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Litigation Funding in Brazil Could Explode After 231,000 Patents Are Granted to Reduce Backlog

January 15, 2018

Litigation Funding in Brazil Could Explode After 231,000 Patents Are Granted to Reduce Backlog

For the past 15 years, Brazil has suffered one of the world’s most chronic and severe backlogs of pending patents. Now, the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), is looking to reduce that backlog in one fell swoop: by granting patent rights until 2020 to 231,000 pending applications with no examination. The Brazilian government is seeking to introduce this emergency measure as an “extraordinary solution” to the crisis that has plagued the nation’s patent market for a generation. Brazil’s patent problems arose after it enacted the Patent Statute in 1996, making the nation TRIPS compliant and expanding its range of patentable products and industries. As a result, the number of patent filings has increased 200% over the last 15 years, without a corresponding increase in PTO examiners. Brazil’s current average waiting time for all technological patents is over 10 years. For pharmaceutical and telecom patents, the average wait time is over 13 years. According to the PTO, the current number of examiners (326) is sufficient to handle the present influx of new filings, however it is the backlog that is keeping the PTO in check. Therefore, the PTO has floated the idea that 231,000 pending patents within the backlog (not including pharma patents, which are covered by a separate regulatory body) be immediately granted with no examination required. Here’s where things get tricky, however: a third party would maintain the right to file a pre-grant opposition within 90 days of the automatic patent filing. Should a pre-grant filing take place, the patent application would automatically be reviewed by the PTO. Companies could then theoretically check the automatic patent application list for competitor patents, and file a pre-grant opposition in order to remove their competitors’ patents from the queue. Of course, that type of action would require an upfront legal spend. Perhaps this is an area that astute litigation funders in the market could pursue– There is additional concern, of course, that patents granted via the automatic waiver may in the long run be vulnerable to invalidity challenges in post-grant opposition, as well as the Federal Courts. Local and state judges may also be reluctant to enforce patent decisions in cases involving patents obtained through automatic application. The PTO itself is not beyond judicial reproach; there have already been numerous lawsuits against the PTO grounded on the unlawfulness of the lengthy backlog, which have successfully compelled the PTO to examine a patent application by means of a court order. So it’s not a given that the PTO’s automatic grant will be accepted by state and even federal courts. Again, these are all nitty-gritty details that could play out in the litigation finance industry’s favor, should the PTO move ahead with its suggested ‘extraordinary solution.’
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Announcements Commercial

Harris Pogust Joins Bryant Park Capital as Senior Advisor

By John Freund |

Bryant Park Capital (“BPC”) a leading middle market investment bank and market leader in the litigation finance sector, is pleased to announce that Harris Pogust has joined the firm as a Senior Advisor.  Harris (Mr. Pogust) is one of the best known and prominent attorneys in the mass tort and class action fields, he was the founding partner and Chairman of Pogust Goodhead worldwide until early 2024 and is currently working with Trial Lawyers for a Better Tomorrow, a charity Harris founded, to help children reach their educational potential all over the world.  Harris’ life work has been to deliver justice for those who have been damaged or injured through the negligence or bad faith of others.

“We are thrilled to have Harris as part of our team.  His knowledge, experience and relationships in the litigation finance sector are of great value to Bryant Park and our clients.  As the litigation finance world becomes more competitive, complex and challenging, having an expert like Harris on our team is invaluable,” said Joel Magerman, Managing Partner of Bryant Park.

Harris’ efforts, in conjunction with Bryant Park will focus on assisting law firms and funders in developing strategies to more efficiently fund their operations and cases and assist them in establishing the right relationships for future growth.  Harris commented, “I have been fortunate to have been a practicing attorney and partner in law firms for over 35 years focused on building and growing a worldwide book of business in the class action/mass tort field.  That required significant capital and throughout my career I have raised over $1 billion for my firms.  I have learned what works and what doesn’t.  I have seen both the risks and rewards in this industry.  I look forward to being able to work with law firms and funders to assist them in putting the right strategies in place with Bryant Park and bringing capital and liquidity to help them grow and flourish.”

