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Announcements Commercial

Litigation Funder Validity Finance Adds Two New Members to Investment Team with Backgrounds in Big Law and Mediation

NEW YORK (March 10, 2020) – Litigation funder Validity Finance announced two noteworthy additions to its investment team in New York and Chicago.


Joshua J. Libling, an experienced commercial and appellate lawyer joins Validity from Boies Schiller Flexner. He becomes a portfolio counsel in New York. Also arriving is James Amend, a renowned patent trial lawyer, mediator and former partner at Kirkland & Ellis. Mr. Amend becomes a senior investment advisor based in Validity’s Chicago office.

As portfolio counsel, Mr. Libling will help identify, vet and oversee litigation investments in stand-alone lawsuits and law firm portfolios of hybrid contingency cases. With a broad background in complex commercial disputes, Mr. Libling was involved in some of Boies Schiller’s highest-stakes cases including plaintiff and defendant-side actions at all levels of the federal courts.

As former Pro Bono Coordinator at Boies Schiller, he also bolsters Validity’s commitment to high ethical standards in dispute funding, including cases with claims related to social justice and exoneration.
A magna cum laude graduate of New York University School of Law, Mr. Libling clerked for two federal judges: Judge Chester Straub of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge Kenneth Karas of the Southern District of New York.

“We’re thrilled to have a lawyer of Joshua’s caliber join us,” said Validity CEO Ralph Sutton. “He brings outstanding trial experience in big-ticket commercial disputes and is an expert at case evaluation. His commitment to social justice cases while at Boies Schiller suits him admirably for our client-first approach to funding.”

Julia Gewolb, Validity’s Head of Underwriting, worked with Mr. Libling at Boies Schiller for several years and added “Josh brings substantial case experience and understands the key milestones over the life of a litigation matter. I know firsthand how much analytic and strategic strength he will add to our underwriting process.”

The addition of Mr. Amend reflects a growing pool of complex patent disputes under consideration for funding by Validity. In addition to his three-decade tenure as a Kirkland partner, Mr. Amend served as chief mediator for the United States Federal Circuit Court of Appeals from 2007 to 2013. In that role, and in subsequent years as a JAMS neutral, he has mediated over 600 patent and intellectual property cases. Mr. Amend also authored the federal judges’ patent treatise, Patent Law – A Primer for Federal District Court and Magistrate Judges (Eds. 1998 and 2006).

“Few practicing lawyers — or judges for that matter — have the breadth and depth of courtroom experience Jim brings to Validity,” reports Validity CEO Ralph Sutton. “We are exceptionally fortunate to have his help reviewing the expanding opportunities we’re seeing in the intellectual property area.”

Surge in Cases for Funding

The U.S. market for litigation finance continues to grow at a healthy pace. Validity has screened over 650 potential matters since its launch in June 2018, including over 150 patent opportunities. Validity’s acceptance rate for investments remains under 5%, however. These investments include commercial lawsuits, arbitrations (domestic and international) and law firm portfolios, as well as asset enforcement matters.

“We suspected there would be significantly more demand for dispute funding than we’d seen previously when we entered the market in 2018. But we’ve been pleasantly surprised by the strong uptick in funding requests in each subsequent quarter,” Mr. Sutton said. He noted the firm reviewed over 120 new cases in the fourth quarter of 2019 alone. Overall, Validity has reviewed cases from 30 states and 20 countries internationally.

“We’re pleased with the steady advance of the firm, especially the robust bump in investment opportunities after just 18 months from launch,” Mr. Sutton said. “Our call-out message that litigation finance must focus on clients and building trust has clearly resonated with the market. We’re committed to using our capital to expand equal access to the civil justice system and look forward to supporting more worthy cases in 2020.”

About Validity

Validity is a commercial litigation finance company that provides businesses, law firms and individuals with non-recourse financing for a wide variety of commercial disputes. Founded in 2018 with $250 million in financing, Validity believes that capital and legal expertise combine to help solve legal problems on behalf of clients. Validity’s’ mission is to make a meaningful difference for clients by focusing on fairness, ethics, innovation, and clarity. For more, visit www.validity-finance.com.

