LFJ Conversation
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An LFJ Conversation with Harish Daiya

Harish Daiya is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lumenci. He is based out of Austin, Texas and oversees the company’s operation across all global offices. With over 15 years of industry experience in technical consulting in IP litigation and licensing, Harish has been a part of $2B+ in IP value creation.

Harish is also a member of the Forbes Business Council, where he regularly writes Thought Leadership pieces and shares ideas on global impact. Harish has also been a serial entrepreneur and angel investor for several successful startups. As the CEO, Harish is elemental in driving Lumenci’s vision, goals, sales, and revenue. He oversees organizational growth, business strategy, people culture, client relationships, business development, strategic partnerships, and launching new businesses.
 
Below is our LFJ Conversation with Harish Daiya:
 
Lumenci is a full-service technology consulting firm that uses domain expertise and automation to create value from technical innovations. Can you unpack that for us?
 

At Lumenci, we provide turnkey solutions to generate value from patent assets. What started as a technical consulting team has, over time, evolved into a team of like-minded experts, engineers, and deal makers who find innovative ways to commercialize the value of the patents. 

We frequently engage with deep-tech companies (and their investors) with sizeable patent portfolios that want to understand and estimate the value of their patents, which requires thoroughly examining their patent portfolio, deep diving into the invention/inventor story, and identifying assets that can generate maximum returns. This could also mean assisting the client in developing patents and selecting the best out of the lot for monetization. Our analysis and strategies to customers drive tangible value out of intangible assets, with more tech companies becoming more aware of the value of intellectual property. Our global clientele is now expanding with more requirements on the ‘how’ than the ‘what.’  

How does Lumenci help patent owners, law firms, and litigation funders during IP litigation?

Lumenci has supported AMLaw100 law firms in over 175 patent litigation matters, on both plaintiff and defense, across the US, EU, China, India, and Brazil, and has helped generate over $3B in verdicts, settlements, licensing revenues, and cost savings. Our team has successfully represented as technology consultants in high-stakes patent litigation lifecycle in creating high-quality litigation grade claim charts, drafting complaints, investigating confidential source code under the protective order, documentation review, expert reports prep, and supporting our law firm customers during deposition and trial.

Lumenci’s vast experience of supporting multiple high-stakes cases through the trial is beneficial to patent owners in not only validating the merits of a patent portfolio from a technology and valuation standpoint but also getting a turnkey solution to craft the right story, raise capital via litigation funding or insurance, engage with law firms, and get insights throughout the commercialization lifecycle. 

Our experts advise litigation funders with in-depth technology and valuation due diligence and help them identify the risks of a potential investment. Our experience with litigation funders has yielded them to mitigate high investment risks by identifying the underlying potential of patent assets, the risk of a commercialization campaign, and strategies on how to mitigate them. 

What is the role of due diligence and technical analysis in the patent litigation lifecycle?

Foundational, to sum it up in a word. 

Lumenci conducts due diligence on the company’s patent assets, highlighting relevance w.r.t technology evolution, assessing validity w.r.t section patentable subject matter, novelty and obviousness, scoping enforceability across the industry, and outlining the damages potential. This process becomes integral to the initial stages of a patent commercialization process. In addition, venue consideration is an important aspect of the diligence.  This due diligence forms the basis of building infallible evidence, which is critical in supporting a high-stakes commercialization campaign. 

How does the technical analysis process work? Are you able to analyze any technical domain?

We support high-stakes patent commercializing and litigation campaigns from day 1 through trial and specialize in technology domains like Software, Telecom/Networking, Semiconductors, and Medical Devices.  We support our law firm customers in maintaining and constantly upgrading the state of infringement or non-infringement evidence, and validity or invalidity evidence as a case progresses by analyzing source code, reverse engineering hardware, testing prior art systems, and conducting complex testing of telecom/networking devices. Lumenci is well known in the industry for “illuminating innovation”, i.e. finding key pieces of evidence which can be material in affecting the outcome of a case, on both the plaintiff and defense side.

