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Validity Finance Approaches Fourth Anniversary with New Key Hires and Promotions

May 5, 2022

Validity Finance Approaches Fourth Anniversary with New Key Hires and Promotions

Nearing its fourth anniversary in June, leading litigation funder Validity Finance, announced the arrival of three senior members to its team including a new portfolio counsel for investment review, a new corporate counsel and a first-time marketing officer. Validity also reports the promotion of seven professionals in New York, Houston and Tel Aviv. In Houston, Michelle Eber joins as portfolio counsel from Baker Botts, where she represented technology and energy clients in patent litigation matters. In New York, Abe Sutton arrives as corporate counsel from Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, where he practiced commercial and real estate law. And joining Validity as its chief marketing officer is John Neidecker, who previously led marketing and business development initiatives at several Am Law 100 firms.
“We’re delighted to add three superb line professionals to further scale up operations as we hit our fourth year in business,” said Validity founder and CEO Ralph Sutton. “Michelle Eber has substantial trial experience and command of the litigation market in Texas, which has become an important hub for our funding platform. Abe Sutton has a strong background in corporate and real estate transactions. And John Neidecker brings deep, sophisticated marketing and branding experience, making him a great fit for CMO as we further advance our national profile.” Since its launch in June 2018, Validity has experienced rapid growth, adding former litigators from Gibson Dunn, Boies Schiller and other leading law firms. The firm has three full-time offices – New York, Houston, and Washington, DC, which launched last month. Validity also added major names to its roster of senior advisors and board of directors, including current and former chairs of Am Law 100 firms. The firm has committed nearly $300 million towards client matters in more than 50 separate dispute investments, and secured additional funding of $70 million this past fall. About the new hires:
  • Michelle Eber – Portfolio Counsel: Ms. Eber is responsible for Validity’s patent matters, including evaluating new cases for investment and managing funded cases. She brings more than 10 years of patent and trade secret litigation experience, including significant courtroom experience. She was formerly special counsel at Baker Botts in Houston, where she represented 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. She has been recognized as “One to Watch” in The Best Lawyers in America in 2022 and a Texas Super Lawyer – Rising Star for IP Litigation in 2020-2022.  She received her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law, where she was a member of the Texas Law Review. She also holds an M.B.A. from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. Ms. Eber graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in systems engineering.  The addition of Ms. Eber reflects a growing pool of complex patent disputes that Validity is considering funding.
  • Abe Sutton – Corporate Counsel: Mr. Sutton will work closely with Validity clients and their respective in-house and outside counsel, along with the firm’s investment team, to navigate all aspects of risk mitigation and funding. He was previously a senior associate at Windels Marx, focused on commercial real estate matters. He represented private and public companies, and private equity clients in corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, financings, reorganizations, corporate governance and securities law compliance. He received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law, where he was a member of the Fordham Law Review. Mr. Sutton graduated summa cum laude from Yeshiva University with a B.S. in Finance.
  • John Neidecker – Chief Marketing Officer: Mr. Neidecker has over 20 years of experience in professional services, including top marketing/business development positions at one Big Four accounting firm and four Am Law 100 firms including Steptoe & Johnson, Covington & Burling and Foley Lardner. He also spent seven years as a marketing director for PricewaterhouseCoopers. Mr. Neidecker holds a B.S.B.A. in Marketing from the University of Arkansas.
Meanwhile, Validity has elevated seven of its team members to new positions within the company. “This talented group of professionals has helped us grow in a short time to a formidable presence in the increasingly competitive space for dispute funding, while helping distinguish Validity as a true leader in client service,” Mr. Sutton said. “We’re grateful for the team we have in place and look forward to hitting our next round of growth together, in capital commitments and developing new innovations in litigation finance.” The new promotions include:
 
  • Laina Hammond  – Managing Director, Senior Investment Officer: Formerly an investment manager, Ms. Hammond has been with Validity since launch, directing the firm’s Houston office.  She was previously a litigation principal at Shipley Snell Montgomery.
  • David Kerstein – Managing Director, Senior Investment Officer: Mr. Kerstein likewise joined Validity at its 2018 launch. A former trial attorney at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, he was formerly a senior investment manager and counsel at litigation funder Bentham IMF.
  • Julia Gewolb – Chief Risk Officer: Ms. Gewolb has been with Validity since 2018.  A former litigator with Boies Schiller Flexner, Ms. Gewolb was previously legal counsel at Bentham IMF with Messrs. Sutton and Kerstein.
  • Wendie Childress – Investment Advisor: Formerly a portfolio counsel at Validity, Ms. Childress joined the company in 2019; she was previously a trial attorney at litigation and appellate boutique Yetter Coleman.
  • Joshua Libling – Director of Risk Analytics/Portfolio Counsel: Mr. Libling has been with Validity since 2020. He was previously a counsel at Boies Schiller Flexner.
  • Jason Listhaus – General Counsel: Mr. Listhaus, who joined Validity in 2020, was previously was a member of the corporate department at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson.
  • Eli Schulman – Senior Advisor: Mr. Schulman joined Validity in 2020, establishing the firm’s presence in Tel Aviv.
 
