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Litigation funder Validity Finance adds former Kirkland Ellis lawyer in Houston; former federal judge joins firm’s investment committee

November 6, 2020

Litigation funder Validity Finance adds former Kirkland Ellis lawyer in Houston; former federal judge joins firm’s investment committee

Leading litigation funder Validity Finance has expanded its Texas bench with the addition of former Kirkland & Ellis Houston trial partner Sarah Williams. She joins as portfolio counsel in Houston, where she’ll advise on potential investments with particular focus on Texas and the Southwest. At Kirkland, Ms. Williams handled a wide span of litigation matters, including high-profile energy and bankruptcy cases, as well as disputes involving contract, fraud, professional liability, and employment claims. Along with her trial experience, she brings strong analytic skills for helping Validity assess funding opportunities with law firms and businesses across Texas and the region. The Texas legal market is the nation’s third largest and boasts one of the most active state court systems, and the fourth most active federal system. The latest annual report by the Texas Judiciary reported that the number of civil lawsuits filed in state district courts grew by 11% between 2018-19, and nearly 30% over a five-year period. As the state’s docket has grown, so has the backlog, creating more financial pressure on claimants trying to advance their cases. “We’ve seen a pronounced uptick this year in demand for funding support – including among companies and law firms constrained by Covid. Nationally, demand has grown around 50%,” said Validity’s Houston office head Laina Hammond. “In our two-and-a-half-year presence here, we’ve met with virtually all of the top trial practices in the state, including boutiques. This is a market that grasps the value proposition in partnering with strong funding providers to grow and sustain litigation pipelines.” Regarding Ms. Williams, Ms. Hammond added, “We had no doubt that Sarah was a strong fit with our team here. She brings outstanding trial experience and excellent relationships across the region, and her ability to size up the merits and worthiness of a case will make her invaluable for building our Texas portfolio. We are thrilled to have her with us and look forward to helping clients find innovative financing solutions to meet the unprecedented legal challenges they face.” Ms. Williams was partner at Kirkland from 2018-20, having previously been a litigation associate. She was formerly an associate at the Houston firm Diamond McCarthy as well as at Weil Gotshal. She served as judicial clerk for the Honorable Marcia Crone in the Eastern District of Texas from 2010-12. Before becoming a lawyer, Ms. Williams was an award-winning journalist, writing for various publications including The Houston Chronicle and Examiner Newspaper Group. “I am excited to join the Validity team and to help expand the company’s portfolio in Texas and beyond,” Ms. Williams said. “As a trial lawyer, I’m keenly aware of the important role litigation finance can play in ensuring worthy cases reach the courtroom and look forward to partnering with our clients to develop innovative solutions to their funding needs.” Retired Magistrate Judge Henry Jones Joins Investment Committee Validity also announced a new member to its investment committee, former U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry Jones. He joins former federal Judge John Gleeson, retired Kirkland & Ellis partner Jim Schink, and Towerbrook General Counsel Glenn Miller on Validity’s investment committee. Judge Jones most recently served as a mediator, arbitrator and Special Master for The McCammon Group after retiring from more than 30 years as Magistrate Judge of the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Arkansas. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Michigan Law School, he enjoyed a broad civil litigation practice as a partner at Walker Hollingsworth & Jones in Little Rock, Ark., prior to his judicial career. Validity CEO Ralph Sutton stated, “Judge Jones and I have known each other for over 30 years. We both clerked for the Honorable G Thomas Eisele about 20 years apart. Judge Jones’ reputation for incisive, crisp and thoughtful decisions from the bench was always matched by his impartiality and respect for the dignity of every litigant who appeared before him. We know he will contribute meaningfully to the quality of our IC’s investment decisions.” About Validity: Validity is a commercial litigation finance company that provides non-recourse investments for a wide variety of commercial disputes. Validity’s mission is to make a meaningful difference in our clients’ experience of the legal system. We focus on fairness, innovation, and clarity. For more, visit www.validity-finance.com.
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Announcements Commercial

ILFA Welcomes Commissioner McGrath’s Rejection of EU Regulation for Third-Party Litigation Funding

By John Freund |

On 18 November 2025, European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath closed the final meeting of the EU’s High-Level Forum on Justice for Growth with a clear statement that the Commission does not plan new legislation on Third Party Litigation Funding (TPLF). 

He added that Forum participants also indicated that there is no need to further regulate third-party litigation funding.

Instead, Commissioner McGrath said the Commission will prioritise monitoring the implementation of the Representative Actions Directive (RAD) over any new legislative proposals. 

(video from 2.32 here). 

Paul Kong, Executive Director of the International Legal Finance Association (ILFA), said:  “We’re delighted to see Commissioner McGrath’s clear statement that EU regulation for third-party litigation funding is not planned. This appears to close any talk of the need for new regulation, which was completely without evidence and created considerable uncertainty for the sector.

Over several years, ILFA has consistently made the case that litigation funding plays a critical role in ensuring European businesses and consumers can access justice without financial limitations and are not disadvantaged against larger and financially stronger defendants. New legislation would have choked off the availability of financial support to level the playing field for claimants. 

We will continue to work closely with the Commission to share the experiences of our members on the implementation of the RAD across the EU, ensuring it also works for claimants in consumer group actions facing defendants with deep pockets.”

About ILFA

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 global 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 or @ILFA_Official. 

About the High-Level Forum on Justice for Growth

European Commissioner for Justice Michael McGrath launched the High-Level Forum on Justice for Growth in March 2025 to bring together legal industry experts to “focus on and discuss together how justice policies can contribute to – and further support – European competitiveness and growth”. The final meeting of the Forum took place on 18 November 2025, in Brussels. 