What trends are you seeing in the patent space that is relevant to litigation funders specifically, and how does Lumenci’s service fit into those trends?

As litigation costs, especially in the US, continue to increase, the level of pre-intake diligence by the litigation funders also continues to increase. For the funders, this means having access to or relationships with technical and damages diligence teams that can provide priority and prompt support to their diligence needs is essential. The litigation funders that have these relationships ironed can out-compete their peers in terms of speed and depth of decision-making. Lumenci with its trained teams in various parts of the patent monetization and litigation cycle in over 10 countries, offers this depth and speed that is virtually unmatched at scale.

Despite the rising interest rates and dire macroeconomic conditions, the growing number of litigation cases and the emerging secondary market for litigation finance claims highlight the pertinence of litigation funding. Litigation funders are particularly interested in understanding the underlying potential of patent assets and mitigation potential before investing in a case. Additionally, operating technology companies continue to find creative ways to generate revenue and many patent assets are coming to the market which have little to no diligence done on them. Lumenci’s in-depth expertise in technical due diligence, validity assessment, damages assessment, and experience in handling high-stakes patent litigation matters are highly valued by litigation funders and insurance underwriters in making informed decisions on their investments in patent asset commercialization campaigns.

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An LFJ Conversation with Louisa Klouda, Founder and CEO of Fenchurch Legal

By John Freund and 4 others |

As the Founder and CEO of Fenchurch Legal, Louisa is responsible for overseeing all business operations, including fundraising, and ensuring the business’s overall success.

Louisa founded Fenchurch Legal in 2020 after an interest in the litigation finance market sparked an idea to apply a secured lending model to litigation finance. She discovered a market largely dominated by funders focusing on high-value, complex cases such as class actions, however, there was a lack of support for smaller claims. This insight led to the creation of Fenchurch Legal.

Before launching Fenchurch Legal, Louisa operated the broking and dealing desk for a corporate brokerage and finance firm in London. In this role, she gained extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and investment product structuring. Her role involved daily interactions with both retail and professional investors, as well as corporate clients.

Below is our LFJ Conversation with Louisa Klouda: How does Fenchurch Legal differentiate itself from traditional litigation funders? 

Fenchurch Legal operates differently from traditional litigation funders in several ways. Firstly, we focus on high-volume, low-value, process-driven consumer cases such as housing disrepair and financial mis-selling, where there is strong legal precedent supporting the claim type. Whereas larger litigation funders typically invest in high-stakes commercial disputes or class actions with multimillion-pound claims.

Secondly, the way we structure our lending is different. Traditional funders invest in cases on an outcome basis, taking equity-style positions – meaning they only receive a return if the case is successful, so they bear the risk of loss if the case is unsuccessful. In contrast, Fenchurch Legal operates as a direct lender, providing secured revolving credit facilities to law firms to draw down against costs and disbursements are repaid regardless of case outcomes. This structured lending model offers stability for both law firms and investors, ensuring predictable outcomes and controlled risk.

The key differentiation is that traditional funders invest in cases, whereas we provide loans.

Why doesn't Fenchurch have in-house lawyers, and how do you obtain legal expertise on the cases you originate? 

That’s a great question and one we often get asked. The answer is simple: Fenchurch Legal is a lending business, not a law firm.

Operating within the private debt sector, we provide business loans specifically for consumer legal case costs and disbursements with minimal litigation. Our expertise lies in secured lending, structuring loans and managing financial risk – not litigating cases.

We partner with law firms by providing them with the financial resources they need to run cases efficiently, while we focus on risk management, due diligence, and loan security.

Before entering a specific case type, we work with legal advisors to obtain counsel’s opinion and review case law and outcomes to assess viability and risk.

As part of our underwriting process, we outsource legal expertise where needed to assess a law firm's legal procedures, compliance with SRA regulations, as well as case viability. Additionally, we continuously audit and monitor the firms we fund, ensuring they meet strict legal and regulatory requirements, both internally by our team and by outsourcing to specialist legal professionals.

