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Therium Adds Four Investment Managers To Its Transatlantic Investment Team In London And New York

Therium Capital Management, the world’s leading global provider of legal finance, today announced that it has added four investment managers to its transatlantic investment team, Chris Wilkins and Charlie Temperley in London and Corey Banks and Joshua Card in New York.

Neil Purslow, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Therium said: “We are delighted to welcome these four investment managers to our transatlantic investment team. Their strong legal know-how and experience of high-value litigation and arbitration across jurisdictions will add to our high-calibre investment team, as we continue to invest in a broad range of cases across the legal sector.

Alongside our investment team, they will work on cases right through from origination to completion. This unique approach allows our investment managers to build strong and enduring relationships with clients,get under the skin of the complex matters, be incredibly responsive and deliver top quality execution.”

Therium has now added five investment managers to date this year, including Fred Bowman who joined in January. The new investment managers will provide legal finance to meritorious cases, law firms and corporates through a range of innovative financing structures.

Corey Banks who will be based in New York has over five years’ experience as a commercial disputes associate at prominent New York law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where he worked on a broad range of funded commercial disputes, including corporate and financial matters, breach of contract, antitrust/ competition and bankruptcy litigation. Previous roles include clerking at a US District Court and the Second Circuit US Court of Appeals. Corey also worked as an Associate at Clearly Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School and holds a BA in International Relations and Japanese from Tufts University, Massachusetts.

Joshua Card, also based in New York joins from Sidley Austin’s where he was a senior managing associate in the Commercial Litigation and Disputes and Securities and Shareholder Litigation practices. Prior to this, Josh worked at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. He has experience of M&A cases, corporate governance litigation, white collar criminal matters and other corporate and securities matters, including commercial arbitration. Josh has also been a law clerk at a US District Court and the Second Circuit US Court of Appeals. He holds a BA in Political Science from Amherst College and obtained a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude from Brooklyn Law School.

Charlie Temperley, based in London, previously worked at Michelmores and Womble Bond Dickinson, where his practice encompassed a broad range of commercial litigation including high value, multi-jurisdictional disputes and enforcement actions. He has experience working on commercial contract claims, group actions, civil fraud and asset tracing, trusts and probate disputes, shareholder disputes, professional negligence, property litigation and joint venture breakdowns. Charlie holds a First-Class Joint Honours degree in Mathematics and Philosophy from the University of Nottingham and an MPhil in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. He completed a Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course at the University of Law, Guildford.

Chris Wilkins, also based in London, joins after nine years as a solicitor at Slaughter and May. In the Disputes and Investigations Group, his practice focused on resolving large-scale, complex and often multi-jurisdictional disputes for large corporates, including FTSE 100 companies, across a wide range of industry sectors. He has advised on cases in the High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal, as well as international arbitrations. Chris holds a First Class Honours degree in History from King’s College London and a Master’s degree with Distinction in International Relations from the London School of Economics. Chris completed a Graduate LLB at the University of London and a Legal Practice Course at BPP Law School.

 About Therium Capital Management:

Therium is a leading provider of investment capital to the legal industry and one of the largest, having raised over $1bn since 2009. With investment teams in the UK, USA, Australia, Germany and Norway, Therium has funded litigation and arbitration claims exceeding $40 billion, including many of the largest and most high profile funded cases in the UK and internationally and arbitrations under rules of the LCIA, ICC, UNCITRAL, LMAA, AAA, CIETAC, ICSID, Stockholm Chamber of Commerce and the Energy Charter Treaty. Therium has been Top Ranked by Chambers and Partners and Leaders League with investment officers across the UK, Europe, USA and Asia Pacific recognised as leading individuals in litigation finance.