About Bryant Park Capital

Bryant Park Capital is an investment bank providing capital raising, M&A and corporate finance advisory services to emerging growth and middle market public and private companies. BPC has deep expertise and a diversified, well-founded breadth of experience in a number of sectors, including specialty finance & financial services. BPC has raised various forms of credit, growth equity, and assisted in mergers and acquisitions for its clients. Our professionals have completed more than 400 assignments representing an aggregate transaction value of over $30 billion.

For more information about Bryant Park Capital, please visit www.bryantparkcapital.com.

Commercial Regulatory Issues

20 Legal Firms and Groups Calling on UK Government for Urgent Legislation to Reverse PACCAR

Despite a government-commissioned independent review recommending priority standalone legislation to reverse PACCAR, the Government has failed to act, the letter to the Lord Chancellor says.

“As a highly respected member of the legal community, the Prime Minister rightly often speaks of ‘following the evidence’.

“The independent experts have provided the evidence that this issue needs fixing, yet this Government refuses to act, delaying justice for some and denying justice for future claimants.

“We call on the Government to act swiftly and legislate for the sake of claimants and the reputation of the UK’s justice system.”

The letter follows earlier calls on the Government from claimants to reverse PACCAR urgently, including from Sir Alan Bates , truck hauliers and the lead claimant in a mass action case against six water suppliers for alleged customer overcharging.

This comes amid a drop off in collective proceeding cases in the Competition Appeal Tribunal this year according to Solomonic, as reported in the Financial Times this morning (link). 

Neil Purslow, Chairman of the Executive Committee of ILFA, said:

“We’ve been warning successive governments for more than two years about the potential impact this uncertainty will have on consumers and small businesses’ ability to access justice.

“These figures show that stark reality. Meritorious claims are going unfunded, alleged wrongdoers are unchallenged and competition - one of the great drivers of growth - is not being enforced.

“The Government must act before this small trickle of cases dries up altogether.”

Martyn Day, co-founder of Leigh Day and co-president of the Collective Redress Lawyers Association (CORLA) which signed the letter, said: 

“This issue has created a great deal of uncertainty that is blocking access to justice for ordinary people taking on powerful corporations accused of wrongdoing. 

“The system simply cannot work without litigation funding, and this is a timely reminder to government to fix this issue, and urgently.”

In July 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in the PACCAR judgment that litigation finance agreements were unenforceable unless they met the requirements of Damages-Based Agreements, rendering many ongoing cases invalid and causing delays in the pursuit of justice for millions of claimants. 

The Civil Justice Council (CJC) concluded its comprehensive review of the funding sector four months ago, after the Government had promised to review what legislation might be needed to address PACCAR once the review was complete. The CJC’s review urged priority standalone legislation to reverse the damaging effects of PACCAR. Yet, despite earlier promises, the Government has said the review would merely “help to inform the approach to potential reforms” in “due course”. 

The letter highlights how the Government’s continued inaction contradicts the Prime Minister's own commitment to "following the evidence”.

The signatories, representing firms including Mishcon de Reya, Stewarts, Freeths, and Scott+Scott UK, highlight the “pivotal role” of group actions. They call on the Government to “act swiftly” to adopt the CJC’s recommendation to reverse PACCAR to protect the reputation of the UK’s justice system. The firms also include those who have provided legal representation for Sir Alan Bates, hauliers ripped off by truck manufacturers (link), and leaseholders fighting secret insurance charges (link).

Since the ruling, crucial investment into the UK economy is rapidly being lost. Litigation funders like Burford Capital are taking their funds elsewhere, with CEO Chris Bogart, stating his firm has begun ‘migrating some dispute resolution away from London’, following PACCAR. 