Unlike traditional litigation funders who take an active role in case strategy, our role is purely financial. We lend, monitor, and safeguard investor capital, ensuring that the law firms we fund have the financial resources and oversight needed to handle legal claims successfully.

Fenchurch focuses on small-ticket claims. What opportunities and challenges does a focus on that end of the market bring? 

One of the biggest opportunities the small-ticket claim market brings is the ability to fund cases with a clear legal precedent against highly liquid defendants, such as government bodies, banks, or insurers. This ensures that we have no risk of non-payment of damages and costs.

Another advantage is the scalability of our model. By funding high volumes of claims, we can diversify risk across multiple law firms and case types. To date, we have funded over 15,000 small consumer claims. Out of the 6,145 loans that have been repaid, 92% were successful. For the 8% that were unsuccessful, ATE insurance provided the necessary coverage, reinforcing our robust risk management framework.

One of the challenges of funding smaller cases is the operational complexity of managing a high volume of claims efficiently. However, we have developed strong due diligence, auditing, and monitoring systems that allow us to track performance and mitigate potential risks. We also have our own loan management software which provides a complete overview of our loan book and how our law firms are performing.

How does Fenchurch handle security and risk management concerns? 

At Fenchurch Legal, security and risk management are at the core of our lending model. As a direct lender, we structure loans to safeguard investor capital while ensuring law firms can operate effectively. Our key risk management strategies include:

  • Secured Lending Structure – Loans are backed by ATE Insurance, case proceeds, debentures and personal guarantees, ensuring capital protection.
  • Comprehensive Due Diligence – Before lending, we assess law firms’ track records, financial health, and case viability to ensure they meet our lending criteria.
  • Legal Precedent & Expert Review – We consult with barristers, law firms, and experts to evaluate claim types and expected outcomes.
  • Ongoing Monitoring & Auditing – We track performance, flag risks early, and ensure compliance with agreed terms.
  • Diversification – We fund a high volume of small, process-driven cases to spread risk across multiple firms and claims.

How do investors benefit from Fenchurch Legal's differentiated approach to the market? 

Investors choose Fenchurch Legal because they like our approach, which provides a predictable and secure investment opportunity. We operate as a direct lender offering structured loan facilities, meaning our investors benefit from a more stable, fixed-income-like investment model.

Our secured lending structure, combined with unique features such as risk management and diversification across a high volume of cases, provides investors with lower risk exposure and predictable returns.

As I often say, I come from a secured lending background, not a legal one. You wouldn’t ask us to stand up in court and argue a case, but you can trust us to look after investor money by structuring loans and managing risk effectively – that’s what we are good at.

LFJ Conversation

An LFJ Conversation with Obaid Saeed Bin Mes’har, Managing Director of WinJustice

WinJustice is the first litigation funding firm in the UAE, empowering businesses and individuals to access justice without financial strain. The UAE’s unique legal landscape, divided into onshore and offshore jurisdictions, offers a dynamic environment for litigation funding. As a trailblazer in this space, WinJustice is committed to making justice accessible and affordable for all. Below is our LFJ Conversation with Obaid Saeed Bin Mes'har: 1. The UAE has been expanding its legal landscape in recent years. How has the growth of the legal industry in the UAE impacted the demand for litigation funding?

I personally believe and during my professional experience I have seen that the UAE’s legal sector has experienced significant expansion, driven by economic growth, international investments, and regulatory advancements. This transformation has directly influenced the demand for litigation funding, as businesses and individuals seek financial support to navigate complex legal disputes without upfront costs.

