News and analysis dedicated to the commercial litigation funding sector including regulatory issues, case developments, funding activities, and more.

The Nakiki SE announces that it has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire a portfolio of so-called casino and sports betting lawsuits with a disputed value of approximately EUR 6.3 million (plus interest of at least EUR 800,000, as well as additional costs). Nakiki SE or one of its subsidiaries intends to take over an existing portfolio of lawsuits instead of pursuing individual lawsuits as announced in the ad hoc announcement of April 17, 2024. The individual lawsuits mentioned in the ad hoc announcement of April 17, 2024, will not be financed for the time being.

According to German case law from various legally binding decisions, players have a claim for reimbursement of gambling losses, as online casinos largely operated illegally until 2021. The lawsuits to be financed by Nakiki or Legal Finance are based on this legal perspective. A ruling from the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) and the European Court of Justice (ECJ) is still pending.

In the event of the acquisition of the portfolio and a successful outcome of the litigation, Nakiki or a financing subsidiary is entitled to up to 25% of the litigation success.

With a background in Physics, Engineering and Software, Julian Coleman has 30+ years’ experience at the COO level conceiving new products and leading the project management, system design, engineering, software development, manufacturing, compliance and delivery teams.

Company Name and Description: 10^th Mind is an e-discovery company that has been created with a major focus on innovation, not only for general e-discovery activities but in particular to assist litigation funds to overcome their specific challenges and threats  –  a special approach demanding a change of mindset.

Our name reflects our focus on innovation and is derived from the intelligence community – the Tenth Man principle. It requires that, where a group of ten analysts is working on the same data and nine of the group reach the same conclusion, it is the duty of the 10^th person, the 10^th Mind, to examine the issue on the premise that the other nine are wrong.

The ‘group think’ consensus may be right most of the time, or even mostly right all of the time, but tends to favour business as usual. The 10^th Mind is there to challenge the consensus view and proffer different solutions.

10^th Mind has defined (and addressed) four key areas:

• Costs – there is in our view an increasing understanding that costs must be reduced
• Process management and recording – not only does a very efficient process drive costs down, but it can (and must) include extensive record keeping of the entire process in order to support effective litigation
• Technology will play an ever increasing role
• Litigation Funds – a rapidly expanding market both in terms of finance available and in market sectors, funds are naturally focused on profit, a critical part of their business being case selection – and costs are a major factor here too. Funds have their own challenges, but also are having a significant impact on the wider litigation landscape.

Addressing these issues has been very interesting. As a seasoned C level executive it has been interesting to analyse and then dispense with so much convention. A business structured around what is today rather than yesterday can look very different and cost far less whilst being intrinsically more responsive and adaptable. In terms of what we can do, having no legacy structures to worry about has major benefits which transfer to the client:

• Costs are reduced.  Many expensive overheads can be dispensed with.
• We have developed our own project management and recording systems; based on PRINCE2 and facilitated by our unique software, integrated with selected new commercial products, management processes are vastly improved. Full traceable record keeping and transparency are built in and automated, essentially at zero cost.
• …and finally but crucially, 10^th Mind will work with funds on special terms:
  • if the fund is prepared to take on a case we will work on a CFA basis
  • we will also work with the fund on a CFA basis to undertake early stage investigations, in our view crucial to improving the evidence on which to base case selection and ultimately, therefore, profitability.

At 10^th Mind we are convinced that not only is such an approach necessary now, but there will be ever-present forces driving the need for continued evolution:

Costs are becoming a major issue.  Significant concern has emerged in the English litigation funding community over last year’s Paccar judgement. Omni Bridgeway’s Co-chief Information Officer, Matt Harrison, has said that some litigation funders may not survive the economic instability as “they don’t have the money available to them to invest in cases and in law firms.”  Bloomberg Law also recently noted that some litigation funds are currently facing financial difficulty.

Burford, one of the biggest litigation funds in the world and which describes itself as “the institutional quality finance firm focused on law“, undertook surveys from which they report:

“[Over half of respondents to its poll] (52%) say drastic steps are needed to better manage legal costs, such as moving away from the billable hour, limiting outside firms and more innovation from outside counsel.“

and

“Finance and legal professionals agree: the legal department’s top priority for the next 15 years is to minimize legal costs. But they are also unified in prioritizing that the legal department simultaneously find new ways to recover value.“

It is clear there is a consensus that costs, specifically cost reduction, must be considered, and in our view, litigation funds will be a driving force.

