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

Economic uncertainty is plaguing industries around the globe. Between the COVID pandemic, bizarre political circumstances, and ongoing international market turbulence—unpredictability is everywhere. Investors are seeking new investment types that are uncorrelated with the rest of the marketplace. For some, third-party legal funding meets all the requirements.

In its most recent general meeting, Bronwyn Brown’s chairman’s address laid out the most noteworthy actions and accomplishments of the year. The talk was attended by non-executive directors, the company secretary, several auditors, and of course, the Executive Chair.

A record-setting divorce settlement is still in contention as Google is ordered to turn over the emails of a private citizen. Temur Akhmedov, son of a late oligarch Farkhad Akhmedov, has been fighting the release of funds from his step-mother’s divorce settlement of about $600 million. Her case is being funded by Burford Capital.

Geraldine Clark, former president of the Law Society in Ireland, has a lot to say about navigating the professional ethics of litigation funding. Referring to the resurgence and growth of the practice as “the wild west,” Clark focuses on the obligations of those attorneys who would encourage or facilitate utilizing the practice.

The recent Bluberi decision regarding litigation funding arrangements is still making news. The decision, which approved the use of litigation finance in a Canadian insolvency case, was appealed after a reversal by the Quebec Court of Appeal. In May of this year, the reversal was rescinded and the lower court ruling was upheld.

Legal finance products may seem daunting to those who lack experience with them. However, understanding the negotiation, documentation, and disclosure processes can be as simple as listening to the experts.

Yieldstreet is touted as a Financial Tech company that leverages the power of the internet to make a unique contribution to investment. Its focus on alternative investments includes placements in Litigation Finance, marine vessel acquisition, deconstruction, and real estate, among others. The overall impression is that Yieldstreet can provide excellent returns with alternative investments, though their fees are higher than one might expect.

Ross Henderson, formerly at Goldman Sachs, has been accused of handing over confidential financial documents to Tatiana Akhmedova, the former wife of a Russian oligarch, and her litigation funders: Burford Capital. He is now facing a criminal investigation led by the Swiss police.

Conflicts of interest are a concern if law firms find themselves entwined with litigation funders, according to one former president of the Irish Law Society. The potential exists for lawyers to feel torn between third-party funders and the clients they are sworn to serve. This is especially true in the UK, where funders and lawyers become “close.”

What’s the key to success in a field beset by risk? According to Omni Bridgeway General Counsel Chris Young, it’s patience. He explains that litigation is highly speculative, and each case requires multiple layers of investigation and research. Omni Bridgeway is a firm that invests rather than lends funds to litigants—because they only see a payout when the funded case is successful.

As the coming tide of COVID-related class action suits looms, many countries are adapting and growing the legal processes by which these cases are governed. The US and Canada have seen filings for class actions skyrocket, with Australia, Germany, the UK and China all expected to follow suit. And where there are class actions, there are litigation funders.

Who do Canadians think is tops in their respective legal fields? The 2020 Canadian Readers’ Choice Awards answer that very question. The list of suppliers, vendors, and legal-adjacent businesses was voted on by nearly two-thousand readers who revealed their favorites in 38 separate categories.

Two former directors of a now-dissolved company lost an attempt at the dismissal of their case. The directors had sought for the cases against them to dismissed, on the grounds that a litigation funder should not benefit financially from the claim.

Opt-in or opt-out, that’s the issue at the center of an appeal in the case of Southern Response v. Ross. In New Zealand, where the case was heard, opt-in class actions are the norm. The case, supported by third-party legal funding, began with an allegation that Southern Response did not provide complete and accurate information about repairing earthquake damage to homes.

Trends in the legal or business world often begin as adaptations to some outside event or circumstance. The early stages of COVID brought about a trend of firms moving away from billable hours and toward contingency fees. Another growing trend is the use of Litigation Finance to manage balance sheets and continue to pursue viable litigation without tying up liquid assets. When law firms opt to ignore trends, they can miss out on advantageous developments.

It cannot be denied that insurance for directors and officers is skyrocketing, whether it’s for private or public companies or even non-profits. The market is expected to remain hardened, as pressure to raise rates grows exponentially. COVID and its impact are only adding to the problem. What can be done?

The Court of Appeals recently upheld last year’s Supreme Court ruling regarding a litigation funding agreement in a case against the Gladstone Ports Corporation. That case is being funded by Litigation Capital Management. The SCQ ruling rebuffed allegations that litigation funding agreements may be unenforceable due to champerty restrictions, or because such agreements are contrary to existing public policy. Yesterday’s appeals court ruling ensures that the judge’s order stands.

Even as the industry grows and adapts to changing times, some folks still question the staying power of Litigation Finance. It’s here to stay. Third-party legal finance is well-funded, having raised over a billion dollars in 2020. This may be because of its attractiveness to savvy investors seeking opportunities that are not correlated with the market at large.

Litigation Finance has exploded since the pandemic spurred massive shutdowns and kickstarted a flurry of litigation. The practice of third parties funding meritorious legal action in exchange for a share of the award is expected to become better understood and more utilized in 2021.

Investor interest is high and funders are raising massive capital even amid the global COVID crisis. That’s a great sign for an industry that barely existed 15 years ago. The pandemic has brought with it massive shutdowns, layoffs, court delays, and lockdowns all over the world. Yet, litigation funding continues to prove its worth.

The rise in litigation owing to the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be overstated. A spike in claims relating to the virus, as well as renewed interest from litigation funders has led to widespread changes in the legal and business world. This trend follows a previous drop in litigation as courts scrambled to adapt to remote work, Zoom meetings, and other COVOD-related factors.

The battle between regulating litigation funding and ensuring that those who need it are not deterred is ongoing. New rules adopted in Australia require litigation funders to obtain Australian Financial Services Licensing.  

The legal landscape is always changing, and watching for trends is vital for savvy firms and investors. Currently, a convergence of two forces is leading to widespread changes in the industry. First, class actions and other types of collective redress cases are increasing in popularity and validity. Also, corporations are becoming increasingly responsible toward communities, the environment, and stewardship of investor interests.

Alleged underpayment was at the crux of a recently-overturned precedent ruling in Federal Court. UK-based legal funder Augusta Ventures had been ordered to pay more than $3 million in costs before it could proceed with a class action for underpayment at the Mount Arthur coal mine.