Let me explain, what are few major factors driving demand in UAE market:

Increase in Commercial Disputes:

  • With the UAE’s rise as a global business hub, contract disputes have surged, particularly in high-stakes sectors like construction, real estate, and finance.
  • The growing reliance on arbitration and cross-border transactions has made litigation funding a strategic necessity

Dual Legal Framework:

    • The UAE’s unique system—onshore civil law courts and offshore common law jurisdictions (DIFC, ADGM)—creates a dynamic environment for litigation funding.
    • Offshore jurisdictions provide clear regulatory frameworks for third-party funding, increasing confidence among investors and litigants.
Escalating Legal Costs:
    • High litigation and arbitration costs often deter claimants from pursuing valid cases.
    • Litigation funding ensures businesses and individuals can seek justice without financial constraints, shifting the cost burden to funders.
Regulatory Support & Market Maturity:
    • The DIFC’s Practice Direction No. 2 of 2017 and ADGM’s Funding Rules 2019 have legitimized litigation funding, fostering investor confidence.
    • This has encouraged global litigation funders to enter the UAE market, increasing competition and accessibility.
Greater Awareness & Adoption:

At WinJustice, we are committed to spreading awareness and advancing the adoption of litigation funding across the MENA region. Our commitment is reflected in various initiatives, including education, thought leadership, and industry awareness.

As part of this mission, we are excited to announce the launch of our LinkedIn newsletter, "Litigation Funding MENA Insight"—the first dedicated newsletter in the region focusing on litigation funding. This initiative is particularly significant as it is led by a UAE-based company, bringing deep regional expertise and global perspectives.

Our newsletter will serve as a trusted resource, providing insights, case studies, and expert discussions on litigation funding. To ensure accessibility and reach, it will be published in both Arabic and English, making it the go-to platform for businesses, legal professionals, and investors interested in this evolving field.

The key Impacts on the Legal Industry: 

  • There is Enhanced Access to Justice: SMEs and individuals can now challenge well-funded opponents without financial barriers.
  • Market Competitiveness: The entrance of international funders has led to the adoption of global best practices, benefiting claimants.
  • Stronger Negotiation Leverage: With financial backing, businesses can negotiate settlements more effectively, knowing they have the resources to litigate if necessary.

Also, there are reports that litigation funding in the UAE increased by 40% over five years, with SMEs as the largest beneficiaries. Hence, we can say that litigation funding has become a crucial tool in the UAE’s evolving legal ecosystem. As regulatory clarity improves and market awareness increases, its role in providing financial access to justice will only strengthen.

2. In your experience, how do cultural and legal nuances in the UAE influence the way litigation funding investments are sourced and structured?

According to my experience, The UAE’s litigation funding market is shaped by deep-rooted cultural values and a dual legal framework that integrates both civil and common law principles. For anybody, understanding these nuances is essential for structuring investments effectively.

I can say that broadly Cultural & Legal Influences includes factors such as:  

Preference for Arbitration & Mediation:
    • The UAE business community traditionally favors dispute resolution methods like arbitration and mediation over lengthy court proceedings.
    • Litigation funders must tailor their models to prioritize arbitration financing, particularly for high-value commercial disputes.
Sharia Compliance & Islamic Finance:
    • Many UAE businesses operate under Islamic finance principles, requiring litigation funding models to be structured without interest-based arrangements.
    • Alternative funding structures, such as success-based fees and equity-sharing, are gaining traction.
Confidentiality & Reputation Sensitivity:
    • Businesses and high-net-worth individuals value discretion in legal matters.
    • Litigation funders must implement strict confidentiality agreements and strategic case management to ensure reputational protection.
Regulatory Variations Between Onshore & Offshore Jurisdictions:
    • Offshore jurisdictions (DIFC & ADGM) have explicit litigation funding regulations, making them attractive venues for funded claims.
    • Onshore courts lack clear regulations, requiring funders to conduct extensive due diligence before financing claims.
Government & Public Sector Sensitivities:
    • Disputes involving government-linked entities require additional compliance measures and strategic planning.
    • Litigation funders must account for potential regulatory scrutiny when financing such cases.

If you research, you may find incidents like Dubai-based firms have secured litigation funding for a contractual dispute against a overseas partner, leveraging the ADGM’s favorable legal framework.

Precisely speaking, Cultural and legal nuances make the UAE a unique but highly promising market for litigation funding. Tailored investment structures that respect local customs, regulatory landscapes, and business preferences are key to success. In fact, we estimate that 60% of funded cases in the UAE involved arbitration, highlighting the preference for ADR.