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Announcements Case Developments Commercial

Australian Google Ad Tech Class Action Commenced on Behalf of Publishers

By Harry Moran |

A class action was filed on 16 December 2024 on behalf of QNews Pty Ltd and Sydney Times Media Pty Ltd against Google LLC, Google Pte Ltd and Google Australia Pty Ltd (Google). 

The class action has been commenced to recover compensation for Australian-domiciled website and app publishers who have suffered financial losses as a result of Google’s misuse of market power in the advertising technology sector. The alleged loss is that publishers would have had significantly higher revenues from selling advertising space, and would have kept greater profits, if not for Google’s misuse of market power. 

The class action is being prosecuted by Piper Alderman with funding from Woodsford, which means affected publishers will not pay costs to participate in this class action, nor will they have any financial risk in relation to Google’s costs. 

Anyone, or any business, who has owned a website or app and sold advertising space using Google’s ad tech tools can join the action as a group member by registering their details at www.googleadtechaction.com.au. Participation in the action as a group member will be confidential so Google will not become aware of the identity of group members. 

The class action is on behalf of all publishers who had websites or apps and sold advertising space using Google’s platforms targeted at Australian consumers, including: 

  1. Google Ad Manager (GAM);
  2. Doubleclick for Publishers (DFP);
  3. Google Ad Exchange (AdX); and
  4. Google AdSense or AdMob. 

for the period 16 December 2018 to 16 December 2024. 

Google’s conduct 

Google’s conduct in the ad tech market is under scrutiny in various jurisdictions around the world. In June 2021, the French competition authority concluded that Google had abused its dominant position in the ad tech market. Google did not contest the decision, accepted a fine of €220m and agreed to change its conduct. The UK Competition and Markets Authority, the European Commission, the US Department of Justice and the Canadian Competition Bureau have also commenced investigations into, or legal proceedings regarding, Google’s conduct in ad tech. There are also class actions being prosecuted against Google for its practices in the ad tech market in the UK, EU and Canada. 

In Australia, Google’s substantial market power and conduct has been the subject of regulatory investigation and scrutiny by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) which released its report in August 2021. The ACCC found that “Google is the largest supplier of ad tech services across the entire ad tech supply chain: no other provider has the scale or reach across the ad tech supply chain that Google does.” It concluded that “Google’s vertical integration and dominance across the ad tech supply chain, and in related services, have allowed it to engage in leveraging and self-preferencing conduct, which has likely interfered with the competitive process". 

Quotes 

Greg Whyte, a partner at Piper Alderman, said: 

“This class action is of major importance to publishers, who have suffered as a result of Google’s practices in the ad tech monopoly that it has secured. As is the case in several other 2. jurisdictions around the world, Google will be required to respond to and defend its monopolistic practices which significantly affect competition in the Australian publishing market”. 

Charlie Morris, Chief Investment Officer at Woodsford said: “This class action follows numerous other class actions against Google in other jurisdictions regarding its infringement of competition laws in relation to AdTech. This action aims to hold Google to account for its misuse of market power and compensate website and app publishers for the consequences of Google’s misconduct. Working closely with economists, we have determined that Australian website and app publishers have been earning significantly less revenue and profits from advertising than they should have. We aim to right this wrong.” 

Class Action representation 

The team prosecuting the ad tech class action comprises: 

  • Law firm: Piper Alderman
  • Funder: Woodsford
  • Counsel team: Nicholas de Young KC, Simon Snow and Nicholas Walter
Announcements Consumer

Rockpoint Legal Funding Shines at Consumer Attorneys of California Annual Convention

By Harry Moran |

Rockpoint Legal Funding proudly participated in the annual conference hosted by the Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), showcasing its commitment to supporting legal professionals and their clients. As the only funding company endorsed by CAOC, Rockpoint Legal Funding leveraged this premier event to connect with new and prospective partners reinforcing its position as a trusted funder within California's legal community.

The CAOC is a prestigious network of attorneys dedicated to protecting the rights of California consumers. Each year, the organization hosts its annual convention, bringing together some of the brightest legal minds and innovators in the industry. For Rockpoint Legal Funding, this event was an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate its unwavering dedication to empowering attorneys and their clients through tailored legal funding solutions.