To mark the firm’s tenth anniversary, Therium Access was launched in 2019 as a not-for-profit venture to fund a wide range of access to justice projects and cases – supporting the most vulnerable in our society and helping to bridge the widening justice gap. With its own board composed of eminent figures from the legal community and a dedicated grants officer, Therium Access has made over £1.3 m in financial commitments over the last 18 months to over 26 different organisations. As the first initiative of its kind, Therium has been shortlisted for several awards for launching this ground-breaking initiative, including the FT Innovative Lawyer Awards 2019, The Lawyer Awards 2021 and the Lexis Nexis Awards 2020 and 2022.

Therium also invests in AI and software projects to accelerate the advancement of the industry. As a founding member of ALF, ILFA and the Litigation Funding Working Group, Therium is also committed to shaping the future of legal finance and setting high standards for the industry.

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New Burford Capital Research Reveals Significant Opportunities for Businesses Through Patent Monetization

By Harry Moran |

Burford Capital, the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today releases new research on patent monetization, a means for businesses with significant intellectual property to generate revenue from patent assets through licensing, direct enforcement and corporate divestitures. With high research and development costs, long development timelines and intense IP competition, CFOs and GCs are faced with the challenge of seeking greater value from their companies' patent portfolios without diverting capital from core business operations. Moreover, converting underutilized intellectual property into liquid assets enables companies to fuel ongoing innovation and drive future growth.

Despite substantial investments in securing and maintaining patents, many companies fall short in leveraging their intellectual property—resulting in missed financial opportunities and ongoing costs that could otherwise be offset through monetization. This research shows companies shifting to a more proactive stance toward patent monetization as they face mounting economic pressures, rising costs of maintaining large patent portfolios and headline-generating enforcements and divestitures by major brands that increase acceptance. Nearly 70% of in-house lawyers say their organizations are more likely to monetize patents today than a decade ago, and 73% report that patent monetization revenue has grown over the last 10 years.

"Patent monetization remains a significantly underutilized asset for many businesses," said Christopher Bogart, CEO of Burford Capital. "Companies frequently hold valuable patents that require substantial investment to enforce, incurring significant expense—risk we routinely finance for clients. In today's climate of intensifying global competition and rapidly evolving IP enforcement landscapes, legal finance empowers companies to strengthen their patent monetization strategies and take a more proactive, value-driven approach to IP management."

"Companies have a significant opportunity to unlock value from their intellectual property," said Katharine Wolanyk, Managing Director at Burford Capital and head of its intellectual property and patent litigation finance division. "In conversations with CFOs and general counsel across industries, we frequently hear that patent portfolios are viewed as cost centers rather than assets, and this research substantiates that assertion. Legal finance offers a powerful solution by transforming underutilized IP assets into a source of liquidity that can fuel business priorities and allow companies to continue the essential cycle of innovation."

Key findings from the study include:

  • Companies are missing revenue opportunities: Even as patent monetization is increasing, 79% of in-house lawyers say that more than a quarter of their patent portfolio is underutilized. The costs of maintaining patents without monetization include lost revenue, delayed market entry and reduced market share.
  • Revenue generated by patent monetization is growing: 73% of in-house lawyers report that revenue from patent monetization has increased over the last 10 years and 69% of in-house lawyers say their organizations have become more likely to monetize patents in the past decade.
  • Divestiture is a fast-growing monetization strategy: 71% of in-house lawyers have already divested patents or are actively exploring divestiture options.
  • Clients can de-risk direct enforcement with finance: 72% of law firm lawyers cite the high cost of litigation as a deterrent to clients pursuing meritorious patent claims.
  • Legal finance plays a growing role in patent monetization: 59% of law firm lawyers say clients use legal finance for patent monetization; 51% of in-house lawyers say they are actively planning or exploring the use of legal finance to support patent enforcement and monetization going forward.
  • Global patent monetization is active: The US remains the top market for patent monetization due to strong enforcement mechanisms. The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is driving change in Europe, with 74% of in-house lawyers expecting increased enforcement in the region.

This research, commissioned by Burford and conducted by GLG, captures insights from 300 in-house IP counsel and law firm partners involved in patent litigation in North America, Europe and Asia.