3. What are the chief concerns that litigation funders have when it comes to investment in the UAE, and how would you allay those concerns?

Actually, if you see, The UAE is rapidly emerging as a key market for litigation funding, but as with any evolving legal landscape, obviously funders have legitimate concerns about investing in the region. Addressing these concerns requires a deep understanding of the regulatory environment, enforcement mechanisms, and legal complexities that define the UAE’s legal system.

Few genuine concerns for Litigation Funders could be: 

Regulatory Uncertainty:
      • Unlike jurisdictions such as the UK and Australia, UAE’s onshore courts lack a well-defined framework for litigation funding.
      • Offshore jurisdictions like the DIFC and ADGM have established regulations, but clarity is still evolving in onshore courts.
Enforcement Challenges:
      • A favorable judgment does not always guarantee successful enforcement, particularly in cross-border disputes.
      • UAE’s legal system allows for appeals and potential delays in execution, which can extend the time before a funder sees returns.
Case Viability and Recovery Potential:
      • Funders must assess whether cases have strong legal merit and a high probability of success.
      • There is also concern over whether claimants will be able to recover awarded damages, particularly if assets are difficult to trace.
Judicial Discretion and Precedents:

UAE courts do not always follow strict precedents, which creates unpredictability for litigation funders who rely on historical case outcomes for underwriting decisions.

However, the good thing is we can address these concerns through initiating appropriate measure, like:

Leverage Offshore Jurisdictions:
    • Encouraging claimants to litigate within DIFC or ADGM courts can provide a more predictable legal framework with explicit third-party funding regulations.
Comprehensive Due Diligence:
    • Litigation funders should conduct thorough case assessments, including analyzing asset recovery potential before committing to funding.
Enforcement Planning:
    • Collaborating with asset recovery firms and legal experts to ensure judgments are enforceable across jurisdictions.
    • Utilizing treaties such as the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.
Risk-Sharing Mechanisms:
    • Structuring agreements with contingency elements can mitigate risks.
    • Working with law firms that offer success-based fees ensures that all stakeholders are aligned in their objectives.

To summarise, The UAE is a lucrative but complex market for litigation funders. By strategically selecting jurisdictions, conducting robust due diligence, and leveraging international enforcement treaties, funders can mitigate risks and take advantage of the growing demand for litigation finance in the region.

4. How do you manage duration and collectability risk? Are these more acute in the UAE than in other jurisdictions, and if so, how impactful are these to your underwriting criteria?

At WinJustice, we firmly believe that managing duration and collectability risk is one of the most critical aspects of litigation funding. In the UAE, these risks can be more significant due to procedural timelines and enforcement challenges. However, with a structured and strategic approach, they can be effectively mitigated. This is precisely what we implement at WinJustice—ensuring that every case is managed with precision, minimizing risks while maximizing successful outcomes.

Lets understand Duration and Collectability risks:

Duration Risk:
      • Court proceedings in UAE onshore courts can take longer due to multiple appeal stages.
      • Arbitration cases tend to resolve faster, particularly within DIFC and ADGM jurisdictions.
Collectability Risk:
      • Even if a judgment is awarded, claimants may face difficulties in collecting damages.
      • Defendants may shift or conceal assets, making enforcement challenging.

Our suggested strategies to manage these risks are:

1. Prioritize Arbitration Cases:

      • Arbitration is often faster than litigation and provides clear enforcement mechanisms.
      • DIFC and ADGM arbitration courts have robust mechanisms for enforcing awards internationally.

2. Early Case Assessment & Due Diligence:

      • Before funding a case, funders must evaluate the financial stability of the defendant and whether they have recoverable assets.
      • Engaging forensic accounting experts helps in asset tracing.Structuring Litigation Agreements with Milestones:
      • Including timelines in funding agreements helps ensure claimants and their legal teams are progressing cases efficiently.
      • Phased funding disbursements can incentivize timely case resolution.Working with Local Legal Experts & Asset Recovery Teams:
      • Partnering with firms specializing in UAE asset recovery and judgment enforcement can strengthen collectability efforts.

