Counsel Financial will present during the Business of Law track, outlining creative financial solutions available to law firms. Navigating the options in today's marketplace can be confusing—the Company will share concrete examples of actual financings to help provide clarity on what is available to contingent-fee firms. In addition, members of the Counsel Financial team will participate in two panel discussions during the seminar's Nuts & Bolts and Class Actions programs. President & CEO, Paul Cody, hosts class action leaders Greg Coleman, Esq. and Dan Bryson, Esq. of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman who will discuss some of the top class actions slated to make significant progress in 2021, legal issues to be aware of and the impact of COVID-19 on class action litigation.
Burford Capital Limited | |
Jim Kilman, Chief Financial Officer | +1 917 985 9840 |
Robert Bailhache, Head of Investor Relations, EMEA and Asia | +44 (0)20 3530 2023 |
Jim Ballan, Head of Investor Relations, Americas | +1 (646) 793 9176 |
Numis Securities Limited - NOMAD and Joint Broker | +44 (0)20 7260 1000 |
Kevin Cruickshank (NOMAD) | |
Charlie Farquhar / Jonathan Abbott (Joint Broker) | |
Jefferies International Limited - Joint Broker | +44 (0)20 7029 8000 |
Graham Davidson | |
Tony White |
Omni Bridgeway’s most recent podcast features commentary by Junior Surivar of McCarthy Tetrault, and Jon Drummer of Paul Hastings. The episode is part two in a series detailing litigation relating to mining disputes. Geoff Moysa hosts.
Below are some highlights from the podcast:
JS: There’s been a noteworthy spike in disputes addressing the finer points of royalties, where before, most disputes related to shareholders and joint ventures.
GM: Why?
JS: New partners can impact how royalties are seen by everyone. The precise interpretation of royalty agreements can be subject to multiple readings. Any time partners shuffle, there’s a chance that royalty agreements will be reread and reinterpreted.
Royalty agreements are generally entered early in a partnership. As situations change over time, the intention of the original agreement may be lost or changed dramatically. When a new party enters the arrangement, everything changes.
JD: Agreed. Intent versus the written document can lead to multiple interpretations.
GM: How likely is it that these disputes can be solved with negotiation?
JS: When there are differences of opinion or interpretation advanced in good faith, negotiation can go a long way.
JD: Yes, and expedited negotiations fast-tracked for results are common.
GM: What about multiple royalties or layers of objections? Have there been increases in disputes from specialized mining royalties?
JD: Not really. But there are many reasons partners might revisit royalty agreements for reinterpretation. There is a rise in mining royalty companies, which leads to all involved parties looking at the value of their royalties more seriously.
GM: Are disputes arising from M&As?
JD: That’s been a trend, yes. There’s been a rise in cases on environmental issues, as well as health and safety concerns, and others on securities disclosure laws. We expect that to continue.
JS: In Canada, we are seeing that on the environmental issues, but in Ontario, changes to the Class Proceedings Act make it more challenging to certify a class. This leads to funders or plaintiffs being less willing to invest in a class action.