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The world’s largest dispute resolution finance team continues expansion with senior appointments

SYDNEY, 16 March 2020: Omni Bridgeway Limited, (formerly known as IMF Bentham ASX:IMF), has welcomed talented new colleagues to the team as the company continues its international expansion. The appointments include global leadership positions following the merger of IMF and Omni Bridgeway in November 2019 and important roles in Australia in response to increased appetite for dispute finance solutions. Omni Bridgeway can also announce it is expanding its footprint into New Zealand, where the firm is already active in several actions.

OMNI BRIDGEWAY WELCOMES:

Leanne Meyer | Investment Manager, Sydney

Leanne is a former in-house counsel and joins the Australian Investment Management team to identify and assess investment opportunities and manage funded claims with a focus on finance solutions for corporates. [Read more.]

Heather Collins | Investment Manager, Sydney

Heather augments the Australian Investment Management team to identify and assess investment opportunities with a particular specialisation in financing in the insolvency sector. [Read more.]

Niall Watson-Dunne | Associate Investment Manager, Sydney

Niall joins the Australian Investment Management team to manage due diligence and assist with the management of funded claims. [Read more.]

Gracey Campbell | Associate Investment Manager, Melbourne

Gracey will undertake due diligence and assistance with managing funded claims for the Australian Investment Management team. [Read more.]

Siobhan Hannon | Global Head of Compliance and Risk

Sydney-based Siobhan is a seasoned compliance and risk specialist who will lead the design and management of the Group’s global compliance framework, encompassing risk management reporting, policies and procedures. [Read more.]

Elizabeth Beacham | Global General Manager People & Culture

Elizabeth is based in Sydney and will lead the company’s global People & Culture strategy and initiatives. [Read more.]

Alistair Morgan | General Counsel – Australia and Asia

Perth-based Alistair will advise the company on transactional and regulatory matters across the Asia Pacific region. [Read more.]

NEW ZEALAND EXPANSION:

In addition to the above new appointments, Omni Bridgeway’s geographic footprint is expanding to New Zealand where the company is already funding proposed combustible cladding class actions.

Sydney-based Investment Manager and Head of New Zealand, Gavin Beardsell, is leading the company’s expansion into New Zealand in response to increasing financing inquiries from that market. In New Zealand, Gavin already manages the company’s investments in one of the CBL Corporation shareholder class actions and the proposed combustible cladding class actions involving product liability claims against certain manufacturers of Alucobond and Vitrabond PE core cladding products. [Read more here and here.]

ABOUT OMNI BRIDGEWAY

Omni Bridgeway is a global leader in dispute resolution finance, with expertise in civil and common law legal and recovery systems, and operations spanning Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, the UK and the US. Omni Bridgeway offers dispute finance from case inception through to post-judgment enforcement and recovery. It has a proud 34-year record of funding disputes and enforcement proceedings around the world.

Omni Bridgeway is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:IMF) and includes the leading dispute funders formerly known as IMF Bentham Limited, Bentham IMF and ROLAND ProzessFinanz. It also includes a joint venture with IFC (part of the World Bank Group). Visit imf.com.au or omnibridgeway.com to learn more.

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Golden Pear Upsizes Corporate Note to $78.7M Amid Growth Plans

By John Freund |

Golden Pear Funding has extended and upsized its investment-grade corporate note to $78.7 million, further bolstering the firm's capacity to serve the expanding litigation finance sector. The New York-based funder, a national leader in both pre-settlement and medical receivables financing, said the proceeds will support working capital and fuel strategic growth initiatives.

A press release from Golden Pear outlines how the capital raise reflects continued investor confidence in the firm’s business model. CEO Gary Amos noted that the infusion is critical as Golden Pear seeks to scale alongside the “rapidly expanding litigation finance market.” CFO Daniel Amsellem added that the new funding aligns with the company’s capital allocation strategy, aimed at optimizing operational efficiency and executing strategic projects.

Brean Capital, LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor and sole placement agent on the transaction.

Founded in 2008, Golden Pear has funded more than $1.1 billion to over 87,000 clients and remains one of the largest specialty finance companies in the U.S. Its business model spans legal case funding and medical receivables purchasing, with backing from a network of private equity partners that provide institutional support for continued expansion.

LionFish Updates Model Documents in Response to CJC Report

By John Freund |

LionFish Litigation Finance Ltd has released a new suite of model litigation funding documents, updating its original set from February 2021. The revision comes on the heels of the Civil Justice Council's (CJC) Final Report on Litigation Funding, issued on 2 June 2025, which calls for a regulatory structure informed by best practices, including key principles published by the European Law Institute (ELI) in October 2024.

A LionFish press release details that the updated suite incorporates several of the ELI Principles (notably 4-12) and broader CJC recommendations, except where doing so would require legislative or procedural reform. LionFish's goal, according to Managing Director Tets Ishikawa, is not to dictate market norms but to foster industry-wide standardisation and efficiency. This proactive move is also intended to spark further collaboration between funders, insurers, and legal practitioners to develop trade practices akin to those in mature financial markets, such as those promoted by the Loan Market Association and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association.

The new suite includes three core documents: a litigation funding agreement, a priorities deed to define proceeds distribution, and an assignment deed for insurance benefits. Notably, LionFish has also added documentation for co-investment arrangements, reflecting a growing trend in syndicated funding deals. The funder has already closed seven such transactions.

Managing Director Tanya Lansky emphasised that while litigation funding remains complex, making documentation public enhances transparency and facilitates quicker deal closings—an essential factor for sustaining market growth.

As litigation finance continues to mature, this move by LionFish highlights a shift toward professionalisation and standardisation. With regulators increasingly focused on transparency and fairness, such initiatives may set a de facto benchmark for others in the industry. The question remains: will other funders follow suit, or will regulatory mandates be needed to compel alignment?

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By John Freund |

Backlit Capital Solutions has announced the launch of its full-service legal finance consultancy. The firm aims to provide comprehensive funding solutions for legal claims, offering services that include litigation finance, arbitration funding, and judgment enforcement strategies.

An article in PR Newswire states that Backlit Capital Solutions is positioning itself as a comprehensive provider in the legal finance sector, aiming to serve a diverse clientele that includes claimants, law firms, lenders, and investors. The firm's service offerings encompass litigation finance, arbitration funding, and judgment enforcement strategies, indicating a broad approach to legal funding solutions.

The launch of Backlit Capital Solutions reflects a growing trend in the legal finance industry, where firms are expanding their services to address the multifaceted needs of legal claimants and their representatives. By offering a suite of services under one roof, Backlit Capital Solutions aims to streamline the funding process and provide tailored solutions to its clients.

As the legal finance landscape continues to evolve, the entry of firms like Backlit Capital Solutions underscores the increasing demand for specialized financial services in the legal sector. Their comprehensive approach may set a new standard for how legal finance consultancies operate, potentially influencing the strategies of existing and emerging players in the market.