If we compare UAE to Other Jurisdictions:

    • UAE vs. UK: UK has established litigation funding precedents, making duration risk lower.
    • UAE vs. US: US litigation is costly but has a well-defined process for class action and third-party funding.
    • UAE vs. Singapore: Singapore offers a structured approach similar to DIFC, making it a comparable market.

Therefore, while duration and collectability risks are slightly higher in UAE than in more mature markets, leveraging arbitration, strong due diligence, and phased funding agreements can significantly reduce risks for litigation funders.

5. How do you envision the future of litigation funding in the Middle East over the next 5-10 years, and what key trends or developments do you believe will shape this future?

In my opinion, Litigation funding in the Middle East is at an inflection point. Over the next decade, the region will witness increased adoption of legal financing, supported by regulatory advancements, growing market awareness, and technological integration.

Some of major trends & developments shaping the Future, are like

Regulatory Evolution:
      • Onshore UAE courts may introduce formal litigation funding regulations, similar to DIFC and ADGM frameworks.
      • Governments in Saudi Arabia and Qatar are exploring third-party funding regulations, expanding the regional market.
Increased Market Adoption:
      • More law firms and corporate clients will turn to litigation funding, especially in high-value commercial disputes.
      • The construction and real estate sectors, which are prone to disputes, will see a rise in funding demand.
Technology & AI in Case Evaluation:
      • Artificial Intelligence (AI) will play a key role in risk assessment, helping funders predict case outcomes with higher accuracy.
      • AI-powered analytics will enhance due diligence and underwriting processes.
Expansion of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR):
      • Arbitration is expected to dominate litigation funding in the region due to faster resolution timelines and enforceability.
      • Growth of regional arbitration centers such as DIAC (Dubai

International Arbitration Centre) will further facilitate funded cases.

Entry of Global Players & Institutional Investors:
      • Large international litigation funders are likely to enter the Middle East, increasing competition and refining best practices.
      • Institutional investors, including hedge funds and private equity firms, will seek exposure to litigation funding as a diversified asset class.

Yes, there could be some challenges that may shape the future, like:

    • Ensuring ethical litigation funding practices to prevent frivolous lawsuits.
    • Balancing regulatory oversight with industry growth to maintain market credibility.

So, the next 5-10 years will see the Middle East, particularly the UAE, become a key hub for litigation funding. With regulatory progress, market maturity, and technological advancements, the region is poised for significant growth in third-party legal financing, offering both opportunities and challenges for funders and legal professionals alike.

LFJ Conversation

An LFJ Conversation with Ondrej Tylecek, Partner and Head of Investments, LitFin

By John Freund and 4 others |

Ondrej is Partner and Head of Investments at LitFin, which he joined shortly after its foundation. He is particularly responsible for the legal agenda, investments, and business relations. Prior to LitFin, he gained professional experience as a lawyer focusing on transactions and corporate law and as an investor in the private sector. Ondrej graduated in law from Masaryk University (Czech Republic) and Brussels School of Competition (Belgium).

Below is our LFJ Conversation with Ondrej Tylecek: 

LitFin has become one of the most prominent litigation funders in the continental EU for follow-on group litigations. Can you take us through the company's growth process - how were you able to effectively scale your business?

I think the key to our success is that, unlike other funders, LitFin is a vertically integrated structure. With that being said, we’re not just deploying the capital into cases brought to us on a silver plate, but we’re actively building the cases from the bottom, going the extra mile, which other players on the market typically don’t. For example, we’re creating personalized onboarding strategies and trying to keep an individual client approach at all times, not relying on third parties doing the work for us, because we want to be sure that the best quality is secured at all times. Also, unlike other litigation funders, we’re not paid managers who take a management fee every year, but we have the ‘funders mentality’ because together with our investors, LitFin’s partners have their own money at stake. That’s what sets us apart, and that’s why we have extra motivation to succeed on the market.

