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Fenchurch Legal Appoints Ranil Jayawardena as Non-Executive Director

By Harry Moran |

Fenchurch Legal, a specialist in litigation funding for small and medium-sized UK law firms, has strengthened its board with the appointment of The Rt Hon Ranil Jayawardena as a non-executive director.

This appointment reinforces Fenchurch Legal’s strategic priorities of bringing independent views to its board, which enhances its governance processes, risk oversight, and decision-making capabilities.

As a former Cabinet Minister and Member of Parliament for North East Hampshire, Ranil Jayawardena brings a distinguished track record. During his tenure in government, he held key positions, including International Trade Minister and Environment Secretary, where he worked on post-Brexit trade agreements, national infrastructure, and agricultural policy. Prior to his political career in Westminster, Ranil built his experience in the financial sector at Lloyds Banking Group – and served his community in local government, where he was responsible for £400 million AUM.

Louisa Klouda, CEO of Fenchurch Legal, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ranil to the board as we embark on our next phase of growth. Ranil’s knowledge and experience of regulation and financial services, alongside his experience as a Non-Executive Director on other boards, will be invaluable during this important time. Ranil’s external oversight will complement our existing board, enhancing our focus on strong governance and risk management.”

Commenting on his new role, Ranil Jayawardena added: “Having served in government for many years, I am excited to embark on this new chapter in business and support Fenchurch Legal’s growth ambitions. Litigation funding is an important enabler of access to justice, and I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued success.”

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Community Spotlights

Community Spotlight: Reid Zeising, Founder and CEO, Gain

By John Freund |

Reid Zeising is the Founder and CEO of Gain, a company transforming the personal injury landscape. Gain integrates the industry’s leading AI-enhanced Letter of Protection (LOP) servicing platform with professionally managed services and financial solutions, serving healthcare providers, attorneys, and plaintiffs. 

Company Name and Description: Gain

Company Website: gainservicing.com

Year Founded: 2011

Headquarters:  3424 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA 30326, United States

Area of Focus:  Personal Injury ecosystem

Member Quote: Gain is committed to leveling the insurance playing field for those injured through no fault of their own, ensuring they have access to the quality healthcare and financial peace of mind they deserve.

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Announcements Commercial Legal Innovation

Nera Capital Delivers Holiday Hope with £250k Justice Fund for Those in Need

By Harry Moran |

Prominent legal funder, Nera Capital, is spreading festive cheer this holiday season with the opening of its £250,000 Access to Justice Fund for those in need of support.

The firm plans to launch the generous fund in December, which will be open to individuals throughout the world who are in need of legal assistance or financial support. With no limitation on the amount an individual can apply for, each application will be assessed by a committee on its merits and urgency. 

Speaking about providing this important assistance, Nera Capital Director Aisling Byrne explained: “The fund will provide critical support for those who have been harmed, marginalised or ignored. “It aims to assist those in vulnerable situations, whether by funding the pursuit of legal claims or offering general support. For example, the fund could help families living in hazardous housing conditions who lack the financial means to relocate to safer, more suitable accommodation. This could include a council property in severe disrepair causing health issues.”

She continued: “The fund is dedicated to empowering individuals to overcome systemic neglect and improve their circumstances.” As an international litigation funder, Nera Capital, already assists individuals who have fallen victim to financial mis-selling, data breach, undisclosed commissions, personal injury and more.

Established in 2011 in Ireland from the aftermath of the 2008 global economic downturn, Nera Capital was born to support local individuals who could no longer secure loans from traditional banks. The company pioneered a unique approach by structuring loans attached to personal injury or probate claims, providing much-needed liquidity to law firms seeking justice for its clients.

This innovative strategy quickly gained traction and fuelled the company’s growth, which now operates in five jurisdictions and has offices in Ireland, UK and The Netherlands funding law firms around the globe. For Ms Byrne, opening up the Access to Justice Fund is a way for the successful company to give back while recognising the reason they started Nera Capital.

She explained: “The firm was established with a bold ambition to assist individuals and families and revolutionise the legal finance sector by blending modern technology with traditional values, all while supporting access to justice.

Additional information on the fund and how to apply can be found on the Nera Capital website: www.neracapital.com.

About Nera Capital 

·       Established in 2011, Nera Capital is a specialist funding provider to law firms.  

·       Provides Law Firm Lend funding across diverse claim portfolios in both the Consumer and Commercial sector. 

·       Headquartered in Dublin, the firm also has offices in Manchester and Holland. 

·       Member of European Litigation Funders Association

.     www.neracapital.com

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Announcements Commercial People Moves

International Legal Finance Association Adds West U Capital as New Member

By Harry Moran |

The International Legal Finance Association (ILFA), the only global association of commercial legal finance companies, today announced the addition of West U Capital to the organization’s rapidly growing membership base. 

West U Capital is an intellectual property investment firm actively seeking and engaging in a broad range of transactions, including patent litigation funding, law firm financing, patent acquisition, patent-based lending, or some combination of the four. West U’s team has decades of intellectual property-centric investment and capital management experience to provide patent owners and law firms with a range of capital options to help them monetize their patents and grow their businesses. 

“As the world’s leading association representing the commercial legal finance industry, ILFA is excited to welcome West U Capital as its newest member,” said Shannon Campagna, ILFA’s interim Executive Director. “The addition of West U and their IP investment and litigation expertise demonstrates the increasingly diverse arenas in which legal finance helps businesses and entrepreneurs access justice. The firm will play a significant role in promoting the highest standard of operation and service for the commercial legal finance sector across investment areas.”

The firm was founded by Managing Partners Joseph Kessler and Mark Roche. Two experienced leaders in the intellectual property space, Kessler formerly co-founded and managed the IP Finance team at Fortress Investment Group, an ILFA member, and Roche co-founded and managed AT&T’s intellectual property arm, Knowledge Ventures, before co-founding IP investment firm Techquity Capital Management. 

“Joining ILFA marks an exciting milestone for West U Capital,” said Roche. “We're eager to contribute our expertise in patent litigation and law firm financing to ILFA's ongoing efforts to shape the future of commercial legal finance.” Kessler added, “ILFA's dedication to promoting transparency and ethical practices aligns with our values at West U. We look forward to collaborating with fellow members to drive innovation and ensure the continued growth and integrity of our industry." 

About the International Legal Finance Association 

The International Legal Finance Association (ILFA) represents the global commercial legal finance community, and its mission is to engage, educate, and influence legislative, regulatory, and judicial landscapes as the voice of the commercial legal finance industry. It is the only global association of commercial legal finance companies and is an independent, non-profit trade association promoting the highest standards of operation and service for the commercial legal finance sector. ILFA has local chapter representation around the world. 

For more information, visit www.ilfa.com and find us on LinkedIn and X @ILFA_Official. 

About West U Capital 

West U Capital is an intellectual property-centric investment and capital management firm providing a variety of capital options to help maximize the value of intellectual property, including patent acquisitions, litigation funding, law firm financing, patent-based lending, and hybrid or tailored combinations. Its partners include small and medium companies, multinational corporations, research entities, and universities from a wide array of technology and market sectors across geographical regions. With decades of transactional and investment experience, West U’s growing team has underwritten, executed, managed, and exited hundreds of IP-related investments and transactions involving billions in invested capital. 

For more information, visit https://www.westucapital.com/

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