The research report can be downloaded on Burford's website.

About Burford Capital

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery, and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and works with companies and law firms around the world from its global network of offices.

For more information, please visit www.burfordcapital.com.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any ordinary shares or other securities of Burford.

Court House Capital Appoints New CEO as Michelle Silvers Moves into Chairman Role

By Harry Moran |

Court House Capital is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Hourn as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 14 April 2025. This strategic leadership transition marks an exciting new chapter for the company as Michelle Silvers, who has served as CEO since 2020, steps into the role of Chairman of the Board. 

Michelle Silvers has been instrumental in Court House Capital’s growth, innovation, and performance since its inception. Her move into the Chairman position reflects the company's ongoing commitment to visionary leadership and long-term success. 

"Leading Court House Capital has been an incredible journey, and I am proud of what we've built. I look forward to continuing to support the company's future in a strategic capacity as Chairman." Michelle Silvers, Chairman, Court House Capital 

Incoming CEO Matt Hourn brings over 25 years of experience in commercial litigation and is cofounder of Court House Capital. His strong commercial insight and legal expertise, leadership capabilities, and innovative vision make him well-suited to drive the next phase of growth. 

"I am honoured to step into the role of CEO and build on the strong foundation Michelle has established," Matt Hourn, Chief Executive Officer, Court House Capital. 

This transition underscores the firm’s commitment to continuity and strategic evolution, positioning Court House Capital for sustained success. 

ABOUT COURT HOUSE CAPITAL 

Court House Capital is a leading litigation funder focused on cases in Australia and New Zealand. Led by industry founders, with Australian based capital, the team is renowned for expertise, agility and collaboration. courthousecapital.com.au 

IQuote Limited Strengthens Senior Leadership Team with New Director Appointment

By Harry Moran |

Manchester-based litigation finance firm IQuote Limited has bolstered its senior leadership team with the appointment of a new Director of Campaigns, reinforcing its commitment to expansion and innovation in the sector.

Stepping into the role is Katie Doherty, an experienced litigation finance specialist with a track record of driving growth and operational success. 

She has held senior positions at various law firms prior and has worked alongside IQuote CEO Craig Cornick for over 15 years across multiple roles.

Katie said she was both delighted and grateful for the opportunity and expressed a keen desire to get started as soon as possible. 

“It’s an incredibly exciting time for IQuote as we continue expanding our legal tech partnerships and investing in new opportunities,” Katie said.  “This is a fast-moving industry, and I’m looking forward to leading campaigns that will drive the firm’s next stage of growth.

“I can’t wait to get stuck in. IQuote has evolved massively in respect of its business offerings, the firms we are investing in, and the different campaigns we are now exploring. You have to be constantly thinking on your feet; there’s never a dull moment.”

Originally aspiring to become a solicitor, Doherty began her career in legal administration before transitioning into finance and business strategy.  She first collaborated with Craig in 2010, playing a key role in business operations, asset management, and claims handling. 

Katie thanked her team at IQuote for all their help and support.

“They have all been fantastic, and I have so much admiration for Craig,” she said.

“For him nothing is impossible; if you say, ‘it can’t be done,’ he will immediately tell you that it can and how you can make it happen.”

Craig Cornick, CEO of IQuote Limited, said: “Katie has been instrumental in the success of multiple businesses I’ve led, and her ability to think strategically while keeping operations running smoothly is unmatched.

“She knows how to build and execute campaigns that deliver real results, and that’s exactly what we need as we continue to scale. Her expertise in litigation finance, combined with her hands-on leadership style, makes her a perfect fit for this role.

“She’s got an incredible work ethic also. From the very start, Katie has always been willing to roll up her sleeves and do whatever it takes to get the job done. 

“Whether it was managing complex operations or jumping in to solve unexpected challenges, she’s always been a problem-solver. That kind of determination is what sets her apart and why I’m confident she’ll drive real impact in this position.”