Litigation funding enables claimants with limited means to access justice, enabling landmark cases including those brought by the subpostmasters, retail workers, and small business owners, to hold multinational corporations accused of serious wrongdoing to account, while promoting fair, competitive markets and securing investment into the UK.

--

Below is the letter to the Lord Chancellor, in its entirety:

Rt Hon David Lammy MP
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Ministry of Justice
102 Petty France
London
SW1H 9AJ

Dear Lord Chancellor,

Congratulations on your new role as Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary. While we recognise the many challenges you'll face stepping into this role, we wanted to highlight a critical issue that is undermining access to justice and stifling investment in the UK's legal system. But it's an issue with a quick and simple fix.

Group actions in the UK play a pivotal role in enabling individuals to come together to bring claims against those accused of wrongdoing - often multinational corporations with significant resources. It has helped claimants like the subpostmasters, shopworkers, retail investors, and small business owners access justice.

The regime is underpinned by claimants’ abilities to access finance - often through litigation funding where funders provide financial backing for an agreed return of any settlement. However, as you know, the future of this mechanism and the regime is under threat thanks to the disruptive effects of the 2023 PACCAR judgment, and subsequent challenges to the enforceability of funding arrangements.

Claimants with limited means are struggling to access funding to bring their cases, and investment from funders is draining away from the UK legal system.

The Government promised to review what legislation might be needed to address PACCAR once the Civil Justice Council’s review had concluded. 

The CJC reported back 4 months ago with a thorough and nuanced perspective on the funding sector. As members of the legal community, we are sympathetic to sensible reforms and are reassured that the Government is considering these carefully. 

But one unequivocal and pressing recommendation from the CJC was for urgent standalone legislation to reverse the effects of PACCAR to end the uncertainty damaging access to justice. Disappointingly, the Government has so far failed to hear that call, saying only that the review would “help to inform the approach to potential reforms” in “due course”, despite its previous promises.

As a highly respected member of the legal community, the Prime Minister rightly often speaks of “following the evidence”. The independent experts have provided the evidence that this issue needs fixing, yet this Government refuses to act, delaying justice for some and denying justice for future claimants. 

We call on the Government to act swiftly and legislate for the sake of claimants and the reputation of the UK’s justice system.

Signed

The Collective Redress Lawyers Association (CORLA).
Stewarts
Group Actions & Competition, Stephenson Harwood
Scott+Scott UK LLP
Backhouse Jones
Freeths 
Humphries Kerstetter LLP
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Velitor Law
Milberg London LLP
Fladgate LLP
Geradin Partners
Harcus Parker
Tim Constable, Bates Wells
Phi Finney McDonald
Keidan Harrison LLP
Asserson
Leigh Day
Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP
KP Law

Commercial People Moves

Shai Silverman Departs CAC Specialty, Joins Litica as U.S. Head of Underwriting

By John Freund |

After four years helping to build CAC Specialty’s contingent risk insurance practice from the ground up, Shai Silverman is departing the firm to join litigation risk insurer Litica as its Head of Underwriting – U.S.

In a LinkedIn post, Silverman reflected on his time at CAC, where he joined in the early days of the firm’s efforts to turn contingent risk insurance into a mainstream product. Alongside colleagues Andrew Mutter, Michael B. Wakefield, and David Barnes, Silverman helped develop insurance solutions for a wide array of legal risks, crafted bespoke products for hundreds of clients, and played a key role in launching the first-ever contingent risk insurance conference.

Silverman now moves to Litica, a UK-headquartered specialist insurer focused on litigation and contingent risks, to lead its U.S. underwriting function. His move signals not just a personal transition but also the growing transatlantic ambitions of insurers operating in this once-niche corner of legal risk.

Silverman’s departure marks a broader inflection point for contingent risk insurance—a sector now poised for significant expansion. As underwriting talent like Silverman shifts into leadership roles at specialist firms, questions emerge around how traditional insurers will respond, and whether contingent risk insurance will continue its trajectory toward becoming a standard risk-transfer tool for litigation and arbitration.