Litigation funds have a very different focus from law firms, crucially they exist to make profits and that means winning cases, which in turn places a focus on the initial assessment stage.  And, as previously observed, the sector is expanding both in terms of available funds and in scope, driving change and posing challenges for dispute litigation as a whole. 

Logically as funding takes over a larger percentage of dispute litigation, the greater the overall impact this will have on costs. Arguably as saturation approaches, such pressures can only increase.

Process management and recording is in our view now essential, not merely tracking the ingestion and processing of data from collection to court, but the recording of all the management processes which defined the data management: who did what, when and why, recorded in forensic detail. This not only, if done well, improves business processes but it evidences them should legal challenges arise. Hence this data must be ‘forensics ready’.

Technology can and will help. But it must be the right technology which assists the first two objectives, ie improving practises whilst reducing costs. Having found critical gaps in commercial offerings, we have worked on our own solution.

Website: www.10thMind.com

Founded: 2023

Headquarters: UK (London)

Member Quote: We feel it crucial that providers must always question the legacy thinking and structures that entrench lack of efficiency, accuracy, and high costs.  By applying the 10^th Mind principle, we are providing services in a new way: shared risk, formal (and unique) project management and software, along with specialised services specifically to assist funds combine to make us, to our knowledge, unique in the e-discovery sector.

If you would like to find out more as to how we can assist you and your clients, we would be delighted to meet you. Please contact us through our website (www.10thmind.com) or email our COO directly at julian.coleman@10thmind.com.

Darrow, the leading legal intelligence platform, today announced the launch of Darrow’s PlaintiffLink platform for mass arbitration.  With tens of thousands of plaintiffs already uniquely vetted on PlaintiffLink, the platform offers unparalleled quality of service for law firms in the pursuit of justice. 

PlaintiffLink is a revolutionary plaintiff-connecting tool for law firms, now built to support the complexity of mass arbitration cases. PlaintiffLink enables attorneys to plan, review, and approve potential clients through a centralized portal. It allows attorneys to connect with the large volumes of clients needed for mass arbitration. Using the platform, attorneys can gain data driven insights that power effective filing strategies and streamlined case management, backed by Darrow’s top-tier legal consultancy. 

“PlaintiffLink provides a cutting-edge solution to the risks and costs associated with mass arbitrations, and makes it easier for attorneys to promptly connect with the tens of thousands of clients needed for these types of cases,” said Evyatar Ben Artzi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Darrow. “We’re committed to delivering technology that helps victims connect with the best law firms to ensure justice is served, even in the most complex matters that require expert attention.”

PlaintiffLink addresses the biggest barrier for attorneys considering mass arbitration cases: connecting with a large volume of qualified plaintiffs and managing them seamlessly. Through a centralized portal, attorneys can now leverage PlaintiffLink to connect with tens of thousands of thoroughly vetted, qualified plaintiffs needed for arbitrations. The service operates on a unique contingency model, shifting financial risk away from attorneys.

“We’ve built a dedicated solution to enable visibility into client cohorts in a single matter  so that attorneys can effectively file and manage cases,” said Gila Hayat, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Darrow.

PlaintiffLink enables lawyers to swiftly review through thousands of individual clients. Users can drill down into specific claim cohorts, download raw CSV data files containing all details about each claim, and review insight reports to get a more visual and statistical analysis of the case. PlaintiffLink also employs a comprehensive review process, with two tiers of expert vetting, to streamline client acquisition and reduce invalid claims. 

Darrow is committed to delivering products that drive firm growth and profits per partner, and it is planning additional releases throughout 2024 to support its users.

For more information, visit: https://darrow.ai 

About Darrow

Founded in 2020, Darrow is a legal tech company on a mission to fuel law firm growth and deliver justice for victims. Darrow’s AI-powered justice intelligence platform leverages generative AI and world-class legal experts and technologists to uncover egregious violations across legal domains spanning privacy and data breach, consumer protection, securities and financial fraud, environment, and employment. Darrow is based out of New York City and Tel Aviv.

Michael Klaschka is a Managing Principal and head of the Financial Institutions team based in EPIC’s Jersey City office.  He has over 32 years of industry experience and is a highly respected and skilled negotiator in the professional liability marketplace. 

Mike has extensive experience working with financial institution, investment management, litigation finance, real estate, venture capital, private equity and complex risks with strong technical knowledge of D&O, E&O, Cyber, Fidelity, Fiduciary, Media and Employment Practices Liability. 