About Validity
Validity is a commercial litigation finance company that provides non-recourse investments for a wide variety of commercial disputes. Validity’s mission is to make a meaningful difference in our clients’ experience of the legal system. We focus on fairness, innovation, and clarity. For more, visit www.validityfinance.com

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Announcements Commercial

Loopa Finance Wins at the Lexology European Awards 2026 in the Litigation / General Counsel Category

By John Freund |

Loopa Finance has been recognized as the winner in the Litigation – General Counsel Team category at the Lexology European Awards 2026, one of the leading recognitions in the international legal sector.

The award was received in London by Ignacio Delgado, General Counsel Europe at the firm, on behalf of Loopa Finance’s European team, composed of Ignacio Delgado (General Counsel Europe), Marina Gouveia (Investment Manager), Fernando Pérez Lozada (Senior Investment Manager), and Fernando Folgueiro (Managing Partner).

The Lexology European Awards recognize outstanding legal teams across the region through a methodology that combines independent research, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and thousands of nominations supported by clients and industry peers, as well as the annual research conducted by the Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) and Client Choice.

The selection process is based on performance evaluations related to effective communication, commercial understanding, technical expertise, strategic management, and team strength, and is supported by a global community of more than 940,000 subscribers.

This recognition positions Loopa Finance’s European team among the leading practitioners in complex litigation and strategic legal management in Europe.

“This award reflects the strength of a team operating across two continents that understands litigation not only from a legal perspective, but also through financial analysis and risk management. It is the result of collective work and a rigorous, strategic approach to structuring complex disputes,” said Delgado during the ceremony.

More Than an Award: Validation of a Model

The award comes at a time of consolidation for the firm. Loopa Finance recently completed its rebranding process, evolving from Qanlex to Loopa Finance and reinforcing an identity aligned with its growth in continental Europe and its broader international positioning.

It also coincides with the closing of Fund III, raising €65 million to finance complex litigation and arbitration across Europe and Latin America, significantly expanding the firm’s investment capacity and supporting the continued growth of its platform in the region.

This milestone adds to the firm’s recent rankings, including its Band 1 classification by Chambers & Partners in Latin America and Europe, its recognition as “Highly Recommended” by Leaders League across multiple jurisdictions, and the inclusion of members of its team among the Thought Leaders in Third-Party Funding by the Lexology Index. Together, these results confirm the strength of Loopa Finance’s model and the consolidation of its team as a reference in the strategic financing of disputes at an international level.

About Loopa Finance

Loopa Finance is an investment fund specializing in the financing and monetization of litigation and arbitration across continental Europe and Latin America, supported by a technology-driven model and rigorous risk analysis. The firm provides capital to cover legal costs or monetize ongoing claims through non-recourse structures, where the recovery of the investment depends exclusively on the successful outcome of the case, assuming the financial risk of the dispute while fully aligning its interests with those of clients and law firms.

Announcements Commercial

Pravati Capital Partners with SEI to Bring Litigation Finance to Registered Investment Advisors

By John Freund |

One of the oldest litigation finance firms in the United States has announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding mainstream investor access to the asset class.

As reported by Business Wire via Yahoo Finance, Scottsdale-based Pravati Capital has partnered with financial services firm SEI to provide registered investment advisors with structured access to litigation finance as an alternative investment option. The collaboration will leverage SEI's distribution platform to make litigation funding opportunities available within advisor portfolios.

The partnership reflects growing institutional interest in litigation finance as an alternative asset class. Historically, litigation funding has been difficult for mainstream financial advisors to access on behalf of their clients, with the market largely dominated by specialized funds and institutional investors. The Pravati-SEI arrangement seeks to bridge that gap by creating a more accessible pathway for advisors seeking diversification through non-correlated investments.

The announcement underscores a broader industry shift as litigation finance continues to move from a niche strategy toward greater acceptance within traditional wealth management channels. As the global litigation funding market grows — projected to reach over $25 billion in 2026 — partnerships like this one may signal a new phase of institutional adoption.

Announcements Commercial

Nera Capital Secures £50M Asset Mandate

By John Freund |

Nera Capital has strengthened its litigation finance platform with the onboarding of a new South America-based funding partner committing £50 million across litigation finance and legal assets. The mandate not only expands Nera’s available capital base but also sees the firm formally appointed as asset manager for the new funds, reinforcing its growing role as both originator and portfolio steward within the UK litigation market.

In a press release, Nera Capital announced that the £50 million commitment will be deployed across a range of UK-based claims, with the firm responsible for underwriting, structuring, capital deployment, and ongoing portfolio management. The capital will be allocated in line with Nera’s established investment criteria and risk management framework, targeting carefully selected legal assets. The funding partner, described as having an “extensive track record” in high-yielding special situations investments uncorrelated to traditional asset classes, brings prior experience in litigation finance across South America.

Robin Grant, CFO at Nera Capital, emphasized that the partnership aligns with the firm’s disciplined approach to litigation finance and enhances its ability to deliver attractive, risk-adjusted returns to investors. Aisling Byrne, Director at Nera Capital, highlighted the funder’s blend of financial and legal expertise, noting that the asset manager appointment reflects international confidence in Nera’s ability to identify viable claims and manage them through to resolution.

Established in 2011 and headquartered in Dublin, with offices in Manchester and Holland, Nera Capital provides law firm lending across consumer and commercial claim portfolios and is a member of the European Litigation Funders Association.