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

Commercial

2946 Articles

ROSEN, A NATIONALLY RANKED LAW FIRM, Reminds Burford Capital Limited Investors of Important Deadline in Securities Class Action First Filed by the Firm; Encourages Investors with Losses over $100K to Contact the Firm – BRFRF, BRFRY

By John Freund |

NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of Burford Capital Limited (OTC: BRFRF, BRFRY) from March 18, 2015 through August 7, 2019, inclusive (the “Class Period”) of the important October 21, 2019 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action commenced by the firm. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for Burford investors under the federal securities laws.

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Burford Accused of Lavishing Non-Executive Directors With Trips to Barbados and Capetown

By John Freund |

The hits just keep on coming for Burford Capital. First there was the Muddy Waters short, then accusations of a sex tape swap, and now allegations the world’s largest litigation funder spent loads of money on its four non-executive directors (whose responsibility is to keep management in check).

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Institutional Investor’s Exit Illustrates the Long Shadow That Muddy Waters Casts Over the Funding Industry

By John Freund |

The case against Burford Capital has been made, and Burford’s response has subsequently been laid out. We’ve from heard from both sides on the issue, and it seems the market has spoken (said market can be fickle, however, so we’ll see what it’s saying six months or a year from now). That said, Muddy Waters’ allegations of Burford’s accounting impropriety cast a very long shadow over the industry, as illustrated by one prominent institutional investor’s decision to sell its holdings in Burford Capital. 

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U.S. Commercial Litigation Finance Industry – Call to Association!

By John Freund |

There is no other way to express it; the US commercial litigation finance industry is under assault from a variety of different interest groups and the industry lacks a homogenous voice to counter the opposition and to communicate its strong benefits.

No doubt, many industry participants are well aware of the recent report by a hedge fund short- seller against the industry’s largest participant.  While the report raises many issues for consideration, it is also symptomatic of a multi-pronged attack on the industry, whether organized or purely by coincidence.  This article is a call for the industry to unite and create an association to represent interests of the various participants and beneficiaries of the industry (lawyers, plaintiffs, funders and investors).

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Burford Issues Explanation of Napo Claim

By John Freund |

One of Muddy Waters’ chief allegations against Burford Capital is that the funder manipulates its financial reporting. The short-seller used the Napo Pharmaceuticals example to illustrate how Burford misreports earnings. Now, after a deluge of investor concern, Burford has released a 7-page explanation of its Napo accounting. 

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Why Litigation Finance is Suited to Public Markets

By John Freund |

The following was contributed by Nick Rowles-Davies, Executive Vice Chairman of Litigation Capital Management (LCM).

The recent and well documented attacks by activist short-seller Muddy Waters on Burford Capital have brought litigation finance into the limelight. Whilst largely focussed on Burford’s accounting methods and corporate governance, the hedge fund’s accusations have raised concerns around the practices and legitimacy of the industry more broadly.

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EQUITY ALERT: Rosen Law Firm Files Securities Class Action Lawsuit Against Burford Capital Limited

By John Freund |

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Burford Capital Limited (OTC: BRFRF, BRFRY) from March 18, 2015 through August 7, 2019, inclusive (the “Class Period”). The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for Burford investors under the federal securities laws.

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How GCs Can Benefit from Litigation Finance in the Current Economic Environment

By John Freund |

Study after study shows that General Counsel are growing more and more interested in the product of litigation finance, yet the adoption rates remain low. There are numerous hurdles, not the least of which is cultural: many GCs simply retract from the idea that their role and responsibility should transform from cost container to revenue producer. That said, given the shifting economic climate, it’s worth taking another look at how litigation funding can benefit GCs and the balance sheets they are entrusted to safeguard. 

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Second Annual Litigation Finance Dealmakers Forum to Be Held on September 18-19 in New York City

By John Freund |

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Premier Event in Litigation Finance to Feature Innovative Program, One-to-One Meetings, Industry Leaders, and Keynote Speaker Stephen Susman

Amid continued growth and developments in the litigation finance market, the leading companies and executives in the industry will convene at the Second Annual LF Dealmakers Forum to be held in New York on September 18-19. The keynote speaker will be Stephen Susman, one of the nation’s top trial lawyers and founder of Susman Godfrey, a nationally recognized firm specializing in high stakes litigation.