Mike joined EPIC in August 2016.  Prior to joining EPIC, Mike was the national leader of Integro’s Management Risk Practice where he spent 11 years.  Prior to Integro, Mike spent 10 years at Marsh & McLennan where he held various positions including head of their E&O Center of Excellence Group based in NY as well as the west coast FINPRO placement leader for their financial institution, technology and commercial accounts group based in San Francisco.  Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Drew University in 1991, and majored in Economics with a minor in Political Science.

Company Name and Description:  EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants

We are a unique and innovative retail risk management and employee benefits insurance brokerage and consulting firm, founded in San Francisco, California in 2007 with offices and leadership across the country.

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has a depth of industry expertise across key lines of insurance, including risk management, property and casualty, employee benefits, unique specialty program insurance and private client services.

Company Website: https://www.epicbrokers.com/

Year Founded: 2007

Headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Area of Focus: Property & Casualty Insurance with expertise in Directors’ & Officers’, Errors & Omissions, Employment Practices, Fund, and Cyber Liability.

Member Quote: Procuring insurance for litigation finance companies can be a challenge as many insurers view the industry as driving up their costs.  Several even prohibited their underwriters from offering terms.  In addition, litigation finance companies have unique exposures that are not addressed in “off the shelf” products offered by insurers.  At EPIC, we have the knowledge and experience as well as the relationships with key insurers that gives us the ability to negotiate and place coverage tailored to each client.

Nakiki SE announces that its subsidiary Legal Finance SE has signed a Letter of Intent for the financing of a so-called corona mask lawsuit with a value in dispute of up to EUR 34 million including costs and interest.

The company that concluded a contract with the Federal Republic of Germany for the supply of Covid masks in 2020 has not been paid and is suing for payment. The case is before the Court of First Instance.

Depending on the outcome of the litigation, the letter of intent provides for a graduated participation of Nakiki SE or its subsidiary in the outcome of the litigation of 15 – 35%.

This is not the lawsuit mentioned in the ad hoc announcement of 9 May 2024, which is still under review, but a different, independent lawsuit.

In a press release from Clarion, the Leeds-based law firm announced the promotion of a partner in its Costs and Litigation Funding Team.

Stephanie Kaye joined Clarion as a Paralegal in 2013 and has since become well regarded for both her networking skills and expertise. Named as a ‘Rising Star’ by Chambers and Partners in 2020, Stephanie has gone on to be recognised as a ‘Leading Individual’ in the rankings for the past three years.

The team has been ranked as Band 1 for legal costs services by Chambers and Partners for the past five years, and Stephanie’s strong national reputation has enabled her to play a key role in the development and growth of the team.

The Costs and Litigation Funding team advise on a range of matters, specialising in Court of Protection, Cost Management and Litigation Costs, with a very strong UK reputation and growing expertise in high value international costs work. Andrew McAulay, who heads up the team, has been recognised as a leading individual by Chambers for the past five years.

As well as leading the Court of Protection costs service, Stephanie has helped create and cultivate the culture at Clarion. She’s an expert mentor and her role managing junior talent through their apprenticeships and leading on diversity and inclusion initiatives has been invaluable for the firm.

Speaking on the promotion, Roger Hutton, Joint Managing Partner at Clarion, said: “Stephanie has gone from strength to strength, since joining Clarion 11 years ago. It’s no surprise and yet no mean feat, that Stephanie has now moved into the role of Partner – a role I know she’ll thrive in.

“It’s talented individuals like Stephanie who not only help us deliver our national growth strategy, but they are also instrumental in attracting the best talent across the region.”

“The Costs and Litigation Funding team has worked hard to become nationally recognised for the trusted support, advice and expertise it offers to its clients. Stephanie has played an instrumental role in this, and her promotion is testament to that.”

Alfonso Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities, research institutes and technology companies. His matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters, as well as biomaterials and medical devices.

Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. He is also registered to practice before the U.S Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Europe. Alfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters. Alfonso received his JD from the Dedman School of Law and a Masters in Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Company Name and Description: King & Spalding helps leading companies advance complex business interests in more than 160 countries. Working across a highly integrated platform of more than 1,300 lawyers in 24 offices globally, we deliver tailored commercial solutions through world-class offerings and an uncompromising approach to quality and service.     

Company Website: kslaw.com/?locale=en

Year Founded: 1885

Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Area of Focus: Intellectual Property Litigation, Innovation Protection 

Member Quote: “Patience and flexibility are essential to crafting a funding solution. The marketplace does not suffer cowboys gladly.”

