The following is a contributed piece by Tom Webster, Chief Commercial Officer at Sentry Funding.
Reform is on its way for the UK’s litigation funding sector, with the Civil Justice Council firing the starting gun on its review of litigation funding on 23 April.
The advisory body set out the terms of reference for its review, commissioned by lord chancellor Alex Chalk, and revealed the members of its core working group.
The review is working to an ambitious timetable with the aim of publishing an interim report by this summer, and a full report by summer 2025. It will be based on the CJC’s function of making civil justice ‘more accessible, fair and efficient’.
The CJC said it will set out ‘clear recommendations’ for reform in some areas. This includes consideration of a number of issues that could prove very significant for funders and clients. These include:
- Whether the sector should be regulated, and if so, how and by whom;
- Whether funders’ returns should be subject to a cap; and if so, to what extent;
- The relationship between third party funding and litigation costs;
- The court’s role in controlling the conduct of funded litigation, including the protection of claimants and ‘the interaction between pre-action and post-commencement funding of disputes’;
- Duties relating to the provision of funding, including potential conflicts of interest between funders, lawyers and clients;
- Whether funding encourages ‘specific litigation behaviour’ such as collective action.
The review’s core working group will be co-chaired by CJC members Mr Justice Simon Picken, a Commercial Court judge, and barrister Dr John Sorabji. The four other members are:
- High Court judge Mrs Justice Sara Cockerill, who was judge in charge of the commercial court 2020 – 2022, and who is currently involved in a project on third party funding for the European Law Institute;
- Academic and former City lawyer Prof Chris Hodges, chair of independent body the Regulatory Horizons Council which was set up to ensure that UK regulation keeps pace with innovation;
- Lucy Castledine, Director of Consumer Investments at the Financial Conduct Authority; and
- Nick Bacon KC, a prominent barrister and funding expert who acts for both claimants and defendants
The CJC had said that it may also bring in a consumer representative, as well as a solicitor experienced in group litigation.
In a sign that the review seeks to be informed by a wide range of views, the CJC has also extended an invitation for experts to join a broader consultation group, which will directly inform the work of the review and provide a larger forum for expert discussion. Meanwhile the advisory body has said there will also be further chance ‘for all to engage formally with this review’ later this year.
Given the broad remit of the review and significant impact that its recommendations may have on the litigation funding industry, litigation funders, lawyers and clients would be well advised to make the most of these opportunities to contribute to the review.
