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Community Spotlight: Michelle Silvers, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Court House Capital

By Michelle Silvers |
September 4, 2024

Community Spotlight: Michelle Silvers, Chief Executive Officer and Director, Court House Capital

Michelle Silvers is Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Court House Capital and leads the company’s business strategy, growth and operations across geographic markets. She oversees stakeholder relations with capital investors and all decisions pertaining to the company’s investment portfolio.

Michelle is a highly-respected leader in litigation funding. She co-founded the litigation funding industry in Australia in 1999 and has over 30 years’ combined funding and legal experience across commercial dispute resolution, insolvency, insurance and collective redress (class actions).

Michelle has played a crucial role in funding more than 200 legal disputes and is passionate about structuring capital and risk management solutions for clients and helping claimants gain access to justice.

In 2019 Michelle joined Court House Capital, quickly establishing the business as a funder of choice in Australia and New Zealand. Previously, she served as Managing Director and CEO of Litigation Lending Services Limited, where she pioneered portfolio funding and grew the business to become one of the most successful funders in the region. Her career also includes senior roles at leading international funders (Augusta Ventures and IMF Bentham, now Omni Bridgeway), global insurance firms (AMP, FAI General, Lawcover) and private legal practice (DLA Piper).

Michelle is a co-founder and Director of the Association of Litigation Funders of Australia (AALF) and is a regular speaker and commentator on industry developments. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales and is a Director of Court House Capital Management Limited.

Company Name and Description: Court House Capital is a leading litigation funder focused on cases in Australia and New Zealand. Court House Capital was established with a mission to provide financial and strategic support to parties seeking capital, risk management and access to justice. Our team is led by industry founders, with Australian based capital, and is renowned for expertise, agility and collaboration.

Company Website: courthousecapital.com.au

Year Founded:  2019

Headquarters: Sydney

Area of Focus: Litigation Finance

Member Quote: We offer cost and risk mitigation strategies for commercial clients and ‘a level playing field’ for those who cannot afford to pursue justice themselves. It is an honour to be co-founders of an industry that provides access to justice for so many, and to be the funder of choice for claimants and professional advisers. Our financial resources, industry network and knowledge has helped many claimants achieve successful outcomes.

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Michelle Silvers

Michelle Silvers

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Case Developments Commercial

U.S. Treasury Blocks Venezuela from Funding Maduro’s Legal Defense in Drug Trafficking Case

By John Freund |

The question of who pays for Nicolas Maduro's legal representation has become a flashpoint in his federal drug trafficking prosecution, after the U.S. government reversed course on allowing Venezuela to fund his defense.

As reported by Yahoo News, the Treasury Department initially granted a sanctions exception on January 9 permitting the Venezuelan government to cover Maduro's legal expenses, only to revoke the authorization hours later without explanation. Defense attorney Barry Pollack — who previously represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange — argued that Venezuelan law and custom require the government to pay the expenses of the president and first lady, and that Maduro cannot otherwise afford counsel.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured by U.S. special forces during a nighttime raid in Caracas on January 3, 2026. Both pleaded not guilty on January 5 to charges including drug trafficking, narco-terrorism, conspiracy, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege Maduro exploited his 13-year presidency to assist drug traffickers.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein, presiding over the case in the Southern District of New York, is now weighing the funding dispute. Flores may still be eligible to receive government-funded legal representation. Delcy Rodriguez currently leads the Venezuelan government following Maduro's capture.

The case raises broader questions about the intersection of international sanctions, sovereign immunity, and the funding of legal defense in high-profile prosecutions with geopolitical dimensions.

Commercial Deals

Burford Capital Reports 39 Percent Surge in New Business Commitments for 2025 Amid Earnings Shortfall

By John Freund |

The world's largest litigation finance firm posted a mixed set of results for 2025, pairing record new business activity with near-term earnings that fell short of market expectations.

As reported by PR Newswire, Burford Capital announced that new definitive commitments rose 39 percent year-over-year in 2025, while portfolio modeled realizations grew by $700 million to reach $5.2 billion at year-end. The firm also declared a final dividend of $0.0625 per ordinary share, payable June 12, 2026.

However, fourth-quarter earnings disappointed investors. Extended case durations and unrealized fair value adjustments weighed on results, including a $22 million fair value reduction tied to the Sysco proteins antitrust litigation portfolio.

CEO Christopher Bogart characterized the year as one of strong forward momentum despite the near-term volatility. "We had a terrific 2025 for new business," Bogart said. "The quality of the portfolio remains high, and we believe the future is bright in terms of growing the business and the potential for asymmetric upside value for shareholders."

Analysts project Burford will return to profitability in the first quarter of 2026, with estimated earnings per share of $0.29 on approximately $171 million in revenue. The results underscore a persistent tension in litigation finance: the long duration of legal proceedings can produce lumpy, unpredictable earnings even as the underlying business pipeline expands.

Announcements Commercial

Pravati Capital Partners with SEI to Bring Litigation Finance to Registered Investment Advisors

By John Freund |

One of the oldest litigation finance firms in the United States has announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding mainstream investor access to the asset class.

As reported by Business Wire via Yahoo Finance, Scottsdale-based Pravati Capital has partnered with financial services firm SEI to provide registered investment advisors with structured access to litigation finance as an alternative investment option. The collaboration will leverage SEI's distribution platform to make litigation funding opportunities available within advisor portfolios.

The partnership reflects growing institutional interest in litigation finance as an alternative asset class. Historically, litigation funding has been difficult for mainstream financial advisors to access on behalf of their clients, with the market largely dominated by specialized funds and institutional investors. The Pravati-SEI arrangement seeks to bridge that gap by creating a more accessible pathway for advisors seeking diversification through non-correlated investments.

The announcement underscores a broader industry shift as litigation finance continues to move from a niche strategy toward greater acceptance within traditional wealth management channels. As the global litigation funding market grows — projected to reach over $25 billion in 2026 — partnerships like this one may signal a new phase of institutional adoption.