Davide De Vido is an Italian lawyer with significant expertise in commercial and company law consultancy and disputes. In 2000, Davide started his career as an in-house counsel for a leading industrial group in the production and sale of building materials, gaining experience in complex transactions and corporate dispute resolution.

Subsequently, he assumed the same role for a leading company in the field of production and sale of eyewear, and after these two experiences, Davide founded his own law boutique.

In 2019, Davide entered in the litigation funding industry and founded FiDeAL®

Company Name and Description: FiDeAL® is a full consultancy company of litigation finance (funding and insurance) solutions that works across Europe with a particular focus on the Italian legal market.

We assist those seeking financial solutions to pursue single cases, and also help create portfolio claims. We collaborate with law firms, associations, other NG organizations, companies and litigation funds or investors to structure complex projects.

Last June, through collaboration with expert and university professors, FiDeAL has established its environmental, climatic, and ESG law department to offer the highest level of expertise in preparing, structuring, and conducting in-depth legal and economic analyses of projects, making the funding process more efficient and effective.

Company Website: www.fideal.it

Year Founded:  2019

Headquarters:  31020 San Vendemiano (Treviso), Italy

Area of Focus: Advising and brokering all types of litigation finance related matters. Since June 2024, FiDeAL has been working in environmental/climate/ESG law to help protect the planet and improve people’s quality of life and business relations.

Member Quote: We dream of a world where access to justice is democratized and easily accessible globally for each individual, company or entity.

Court House Capital is delighted to welcome Heather Collins as Chief Investment Officer and member of the Investment Committee, responsible for assessing and overseeing investment opportunities for the business across Australia and New Zealand.

Heather is a veteran commercial litigator with significant experience in the litigation funding sector, commercial legal practice and in-house corporate counsel roles spanning insolvency, banking and finance, property, construction, Corporations law, trade practices and employment law. Heather is highly regarded leader in the sector and is a former President of the Women’s Insolvency Network Association NSW branch (WINA), a Professional Member of the Australian Restructuring & Insolvency Association (ARITA) and the Turnaround Management Association Australia (TMA), and is recognised in Chambers and Partners Litigation Support (2024) and Lawdragon Global 100 Leaders in Litigation Finance (2021-2024). In her newly created role, Heather will work alongside the wider team and Chief Executive Officer Michelle Silvers who leads Court House Capital’s overall business strategy and operations. 

“We are seeing increasing demand for funding across Australia and New Zealand, and I am absolutely delighted to welcome Heather Collins as Chief Investment Officer in response to this growth. Heather brings a wealth of experience in funding and commercial litigation, and as Chief Investment Officer she will work closely with me to expand our business and oversee our investment portfolio.” Michelle Silvers, Chief Executive Officer, Court House Capital

“I’m thrilled to join the wonderful team at Court House Capital, in the newly created role of Chief Investment Officer. I have tremendous respect for Michelle and the Court House Capital team and look forward to bringing my extensive legal and funding experience to support our funded claimants and the stellar law firms we work with.” Heather Collins, Chief Investment Officer, Court House Capital

ABOUT COURT HOUSE CAPITAL

Court House Capital is a leading litigation funder focused on cases in Australia and New Zealand. Led by industry founders, with Australian based capital, the team is renowned for expertise, agility and collaboration. courthousecapital.com.au

Rebecca Berrebi is the CEO and Founder of Avenue 33, LLC, a full service, litigation finance consultancy that provides brokerage, strategic advisory and recruiting services. She handles all types of matters within the litigation finance industry from single case financings to law firm portfolios to insured structured credit matters.  Rebecca has worked in the litigation finance industry since 2016, and her background as a private money transactional lawyer and funder allows her to serve clients with both legal acumen and keen business insight. 

Previously, she was the Head of Corporate Affairs at a leading litigation finance fund manager where she oversaw investments and served on many boards and committees, including of Eco Oro Minerals Corp. (CSE: EOM).  Rebecca graduated from Duke University, after which she worked in the political affairs and public relations industry.  She later obtained her law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and practiced as a private equity M&A lawyer at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and at a global private equity fund. 

Company Name and Description:   Avenue 33, LLC serves litigants, funders, law firms and investors in addressing and closing the litigation finance knowledge and communications gaps in order to facilitate a more seamless, efficient and successful financing process – from outset to outcome.

