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Validity Finance Announces Promotions of Michelle Eber & Sarah Williams

Validity Finance is pleased to announce the promotion of Michelle Eber to Director of Patent Investments and Sarah Williams to Director of Underwriting, effective immediately.

Michelle Eber joined Validity’s Houston office in January of 2022 from Baker Botts, where she spent more than 10 years as a patent and trade secret litigator, representing plaintiffs and defendants in the energy and technology sectors in high-stakes IP cases, including disputes involving oilfield technologies, telecommunications systems, data and video compression systems and computer hardware and software. Michelle has played a key role in sourcing and evaluating patent investments since joining the Validity team, and in her new role as Director of Patent Investments, will oversee the entirety of Validity’s portfolio of patent investments. She will also continue to lead Validity’s due diligence of new patent litigation opportunities, and the monitoring of funded patent cases.

Sarah Williams joined Validity’s Houston office in November of 2020 from Kirkland & Ellis, where she had been a Partner in the litigation practice and successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes, bet-the-company litigation across the country. Her broad experience in all aspects of complex commercial litigation includes energy, contract, fraud, antitrust, and bankruptcy-related disputes. Since joining the Validity team, Sarah has worked closely with clients, law firms, and the Validity team to develop innovative solutions to meet the legal finance funding needs of companies in Texas and beyond. As Director of Underwriting, Sarah will oversee Validity’s case underwriting and diligence, including developing and implementing new policies and procedures and ensuring consistent application of Validity’s robust underwriting standards across its portfolio.

“As we approach our fifth anniversary as a company, we are proud to have grown to be the largest private funder in the U.S., and to have a team that includes so many female leaders,” says Managing Director & Senior Investment Officer Laina Hammond, who leads Validity’s Houston office. “Michelle and Sarah have been a key part of Validity’s growth in their time here. We are so thrilled to have them step into these new roles and have the opportunity to make an even greater impact on Validity’s ability to serve the law firms and clients with which we partner.”

About Validity

Validity is a leading commercial litigation finance company dedicated to fair funding practices that build trust. Validity’s mission is to make a meaningful difference in our clients’ experience of the legal system. We invest in commercial, patent, bankruptcy, and breach of contract litigation, as well as international arbitration. With decades of combined experience in funding, our team of trial-tested attorneys has invested over $370 million since 2018 across more than 70 matters and portfolios. Our management team has an over 85% success rate. Clients and law firms count on Validity for reliable capital, strategic help, and risk minimization. Our focus is fairness, innovation and clarity.

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Burford Capital Announces 2025 Investor Day

By Harry Moran and 4 others |

Burford Capital Limited ("Burford" or the "Company"), the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today announces it will host an Investor Day on Thursday, April 3, 2025, in New York City, which will also be webcast live and available for replay. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 9.00am EDT.

Led by Burford's executive management team and other key leaders, the event will provide a comprehensive strategic update on Burford's business and will also serve as an immersive introduction for investors and analysts who are new to the Company.

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 it works with companies and law firms around the world from its offices in New York, London, Chicago, Washington, DC, Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong.For more information, please visit www.burfordcapital.com.

Counsel Financial Unveils Revamped Website, Modern Branding and Expanded Product Offerings

By Harry Moran and 4 others |

Counsel Financial, the nation's leading provider of financing solutions exclusively for plaintiff law firms, is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website and updated branding. The refreshed branding underscores the company's commitment to providing accessible capital solutions to the plaintiffs' bar while highlighting its expanded scope of services offered to capital providers who invest in law firms focused on contingent-fee litigation.

The updated website, CounselFinancial.com, features a streamlined design, enhanced functionality, and includes new sections detailing the company's tech-enabled, end-to-end solutions for banks and investment funds. Visitors can now explore the site with ease, accessing detailed information on Counsel Financial's array of financing solutions, resources and success stories from law firms nationwide.

"Counsel Financial has always been a pioneer in the legal funding space and this rebrand reflects our evolution while staying true to our mission of empowering plaintiff firms to achieve financial stability and success," said Paul Cody, CEO. "The new website represents our commitment to growth, accessibility and continuing to be the trusted partner for law firms and capital providers."

Unmatched Servicing Expertise

A standout feature of Counsel Financial's offerings is its comprehensive servicing capabilities, designed to meet the complex needs of capital providers investing in law firm financing. With expertise in collateral monitoring and case valuation, Counsel Financial provides unparalleled servicing for portfolios secured by contingent fee interests. The company's proprietary systems and dedicated team ensure accurate case tracking, timely reporting, and proactive management of legal fee receivables. Partnering with Counsel Financial allows capital providers to tap into the company's 25 years of legal funding expertise, enabling them to maximize portfolio performance and mitigate risk effectively.