Announcements Commercial

Pogust Goodhead Appoints Jonathan Edward Wheeler as Partner and Head of Mariana Litigation

By John Freund |

Pogust Goodhead law firm has appointed Jonathan Edward Wheeler as a partner and Head of Mariana Litigation, adding heavyweight firepower to the team driving one of the largest group claims in English legal history following the firm’s landmark liability win against BHP in the English courts.

Jonathan joins Pogust Goodhead from Morrison Foerster in London, where he was a leading commercial litigation partner, having served for seven years as office co-managing partner and for 15 years as Head of Litigation. A specialist in complex, cross-border disputes, Jonathan has extensive experience acting in high-value commercial litigation, civil fraud and asset tracing, international trust disputes, contentious insolvency and investigations across multiple jurisdictions.

In his new role, Jonathan will assume strategic leadership of the proceedings arising from the Mariana dam disaster against mining giant BHP, overseeing the continued development of the case into the damages phase and working closely with colleagues in Brazil, the UK, the Netherlands and beyond.

Howard Morris, Chairman at Pogust Goodhead said: “Jonathan is a heavyweight addition to Pogust Goodhead and to our Mariana team. His track record in running some of the most complex cross-border disputes in the English courts, together with his leadership experience, make him exactly the kind of senior figure we need after our historic liability victory. Our clients will benefit enormously from his expertise and judgment.”

Jonathan Wheeler said: “It is a privilege to join Pogust Goodhead at such a pivotal moment in the Mariana case. The recent liability judgment is a watershed for access to justice and corporate accountability. I am honoured to help lead the next phase of this extraordinary litigation and to work alongside a team that has shown such determination in seeking justice for hundreds of thousands of victims.”

Alicia Alinia, CEO at Pogust Goodhead said: “Bringing in lawyers of Jonathan’s calibre is a strategic choice. As we expand the depth and breadth of our disputes practice globally, we are investing in senior talent who can help us deliver justice at scale for our clients and build an even more resilient firm.”

The Mariana proceedings in England involve over 600,000 of Brazilian individuals, businesses, municipalities, religious institutions and Indigenous communities affected by the 2015 Fundão dam collapse in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Following the English court’s decision on liability on the 14th of November 2025, the case will now move into the next stage focused on damages and the quantification of losses on an unprecedented scale.

Announcements Regulatory Issues

Pravati Capital Establishes Coalition to Advance Responsible Litigation Funding Regulation Across U.S. Following Arizona Law’s Passage

By John Freund |

Arizona’s Senate Bill 1215 (SB1215) will become law on Jan. 1, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the state’s role as a national leader in advancing access to justice through litigation funding, positioning Arizona as a model for other states considering similar measures. Arizona’s legislation reflects a broader movement in states such as California and Georgia, where lawmakers are weighing the benefits of litigation finance as a way to level the playing field for plaintiffs facing deep-pocketed adversaries.

To help advance these efforts, Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Pravati Capital, one of the oldest litigation finance firms in the U.S. and supporter of the bill alongside the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the broader legal community, has formed a coalition of litigation funders, attorneys and policy advocates committed to ensuring that states pass responsible regulation that protects plaintiffs. 

The bill’s final passage underscores a consensus reached after months of negotiations and reflects bipartisan compromise, according to Alexander Chucri, founder and CEO of Pravati Capital. SB1215 ensures funding remains a viable option for plaintiffs seeking to stand on equal footing with well-capitalized corporate opponents; it requires greater transparency of legal proceedings and prohibits funding and influence by foreign countries or entities of concern as defined in the legislation. 

“Arizona’s leadership in the area of litigation funding sends a powerful signal nationally,” said Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll, a key supporter of the legislation. “This legislation is the product of constructive negotiation that demonstrates what’s possible when all sides work toward the shared goal of preserving access to justice.”

“It closes the door on bad actors while ensuring responsible litigation finance firms can continue to help plaintiffs pursue meritorious claims,” said Chucri. “At Pravati, we welcome this as part of an ongoing dialogue.”

SB1215 took effect on September 26, 90 days after the close of the legislative session, and, with a delayed effective date, will become law on January 1. Among key provisions, SB1215:

·       Protects the integrity of cases by restricting involvement by foreign countries or entities of concern as defined in the legislation, ensuring litigation funding remains aligned with U.S. legal and ethical standards.

·       Preserves innovation in legal services, reaffirming Arizona’s pioneering role in allowing alternative business structures (ABS), law firms that permit non-lawyers decision-making authority, to expand access to legal services by partnering with litigation funding firms.   

·       Balances regulation, affirming safeguards such as prohibitions on funders controlling litigation, while maintaining transparency. 

Chucri added, “Pravati has always believed our mission — ‘to befriend, help and protect’ — is best achieved through cooperation and a willingness to educate stakeholders. We will continue to engage constructively in conversations to advance fair, responsible access to justice.” 

About Pravati Capital

Established in 2013, Pravati Capital, LLC is among the oldest litigation finance firms in the U.S., delivering a proven track record as an equalizing force in court and a unique and uncorrelated asset class to investors. Founded by Alexander Chucri, a visionary in developing the industry's first pioneering model of litigation finance in 2003, Pravati Capital brings together a seasoned team with deep experience across law, finance and successful entrepreneurial ventures. The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based firm delivers strategic capital solutions for attorneys and law firms, helps plaintiffs gain access to justice through financial support, and offers accredited investors an attractive asset class designed to perform independently of traditional markets. Pravati’s mission is its namesake: to befriend, help and protect. For more information, visit PravatiCapital.com.