Often even sophisticated parties come to a “dispute finance” matter with varying backgrounds, underlying understandings and assumptions. With information equality, alignment of interests, harmonization of expectations and clarity of process, the opportunities for maximizing positive outcomes and minimizing contention substantially increases for all stakeholders. Avenue 33 can provide guidance, strategic advice and support leading to efficient value optimization.

Company Website: www.avenue33llc.com

Year Founded:  2020

Headquarters:  Westchester, NY

Area of Focus:  Advising and brokering all types of litigation finance related matters

Member Quote: In this opaque market, visibility into trends and appetites of the players saves lawyers, clients, funds and all stakeholders time and money.  Experienced, high-quality brokers create value for individual deals as well as add credibility to the litigation finance industry generally.

DecoverAI, a pioneering legal technology company, is excited to announce that it has raised $2 million in seed funding, led by Leo Capital, with participation from other prominent investors. This funding marks a significant milestone in DecoverAI’s mission to transform the legal industry through cutting-edge AI solutions.

Introducing DecoverAI

At DecoverAI, we harness the power of AI to save legal professionals time and money, addressing systemic flaws in both civil and criminal litigation that often result in widespread injustice. Our goal is to build a comprehensive “Legal Brain” – an Intelligent AI system that encompasses the capabilities needed for real world legal workflows, including discovering evidence, combining that with research and even generating different strategies for narratives to assist legal professionals. This includes eDiscovery, legal research, and case strategy development, providing a seamless and integrated experience. Under the technical leadership of Janar Ramalingam, our CTO, DecoverAI’s flagship technology, Generative Defense, is set to elevate the practice of law by automating complex legal analysis and enabling legal professionals to craft compelling defense strategies with unprecedented efficiency.

A New Era for Legal Research and eDiscovery

One of DecoverAI’s standout features is its ability to query several million documents or several terabytes of data simultaneously, providing legal professionals with rapid and comprehensive access to vast amounts of data and analytics. This capability is a game-changer for general counsels and law firms of all sizes, from boutique practices to the largest AmLaw 200 firms, as well as for plaintiffs seeking to leverage advanced technology for their cases. By offering a scalable solution that meets diverse needs, DecoverAI is positioned to become an indispensable tool across the entire legal industry.

Mission and Vision

At DecoverAI, our mission is to empower legal professionals with the tools they need to achieve better outcomes, faster. At DecoverAI, we envision a world where legal teams will be augmented with human-like intelligence served by smart AI-assisted platforms.

Lawyers handling both criminal defense and civil litigation will be able to harness the power of thousands of associates with perfect memory at their fingertips at a fraction of the cost of what it costs today.

Funding Utilization

The $2 million raised will be used to accelerate the development and deployment of our innovative technologies. The funds will be allocated to enhance our AI capabilities, expand product features, grow our teams, and invest in marketing and sales efforts to bring our solutions to a wider audience.

Quotes from Leadership and Investors

“We are incredibly excited about the potential of DecoverAI to revolutionize the legal industry. Our goal is to empower the best attorneys in the fraternity with the immense power and capabilities of large language models, enabling them to significantly uplevel themselves against their competitors,” said Ravi Tandon, CEO of DecoverAI. “This funding will allow us to take significant strides towards realizing this vision and making a real difference for legal professionals.”

“DecoverAI’s Generative Defense is a game-changer for the legal industry. It represents the next generation of legal technology, providing tools that were previously unimaginable. We are thrilled to have the support of our investors as we embark on this journey,” added Kevin J. Van Horn, COO & CRO of DecoverAI.

“DecoverAI’s proposition is perfectly aligned with Leo Capital’s focus on supporting tech-centric global solutions designed for large-scale disruption. As legal disputes increase, the burden on lawyers and judicial systems worldwide has become overwhelming, making it essential to harness the power of AI to transform legal workflows in a highly targeted way. DecoverAI’s proprietary ‘Generative Defense’ is a groundbreaking solution that is poised to be transformative for law firms of all sizes,” said Ravi Srivastava, Partner at Leo Capital.

About DecoverAI

Founded in 2024, DecoverAI is a Washington, D.C.-based legal technology company focused on delivering AI-driven solutions to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of legal professionals. By integrating advanced AI with legal workflows, DecoverAI is setting new standards in the industry and driving the future of legal technology.

About Leo Capital

Leo Capital is a venture capital firm that invests in groundbreaking startups across various sectors, with a focus on technology-driven innovation. Leo Capital is dedicated to supporting visionary entrepreneurs and companies that have the potential to disrupt industries and create lasting impact.