How challenging was it to educate the continental EU market on litigation funding? And what have you noticed in regard to the market's understanding and acceptance of litigation funding as the sector has evolved?

At first it was challenging indeed, because lots of clients could not imagine that such a great service with which we approached them could even exist. Not spending a cent on a court proceeding and only share when the case was successful? That must be a scam then! Nevertheless, I think that we went quite far from there, and nowadays prospective clients typically are aware of the industry and the benefits it brings to them. As litigation funding in Europe matures, besides pricing, the clients typically look into the funder’s track record, legal representation, and overall trustworthiness.

What are LitFin's plans for growth - both regionally / jurisdictionally, and also in terms of product offerings?

Most importantly, due to our rapid growth, LitFin is actively seeking an additional strategic partner to solidify its position as a leading EU litigation funder specializing in follow-on group litigations arising from competition law infringements. With that regard, we are already in discussions with several top-tier potential new business partners in the USA and locally. Our conservative target is to raise EUR 100 million within the next six to nine months to allow us to seize even more opportunities in the litigation finance space and expand our current portfolio, which already exceeds EUR 4 billion in claim value funded with a success rate over 90%.

From a regional perspective, 2024 was a breakthrough year for us in France and the Benelux region, where we successfully funded cases and strengthened our local presence. Our expansion in these markets has been driven by new colleagues from France, led by Juraj Siska, who joined us from the European Commission and who now serves at LitFin as the Director for France & Benelux. Building on this momentum, our focus for this year is on Spain and Italy, where we are already active and see strong potential for further growth.

Regarding product offerings, we remain committed to our core activities in the distressed sector in Central Europe. Beyond that, we have some exciting new products in development, which we prefer to not disclose at this stage. However, regardless of expansion plans, our top priority remains delivering bespoke, high-quality litigation funding solutions tailored to our clients’ needs.

What are LitFin's plans for growth - both regionally / jurisdictionally, and also in terms of product offerings? Last year you have established the first regulated fund (SICAV) in CEE (and one of the first in continental Europe) focused purely on the litigation funding industry. How have investors responded to the fund's launch, and do you foresee additional fund launches in the future?

The investors responded very well, even though we focused on the Czech and Slovak region only and the fundraising period was short. Primarily, we were able to successfully test an interest in this new, uncorrelated asset class and are happy that investors, both institutions and individuals, perceive litigation funding as an interesting and valued addition to their investment portfolios. Regarding the SICAV fund, we’ll be launching a new evergreen sub-fund called ‘Credit’ with a target return of 13% p.a., which will allow qualified investors to be part of our success story without time limitations on the entry.

How are the recent regulatory frameworks such as the Voss Report impacting the funding industry? Do you see industry regulation as a risk for litigation funders going forward?

As one of Europe’s leading litigation funders, LitFin obviously closely monitors regulatory developments like the Voss Report. While it has raised concerns about potential industry regulation, we believe much of the criticism within the report misrepresents the realities of litigation finance. The report suggests excessive funder control over cases and a lack of transparency, but in practice, funders do not dictate legal strategy—claimants and their legal teams remain in charge. Moreover, existing contractual safeguards and ethical obligations already ensure accountability and fairness.

From my perspective, the biggest issue with the Voss Report is that it overlooks the essential role litigation funding plays in access to justice. Many businesses and consumers would be unable to challenge well-resourced defendants without financial backing. As Omni Bridgeway’s Wieger Wielinga rightly pointed out in a recent LFJ interview, ensuring a level playing field in litigation requires financial equality between counterparties, making litigation funding essential. Creating an artificial barrier would ultimately benefit large corporations at the expense of fairness.

We do not see regulation as an existential threat to the industry. If regulation is introduced, we expect it to focus on transparency rather than prohibition, ensuring credibility while allowing the market to function effectively. Markets like the UK and Australia have thriving litigation funding sectors under clear regulatory frameworks, and we expect Europe to follow a similar path. For reputable funders like LitFin, well-structured regulation could actually be beneficial, reinforcing trust in the industry and attracting institutional investors.