A Legacy of Innovation

Founded by attorneys for attorneys, Counsel Financial has provided over $1.5 billion in loans to plaintiff law firms since its inception. The company's industry expertise, combined with its commitment to client success, has positioned it as a trusted partner for firms looking to grow their practices and manage financial hurdles effectively.

Visit CounselFinancial.com to explore the new website, learn more about the expanded product offerings, and discover how Counsel Financial can help your firm achieve its goals.

About Counsel Financial

Counsel Financial is the premier litigation financing company in the U.S., founded by attorneys in 2000. We operate with the belief that opportunities should never be limited by resources. Counsel Financial is dedicated to helping law firms and capital providers succeed and grow together in the evolving world of contingency-fee litigation.

Arena Investors, LP and Fort Morgan Capital Partner to Launch $50 Million Litigation Finance Venture

By Harry Moran |

Arena Investors, LP ("Arena") and Fort Morgan Capital, a subsidiary of SimpleCITI Companies ("SimpleCITI"), are proud to announce the launch of a $50 million joint venture ("JV") focused on providing law firm finance solutions for US law firms. Targeting growth financing between $1 million to $15 million, the JV will offer capital secured by the value of a law firm's aggregate legal assets (cases).  Patrick Shannon will lead JV operations with a focus on diligence, underwriting, servicing, and originations.

About the Joint Venture

The JV has already started deploying capital, with the goal of delivering $50 million in tailored financing solutions.  Capital will be utilized to navigate growth by scaling operational infrastructure and investments in marketing.  This comprehensive approach ensures that law firms can focus on achieving successful outcomes without the financial strain of upfront costs.

Arena has a long history in legal asset investments, including its principals having helped build some of the earlier litigation finance platforms dating back to the late 1990s.  SimpleCITI builds on a proven track record of leadership and innovation across diverse industries, establishing itself as a trusted partner in solving complex financial challenges. Together, Arena and SimpleCITI leverage their unparalleled expertise to redefine client-focused solutions in litigation finance."

Strategic Collaboration

Arena Managing Director, Victor Dupont, noted that "Arena is very excited to expand and build upon our nearly decade-long relationship and successful track record with Patrick in this new joint venture.  Fort Morgan Capital will serve a critical role in working with select legal practices and market participants in navigating liquidity challenges amid this fluctuating market, while also promoting sustainable operational and marketing growth."

"This JV represents a strategic milestone for Fort Morgan Capital," said a SimpleCITI spokesperson. "By partnering with Arena, we're unlocking new opportunities for law firms to grow sustainably while maintaining financial stability.  This venture underscores our commitment to innovation and value creation in the litigation finance space."

Pat Shannon added, "Our focus on episodic opportunities within litigation finance aligns perfectly with this venture. Together, we are delivering a scalable platform that empowers law firms to thrive in a competitive landscape."

About Arena Investors, LP:

Arena Investors, a subsidiary of Arena Investor Group holdings, is an institutional asset manager founded in partnership with The Westaim Corporation (TSXV: WED). With approximately $3.5 billion of invested and committed assets under management as of December 31, 2024, and a team of over 180 employees in offices globally, Arena provides creative solutions for those seeking capital across all corporate, real estate, and structured finance investment areas, at all levels of the capital structure, and in all developed markets, alongside operational capabilities to manage and improve businesses.  The firm brings individuals with decades of experience, a track record of comfort with complexity, the ability to deliver within time constraints, and the flexibility to engage in transactions and business operations that cannot be addressed by banks and other conventional financial institutions. See www.arenaco.com for more information.

About SimpleCITI Companies:

SimpleCITI Companies is an operational-first platform specializing in real estate (SimpleEQUITIES), litigation finance (Fort Morgan), and fiduciary advisory services (SimpleADVISORY). The firm provides institutional-grade solutions across sophisticated markets. Fort Morgan, the litigation finance division, offers innovative funding solutions for law firms, blending conservative valuation with operational expertise. SimpleADVISORY ensures disciplined underwriting and compliance to support Fort Morgan's strategic initiatives.

About Pat Shannon:

Pat Shannon brings extensive industry expertise, previously serving as Chief Operating Officer at Mustang Litigation Funding, a platform renowned for its proficiency across diverse litigation finance disciplines. With a focus on episodic and idiosyncratic opportunities in niche sub-sectors, Pat leads the JV's diligence, underwriting, and origination efforts.