Contact Information:

Kevin J. Van Horn
Chief Operating Officer & Chief Revenue Officer
DecoverAI
Email: info@decoverhq.com For more information, visit DecoverAI’s website.

Maz Ghorban, an experienced senior executive with a distinguished 25-year career spanning the legal services, call center, and software industries, has taken the helm as President of Rockpoint Legal Funding, a burgeoning leader in Litigation Funding. With extensive experience in scaling private and public companies, Ghorban is set to drive the company’s mission to facilitate optimal case outcomes by providing critical funds and accessible medical treatment to plaintiffs, while delivering operational efficiencies and capital to law firms.

Ghorban’s appointment comes at a pivotal time as Rockpoint Legal Funding prepares to launch its new venture, Rockpoint Probate Funding. His seasoned leadership and data-driven decision-making have already made a significant impact on shaping this new initiative. It is important to note that Rockpoint Legal Funding is not a financial, medical, or legal advisor, and individuals should seek appropriate professional advice for such matters.

Recognizing a need similar to litigation funding, probate funding offers substantial benefits for beneficiaries and executors who require access to funds during the often lengthy and complicated probate process. Probate funding can help heirs avoid the prolonged wait for their inheritance and can be utilized to cover expenses such as medical bills, funeral costs, and day-to-day living expenses.

Under Ghorban’s leadership, Rockpoint Legal Funding is poised for significant growth and success among its already substantial offerings from pre-settlement and post-settlement funding to plaintiff and litigation funding and medical lien purchases. His strategic vision, combined with his deep industry knowledge and unwavering commitment to excellence, will drive the company’s mission forward and enhance its reputation as a leader in the legal funding industry.

Mr. Ghorban jovially states, “To be blessed with the career I have had and the amazing teams I have worked with is something I will always be grateful for, but not until I arrived at Rockpoint did I truly feel at home, surrounded by a supportive team of managing executives, and the most highly reviewed and dedicated sales staff and client reps in the industry.”

Before joining Rockpoint, Ghorban served as Executive VP and Business Unit CEO of Alert Communications, a subsidiary of Everservice and the largest legal-only intake call center in the United States. Ghorban’s extensive background in supporting plaintiff and defense firms spans every part of the firm lifecycle. His comprehensive understanding of the legal services landscape positions him uniquely to lead Rockpoint Legal Funding and its new probate funding initiative to new heights.

As Rockpoint Legal Funding embarks on this exciting new chapter with the launch of Rockpoint Probate Funding , the company’s future looks brighter than ever. With Ghorban at the helm, Rockpoint is well-positioned to continue its legacy of excellence and make a lasting impact on the legal services industry.

For more information about Rockpoint Legal Funding and its new probate funding initiative, please visit the company’s website ( https://rockpointlegalfunding.com/ ) or contact Dan Burks-Goodman at 424-502-4645×894 or 381053@email4pr.com

Omni Bridgeway Limited (ASX:OBL) (Omni Bridgeway) announces an in principle, partial completion of a Funds 2&3 investment following a settlement of the related litigation with certain defendants. The settlement is subject to the parties entering into a binding settlement agreement and court approval.  The partial completion is expected to generate gross income of $43.71 million in Funds 2&3. Proceedings continue with further investment deployments and proceeds anticipated. 

Omni Bridgeway expects to receive payment during the next 4 quarters, resulting in the following metrics (subject to prevailing foreign exchange rates):

Simon Warr heads up the legal Expenses division at AmTrust International. In his current role he focused on expanding the global reach of Adverse Costs, Capital and more general Legal Protection products.

Simon started in legal expenses insurance in 1989 and has worked consistently in a variety of roles within the profession ever since. His roles have consisted primarily of underwriting positions at a coverholder and insurer level but have also included business development and management positions within both the insurance company and Lloyd’s syndicate markets. Prior to joining AmTrust, Simon was at Brit Insurance and before that at Capita Insurance Services, Eastgate Assistance and Hambro Legal Protection for a number of years. Simon was President of Legal Protection International (LPI) for 7 years up until 2024. LPI was the global international legal expenses insurers association which carried out extensive work on market data and lobbying.

