Content for the Public

In the face of increasing demand for better strategies for litigation compensation payments, Shieldpay, the payments partner for the legal sector, has created the ‘Blueprint to Distribution’; a step-by-step guide that shares best practice on how to scale efficiently and distribute best-in-class payments for claimants. 

The huge growth in litigation in recent years (total value of UK class actions alone rose from £76.6 billion in 2021 to £102.7 billion in 2022) means the legal sector must adopt strategies that will enable it to scale efficiently with the growing demand. In 2019, the average litigation revenue for a firm in the UK Litigation 50 was £82.4m. That figure had reached £110m by 2023 and is widely predicted to follow this upward trajectory.

Settlement payouts can be a complex and lengthy process without the right support and guidance. The process of distributing funds can often be overlooked until the settlement is finalised, leading to sudden complications, risk concerns and a huge administrative burden on a tight deadline.

Litigation cases are by no means finished once a settlement has been agreed. Depending on the size and complexity of the case, the distribution process can take many months, if not years. Most claimants will want the compensation due to them as quickly as possible, so firms need to plan for a successful and seamless distribution of funds well ahead of time to avoid frustration and uncertainty for their clients.

To help lawyers navigate litigation payments and adopt strategies that will reassure and build trust amongst claimants, Shieldpay’s ‘Blueprint to Distribution’ guide goes through the critical steps teams need to take throughout the case to ensure claimants receive their funds quickly and efficiently. The key to success is planning the distribution process as early as the budget-setting phase, where the payout is considered as part of the case management process to optimise for success. This process also includes developing a robust communications strategy, collecting and cleansing claimant data, and choosing the right payments partner to handle the settlement distribution.

In its guidance for legal practitioners on delivering a successful payout, ‘Blueprint to Distribution’ highlights the need for payment considerations to be aligned and collaborative throughout the lifecycle of a case, not left to be worked out at the end. Working with the right partner enables firms to understand how to design and deliver an optimal payout, taking into account the potential long lead times involved from the initial scoping of a case to the actual payout, with refinements and changes likely to occur to the requirements as a case unfolds. 

Claire Van der Zant, Shieldpay’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, and author of the guide, said: “Last year, the conversation amongst the litigation community was understandably focused on how to get cases to trial. Delays to proceedings arising from evolving case management requirements, including the PACCAR decision, caused delays and frustration amongst those actively litigating cases and striving for final judgements. 

“Fundamentally, legal professionals want to deliver justice and good outcomes for claimants. To do that, we need to think bigger than just a blueprint to trial, and consider a ‘Blueprint to Distribution’, because once a final judgement has been delivered, it doesn’t end there. Delivering a successful distribution requires advance planning and consideration to be effective and efficient. This step-by-step guide aims to help law firms, administrators and litigation funders deliver the best payment experience and outcome for claimants.” 

For the full ‘Blueprint to Distribution’ guide visit www.shieldpay.com/blueprint-to-distribution. 

Orington Capital (“OC”), today launched an international, Australian headquartered subsidiary, Orington & Partners (“O&P”). O&P specialises in management consulting, legal and dispute financing advisory, restructuring and corporate advisory mandates across the globe including Australia, the United States, India, UAE, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. In addition, O&P provides investment banking and capital raising services in India.

O&P has been founded by entrepreneurs and corporate professionals combining vibrancy and rigour.  The firm prides itself on being new-age that understands how rapidly changing technology impacts businesses. O&P’s target market are mid-market businesses that are seeking a collaboration-first, solutions approach. As a result we are flexible with how we package our solutions to tailor to each business’s needs and financial position. 

The firm is led by Kashish Grover, Managing Partner and CEO, and supported by Orington Capital which provides broad global expertise in owning and investing in various businesses/assets, a larger footprint and access to its investment balance sheet in which few professional service firms are fortunate enough to gain access to.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining Orington & Partners as a Founding Partner, in which we look to provide to an underserved mid-market a breadth of exceptional strategy, transactions and legal finance advisory services, unrivalled by any other in the market. Additionally, our experience combines international best practices with new-age thinking understanding that technology continues to evolve and change the business landscape. ” Mr Grover expressed.

Wei-Khing Seow (Executive Chair of O&P and Managing Director of OC) commented: “We are fortunate to bring on board such an amazing talent and leader in Kashish. He brings a truly exceptional combination of integrity, passion for listening and learning, as well as an unparalleled level of pragmatic smarts.

O&P is positioned to service clients uniquely as a one-stop shop that can help your business grow and improve, whether it be organically and/or inorganically. Lastly, we will help your business create value and monetise legal assets that few other firms in the world can do.”

Please see Orington & Partners’ website for a list of specific services and jurisdictions we provide services to. We welcome both direct enquiries and referrals.

About Orington & Partners

Orington & Partners is an Australia headquartered, international firm specialising in management consulting, legal and dispute financing advisory, restructuring and corporate advisory mandates across the globe including Australia, the United States, India, UAE, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. We also provide investment banking and capital raising services in India.  Visit orington.com/orington–partners for further details.

About Orington Capital

Orington Capital is an Australian family owned and operated investment firm. Established in 2021. Its business holdings and activities originated in Australia but are increasingly international. Uniquely, Orington invests holistically and unconstrained across the entire capital and investment structure in both private and public markets. Orington provides bespoke capital and can attach dedicated business support service solutions to its investments and portfolio companies.  ACN: 664 474 640. Visit orington.com for further details.

In a groundbreaking agreement, Longford Capital Management, LP and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP announced a litigation financing offering for private equity (PE) firms and their portfolio companies. Under the terms of today’s deal, Longford has committed up to $40M in equity capital to Quinn Emanuel’s private equity clients involved in litigation, funding attorneys’ fees and litigation costs and monetizing the value of meritorious legal claims.

In a strategic move to bolster its litigation finance and loan servicing capabilities, Counsel Financial welcomes Nicholas (Nick) D’Aquilla, Esq. as its new Managing Director. With over a decade of experience in the mass tort industry and as a former civil defense litigator for the Louisiana Department of Justice, D’Aquilla brings a wealth of knowledge and a proven track record of success to the Counsel Financial leadership team.

LegalPay, India’s leading litigation finance company, has been named the BEST LEGALTECH STARTUP OF THE YEAR by Entrepreneur India at the prestigious Tech and Innovation Summit 2024. This recognition underscores LegalPay’s unwavering commitment to revolutionizing the legal finance landscape and empowering businesses with innovative solutions.