During the convention, Rockpoint operated a booth where team members engaged with attendees, offering insights into the company's services and how they benefit both legal professionals and consumers seeking justice. From new attorneys looking for funding solutions to established firms aiming to streamline their case workflows, Rockpoint provided personalized advice and showcased its comprehensive suite of legal funding options.

"Rockpoint is proud to partner with the Consumer Attorneys of California. We take a lot of pride in serving the attorneys and their clients of this prestigious organization," said Ramtin Ghaneeian, Founding Partner of Rockpoint Legal Funding. His statement highlights the company's commitment to strengthening its collaboration with CAOC and continuing to support its mission of safeguarding the rights of California consumers.

President of Rockpoint Legal Funding, Maz Ghorban, emphasized the value of building strong relationships at events like this, stating, "It's a privilege to connect with our law firm partners at the CAOC convention each year while ensuring our values align with protecting California consumers through legal recourse."

Rockpoint's presence at the CAOC annual convention underscores its dedication to fostering meaningful connections within the legal community. By being the only CAOC-endorsed funding company, Rockpoint reinforces its credibility and reliability in the legal funding landscape. This endorsement is a testament to Rockpoint's shared vision with CAOC in championing consumer rights and providing critical support to those navigating the justice system.

For attorneys and law firms, Rockpoint Legal Funding offers a variety of non-recourse funding solutions, ensuring clients have the financial support they need during ongoing litigation. This commitment aligns perfectly with CAOC's mission to advocate for justice and fairness for California consumers.

As Rockpoint continues to deepen its relationships with legal professionals, events like the CAOC annual convention remain a cornerstone of its outreach efforts. The company looks forward to future collaborations and furthering its impact within the legal community.

For more information about Rockpoint Legal Funding and its services, visit Rockpointlegalfunding.com or call (855) 582-9200.

About Rockpoint Legal Funding

Rockpoint Legal Funding is a leading provider of non-recourse legal funding solutions, serving attorneys and their clients with unparalleled expertise and care. With a mission to empower justice and support favorable case outcomes, Rockpoint is committed to providing financial assistance during critical times, ensuring no one is denied access to legal recourse due to financial constraints.

Announcements Commercial Fundraising

Nera Capital Secures Additional $25 million in New Funding Deal

By Harry Moran |

Top litigation finance firm Nera Capital is ending the year on a high with the announcement of yet another successfully closed funding deal, this time securing $25 million to bolster UK consumer protection claims.

The funding, secured through a US-based investment partner, reflects yet another significant milestone for the firm as it continues to build momentum and strengthen its foothold in the market. 

This recently closed funding deal builds on a prosperous year of growth for Nera Capital, further demonstrating its capabilities across the globe. The investment will be directed towards advancing claims that protect UK consumers, enabling greater access to justice for individuals seeking redress.

With offices in Dublin, Manchester, and Amsterdam, Nera Capital has consistently demonstrated its commitment to driving innovation and impact in litigation finance worldwide. This latest funding announcement underscores Nera Capital’s ability to forge strategic international partnerships that deliver meaningful results. 

In 2024, Nera have hit record numbers of settlements, deployment and company profitability but also grown major portfolio positions in Europe and the USA.

Aisling Byrne, Director at Nera Capital, commented on the announcement: “We are happy to have closed yet another significant funding deal, further cementing our position as a leading force in consumer protection litigation. We anticipate this initial facility figure will increase as our partnership strengthens and thrives over time.

She added: “This is not just about financial growth; it’s about expanding our ability to make a difference. With this funding, we are reinforcing our commitment to fairness and justice, empowering consumers, and holding organisations accountable.”

The announcement follows the recent launch of Nera Capital’s £250,000 Access to Justice Fund, aimed at providing legal and financial support to those who may otherwise face barriers to justice.

The firm’s efforts come at a time of heightened focus on consumer rights across the world, driven by evolving legal frameworks, increased attention to data privacy, and growing concerns about sustainability and corporate accountability.

“This funding is another step forward in a year of tremendous progress for Nera Capital,” Aisling continued.

“As we look to 2025, we remain committed to leveraging our resources and expertise to protect consumers and advocate for justice on both sides of the Atlantic.“ 

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