Company Website: www.amtrustinternational.com

Year Founded: 1998

Headquarters: Exchequer Court, 33 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8AA

Areas of Focus:  Legal Expenses Insurance, CPI and JPI

Quote on Litigation Funding: Litigation Funding, used wisely, provides access to justice – simple. In an ideal world we wouldn’t need it, but we don’t live in an ideal world, so it provides an essential part of the armoury needed to right wrongs.

Tom is the Chief Commercial Officer of Sentry Funding. Pivoting his financial advisory business into litigation funding in January 2020 after noticing the lack of technology in the space and seeing the pain litigators had in acquiring funding.

Tom heads up the day to day running of the business and works closely with the tech team providing strategic direction of the Sentry Portal.  As well as a background in finance, Tom also has experience in digital marketing, real-estate and is an angel investor.

Company Name and Description: Sentry Funding – Litigation funding marketplace that simplifies the process of arranging litigation funding through market leading technology.

• Diverse panel of funders
• Deal flow of vetted cases for funders based on a pre-set criteria
• Post-funding support via our team of inhouse auditors
• Exclusive automated funding options for cases that require less than £500k in funding
• Associate member of ALF
• ISO9001 & ISO27001 certified

Company Website: www.sentryfunding.co.uk

Year Founded: 2020

Headquarters: London, UK

Area of Focus: This year we passed the £100m of arranged funding via the Sentry Portal milestone. Our focus now is to provide our services to more funders and litigators to help improve the process of acquiring litigation funding globally.

Member Quote: ‘Access to justice’ feels like an overused expression but sadly the justice system is not a level playing field. Those without means are either at a disadvantage or excluded all together. I’ve always been passionate about litigation fundings ability to support those in need and as an industry we should be proud that our services change lives. It’s easy to forget about the human on the other side of our spreadsheets and financial forecasts, so it’s always a good exercise to remind ourselves of why we do what we do and that we hold an important responsibility to those people.

NorthWall Capital (“NorthWall”), a leading credit investment firm delivering private capital solutions to counterparties in Western Europe, today announces the appointment of Scott Carpenter as Chief Operating Officer.

Scott commenced his role at NorthWall in June and brings with him 35 years of experience in a wide variety of financial management roles globally. Most recently, Scott spent 11 years at Alpha Wave Global, a $19bn AUM global investment company focused on private equity, private credit and public markets. Scott joined the firm at inception as a day one employee and rose to the role of Chief Operating Officer. Prior to that, Scott was Global Head of Operations for eight years at leading alternative credit platform CQS (now Manulife | CQS Investment Management) and previously spent 10 years at Credit Suisse working in a variety of operational management roles in London, New York, Singapore, Sydney, Brisbane and Wellington.

Scott replaces Founding Partner and Chief Operating Officer Ian Lokkerbol, who will retire from the industry at the end of July with the intention to pursue a career in nature conservation. During his time at NorthWall, Ian has supported the growth of the firm from a start-up to a €1.5bn AUM diversified European credit platform with c. 30 employees. Ian will continue to support the management team in an informal advisory capacity.

Fabian Chrobog, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at NorthWall Capital, said: “We are delighted to welcome someone of Scott’s calibre to NorthWall. His significant experience of stewarding private capital and alternative credit firms through periods of growth will be invaluable as we enter the next phase in our development.”

“It is with great sadness that we say farewell to Ian, who has been an integral part of the NorthWall journey since we founded the firm in 2017. I have had the pleasure of working with Ian in a variety of different positions for almost 15 years and will miss him greatly. Ian was the first person to join me at NorthWall and the faith he put in our young venture was a key contributor to our success. Over the last seven years Ian has been instrumental in building a best-in-class infrastructure and in shaping a culture that has helped NorthWall develop a near-perfect team retention track record since inception. On behalf of the entire NorthWall team I wanted to thank Ian for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavours.”

Alexander Garnier, Founding Partner and Portfolio Manager at NorthWall Capital, remarked: “We are thrilled to welcome Scott to the NorthWall team. His extensive experience and proven track record in operational leadership and strategic growth will be pivotal as we chart our next phase of growth.”

“Ian’s departure marks the end of an era, and he will be greatly missed. His leadership and dedication have been one of the bedrocks of our success, and I cannot thank him enough. I wish him all the best in his next chapter. We are confident that Scott’s appointment as COO will build on the solid foundation Ian has established, driving NorthWall towards even greater achievements.”