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Legal-Bay Opens Nationwide Commercial Litigation Funding Division

By John Freund |

LOS ANGELESAug. 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Legal-Bay LLC, the Lawsuit Settlement Funding Company, announced that they have launched a new lawsuit finance division for commercial litigation, lawsuit loans or advances, and attorney loans for law firms. Commercial litigation cases can be extremely complex and require expansive resources for both plaintiffs and law firms to fight. Legal-Bay feels this is an under-served market and plans to build a new division to accommodate the needs in the market.

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Questions Arise Over Burford Executives’ Pay

By John Freund |

New questions have arisen over payouts to top Burford executives, including CEO Christopher Bogart and co-foudner Jonathan Molot. Despite founding the company, the pair were not actually employees of Burford Capital until 2012. Prior to that, they formed an advisory firm – Burford Group Limited – and charged Burford Capital fees for their advisory work. In the wake of the Muddy Waters allegations, the pair are facing questions about the complex financial structure, as well as their current salaries which remain undisclosed, given the fact that neither is on the company’s board. 

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Supreme Court of Canada agrees to hear an appeal in a case funded by Bentham IMF involving lawsuit against Callidus Capital Corporation

By John Freund |

Bentham IMF Capital Limited (Bentham) is pleased to announce that the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) has agreed to hear an appeal in a matter that Bentham is funding. As a result, Canada’s highest court will hear arguments for the first time relating to the important role of modern litigation funding in providing access to justice for parties, including those who are insolvent or bankrupt.

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Comprehensive Report on Litigation Funding and Expenses Market 2019-2025

By John Freund |

This report studies the Litigation Funding and Expenses Market size by players, regions, product types and end industries, history data 2019-2026 and forecast data 2019-2026; This report also studies the global market competition landscape, market drivers and trends, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter’s Five Forces Analysis.

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BMW Takes Regency Funding to High Court Over Common Fund Order

By John Freund |

In what could be the largest class action in Australian history, Regency Funding is bankrolling a claim against several car makers over faulty airbags which led to at least one fatality and multiple injuries. However one of the car makers, BMW, is challenging the common fund order that allows Regency to collect 25% of any payout, even from those who have not formally joined the class. 

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ROSEN, A TOP RANKED LAW FIRM: Updates Investigation of Securities Claims Against Burford Capital Limited

By John Freund |

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / August 12, 2019 / Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, issues this update on its continuing investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Burford Capital Limited (OTC PINK:BRFRF)(OTC PINK:BRFRY) resulting from allegations that Burford Capital may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.

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Burford Responds to Muddy Waters Claims; Labels Them ‘False and Misleading’

By John Freund |

Burford Capital CEO Christopher Bogart and co-founder Jonathan Molot have shot back at US-based hedge fund Muddy Waters’ claims that Burford misreports its earnings, and is ‘arguably insolvent.’ In a call to investors earlier today, Bogart characterized the allegations as ‘false and misleading,’ and sought to assure investors by stating that both he and Molot had personally invested $4MM into Burford’s stock after the Muddy Waters announcement was made. 

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Litigation Funding and Expenses: Are We Bound for a Conflict of Interest?

By John Freund |

There’s been much talk about litigation funding and legal fees, and whether the existence of funding generates an inherent conflict of interest. While there are some legitimate concerns here, the anxiety is mostly overblown. In an increasingly-commoditized industry, litigation funders aren’t likely to risk repetitional harm by directing or even influencing case management and strategy. 

All of that said, legal fees are only one side of the coin. Funders also cover case expenses, and here is an area where conflict of interest may actually arise. 

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Hedge Fund Muddy Waters Alleges Burford’s Largest Shareholder Invesco Bailed Out One of its Clients

By John Freund |

US-based hedge fund Muddy Waters has caused some serious ripples with its allegations against Burford Capital. In a recently released video, Muddy Waters CEO contends that Burford’s largest shareholder – Invesco – essentially bailed out Napo Pharmaceuticals, a company whose legal claim Burford was financing. 

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Launch of ArbiLex Brings AI and Predictive Analytics to International Arbitration

By John Freund |

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.Aug. 5, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — ArbiLex today announced the launch of its Arbitrator Analytics Platform, which is transforming the practice of international arbitration by ranking arbitrators through a proprietary reasoning system to enhance decision-making by law firms and litigation funds. ArbiLex has successfully tested the efficacy of its algorithms with leading global law firms and litigation funds seeking a competitive edge in multi-billion-dollar cases around the world.

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