing from a network of private equity partners that provide institutional support for continued expansion.

Announcements Regulatory Issues

LionFish Updates Model Documents in Response to CJC Report

By John Freund |

LionFish Litigation Finance Ltd has released a new suite of model litigation funding documents, updating its original set from February 2021. The revision comes on the heels of the Civil Justice Council's (CJC) Final Report on Litigation Funding, issued on 2 June 2025, which calls for a regulatory structure informed by best practices, including key principles published by the European Law Institute (ELI) in October 2024.

A LionFish press release details that the updated suite incorporates several of the ELI Principles (notably 4-12) and broader CJC recommendations, except where doing so would require legislative or procedural reform. LionFish's goal, according to Managing Director Tets Ishikawa, is not to dictate market norms but to foster industry-wide standardisation and efficiency. This proactive move is also intended to spark further collaboration between funders, insurers, and legal practitioners to develop trade practices akin to those in mature financial markets, such as those promoted by the Loan Market Association and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association.

The new suite includes three core documents: a litigation funding agreement, a priorities deed to define proceeds distribution, and an assignment deed for insurance benefits. Notably, LionFish has also added documentation for co-investment arrangements, reflecting a growing trend in syndicated funding deals. The funder has already closed seven such transactions.

Managing Director Tanya Lansky emphasised that while litigation funding remains complex, making documentation public enhances transparency and facilitates quicker deal closings—an essential factor for sustaining market growth.

As litigation finance continues to mature, this move by LionFish highlights a shift toward professionalisation and standardisation. With regulators increasingly focused on transparency and fairness, such initiatives may set a de facto benchmark for others in the industry. The question remains: will other funders follow suit, or will regulatory mandates be needed to compel alignment?