Ian Lokkerbol, Founding Partner at NorthWall Capital, commented: “While I am sad to be retiring from the industry and leaving a firm I care so deeply about, I look forward to spending more time focused on nature conservation, a great passion of mine. I also know I am leaving NorthWall in very strong hands and well positioned to continue to grow, a journey I am proud to have been a part of. I wish Fabian, Alex, Scott and the team lots of successes going forward, as I continue to cheer from the sidelines.”

“I am thrilled to be joining NorthWall at such an exciting stage in the company’s growth,” added Scott Carpenter, Chief Operating Officer at NorthWall Capital. “Over the past seven years, Fabian, Alex, Ian and the entire team have established the firm as a leading European credit investment manager and laid a strong platform for future growth. I look forward to supporting the firm in further capitalising on the increasing opportunity for European credit.”

In June, NorthWall announced the final close of its flagship NorthWall European Opportunities Fund II and associated vehicles attracting more than €640m in investor commitments, surpassing its initial €500m target and more than doubling the size of its predecessor vintage.

About NorthWall Capital

NorthWall Capital is a London-based credit investment firm, delivering private capital solutions to counterparties in Western Europe. The firm manages €1.5bn of AUM in long dated funds on behalf of global institutional investors, seeking to capture compelling risk-adjusted returns from Western European credit markets.

For more information, please visit www.northwallcap.com.

Having spent more than twenty years as a commercial litigator with international law firms and in house, Andrew brings a wealth of experience to bear in selecting appropriate cases for investment, monitoring invested cases, and collaborating with our clients and their counsel to optimize litigation outcomes.

Company Name and Description:  Lex Ferenda Litigation Funding LLC. We specialize in funding single commercial cases starting at $1 million.

Company Website: www.lf-2.com

Year Founded:  2002

Headquarters:  Rye, New York

Area of Focus: Risk management, underwriting, and managing investments in commercial litigation.

Member Quote: I love my work in litigation funding because it marries three things: legal excellence in underwriting and supporting our investments, entrepreneurship in building a business in a rapidly growing field, and strong relationships with our clients, their counsel, and my colleagues.

Deminor welcomes Dr. Stephan Klebes to the Hamburg team to expand its leading position in the German litigation funding market

Dr. Stephan Klebes adds experience and expertise in complex commercial disputes, investment recovery cases and antitrust actions to the Deminor team – especially in the fields of arbitration and capital markets law.

Deminor is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stephan Klebes as Senior Legal Counsel. With the arrival of Stephan, a further experienced litigator joins the established team of Dr. Malte Stübinger (General Counsel Germany), Patrick Rode (Senior Legal Counsel) and Tim Willing (Senior Legal Counsel).

Dr. Stübinger commented on Stephan’s arrival:

“With Stephan, we are gaining a highly qualified colleague with a broad legal background who will actively support our further growth in Germany and brings the Deminor mindset with him. An excellent addition to our team that emphasises our strong commitment to the German market.”

Stephan Klebes was admitted to the German Bar in 2021 and has broad experience in litigating and advising on cross-border disputes before international arbitral tribunals and state courts, with a particular focus on general commercial disputes and investment recovery cases. Prior to joining Deminor, he was an associate with the specialised litigation law firm Quinn Emmanuel where he represented companies in various types of arbitration proceedings, as well as complex investment recovery claims before state courts.

Erik Bomans, Chief Executive Officer, added:

“I wish to echo my colleagues’ sentiments by congratulating Stephan on joining Deminor’s growing Hamburg team. Stephan’s wide-ranging legal expertise is a welcome arrival, and I am confident they will complement General Counsel Dr Malte Stübinger and his fellow Senior Legal Counsels. I look forward to his contribution to Deminor and our clients as we strengthen our position as a Chambers & Partners Band 1 Ranked provider of litigation funding solutions in Germany.”

Stephan Klebes studied law and economics at the University of Mannheim (LL.B., First State Examination) and the University of Cape Town, South Africa (LL.M. in Alternative Dispute Resolution). He then obtained his doctorate at the University of Osnabrück at the chair of Prof Dr Mary-Rose McGuire on an arbitration-related topic and completed his clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Celle.

On joining Deminor, Stephan comments:

“I am delighted to be working with Deminor to further advance the field of litigation funding in Germany and Europe. The possibility of third-party financing of litigation and arbitration still has a lot of potential. Deminor will certainly be able to further expand its leading role in the German market on the basis of its strongly value-based approach. It is a great pleasure for me to be able to contribute to this mission.”

Dr. Klebes was recognised by Best Lawyers in the category “Ones to Watch 2024” in the field of Arbitration and Mediation.