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

March 10, 2020

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 Commercial

Loopa Finance Wins at the Lexology European Awards 2026 in the Litigation / General Counsel Category

By John Freund |

Loopa Finance has been recognized as the winner in the Litigation – General Counsel Team category at the Lexology European Awards 2026, one of the leading recognitions in the international legal sector.

The award was received in London by Ignacio Delgado, General Counsel Europe at the firm, on behalf of Loopa Finance’s European team, composed of Ignacio Delgado (General Counsel Europe), Marina Gouveia (Investment Manager), Fernando Pérez Lozada (Senior Investment Manager), and Fernando Folgueiro (Managing Partner).

The Lexology European Awards recognize outstanding legal teams across the region through a methodology that combines independent research, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and thousands of nominations supported by clients and industry peers, as well as the annual research conducted by the Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) and Client Choice.

The selection process is based on performance evaluations related to effective communication, commercial understanding, technical expertise, strategic management, and team strength, and is supported by a global community of more than 940,000 subscribers.

This recognition positions Loopa Finance’s European team among the leading practitioners in complex litigation and strategic legal management in Europe.

“This award reflects the strength of a team operating across two continents that understands litigation not only from a legal perspective, but also through financial analysis and risk management. It is the result of collective work and a rigorous, strategic approach to structuring complex disputes,” said Delgado during the ceremony.

More Than an Award: Validation of a Model

The award comes at a time of consolidation for the firm. Loopa Finance recently completed its rebranding process, evolving from Qanlex to Loopa Finance and reinforcing an identity aligned with its growth in continental Europe and its broader international positioning.

It also coincides with the closing of Fund III, raising €65 million to finance complex litigation and arbitration across Europe and Latin America, significantly expanding the firm’s investment capacity and supporting the continued growth of its platform in the region.

This milestone adds to the firm’s recent rankings, including its Band 1 classification by Chambers & Partners in Latin America and Europe, its recognition as “Highly Recommended” by Leaders League across multiple jurisdictions, and the inclusion of members of its team among the Thought Leaders in Third-Party Funding by the Lexology Index. Together, these results confirm the strength of Loopa Finance’s model and the consolidation of its team as a reference in the strategic financing of disputes at an international level.

About Loopa Finance

Loopa Finance is an investment fund specializing in the financing and monetization of litigation and arbitration across continental Europe and Latin America, supported by a technology-driven model and rigorous risk analysis. The firm provides capital to cover legal costs or monetize ongoing claims through non-recourse structures, where the recovery of the investment depends exclusively on the successful outcome of the case, assuming the financial risk of the dispute while fully aligning its interests with those of clients and law firms.

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.

Announcements Commercial

Nera Capital Secures £50M Asset Mandate

By John Freund |

Nera Capital has strengthened its litigation finance platform with the onboarding of a new South America-based funding partner committing £50 million across litigation finance and legal assets. The mandate not only expands Nera’s available capital base but also sees the firm formally appointed as asset manager for the new funds, reinforcing its growing role as both originator and portfolio steward within the UK litigation market.

In a press release, Nera Capital announced that the £50 million commitment will be deployed across a range of UK-based claims, with the firm responsible for underwriting, structuring, capital deployment, and ongoing portfolio management. The capital will be allocated in line with Nera’s established investment criteria and risk management framework, targeting carefully selected legal assets. The funding partner, described as having an “extensive track record” in high-yielding special situations investments uncorrelated to traditional asset classes, brings prior experience in litigation finance across South America.

Robin Grant, CFO at Nera Capital, emphasized that the partnership aligns with the firm’s disciplined approach to litigation finance and enhances its ability to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns to investors. Aisling Byrne, Director at Nera Capital, highlighted the funder’s blend of financial and legal expertise, noting that the asset manager appointment reflects international confidence in Nera’s ability to identify viable claims and manage them through to resolution.

Established in 2011 and headquartered in Dublin, with offices in Manchester and Holland, Nera Capital provides law firm lending across consumer and commercial claim portfolios and is a member of the European Litigation Funders Association.