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Westfleet Advisors Adds Federal Prosecutor and Litigation Finance Veteran To Growing Executive Team

NASHVILLE, October 10, 2019—Westfleet Advisors, the leading U.S. litigation finance advisory firm, announced today that it has expanded its executive team with the additions of Barry Kamar and Michael Perich, both as Vice President and Legal Counsel. Mr. Kamar was most recently an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in New Jersey. Mr. Perich joins Westfleet from AmLaw 200 law firm, Ice Miller.

“We are thrilled to add such high-quality talent to our team, enabling us to keep pace with the growing demand for our independent litigation finance advisory services,” said Charles Agee, founder and CEO of Westfleet Advisors. “Barry and Michael have diverse backgrounds in law, financial analysis, and litigation finance that ideally complement and bring important new perspectives to our service offerings. They will deliver tremendous value to our clients as they help them navigate litigation finance opportunities.”

Mr. Kamar spent nearly a decade in public service before joining Westfleet, first as an enforcement attorney in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s New York office and later as an AUSA in New Jersey. He brings years of experience in evaluating the strengths of cases involving financial fraud, and his extensive courtroom experience includes nearly a calendar year of trial work in a large RICO prosecution. Mr. Kamar previously worked as an investment banking analyst at Morgan Stanley & Co., where he developed skills in financial analysis, due diligence and deal negotiation.

“I’m excited to combine my trial and corporate finance experience for the benefit of parties seeking litigation funding,” said Mr. Kamar, who was named co-chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s public protection unit while serving as an AUSA. “There was no doubt that Westfleet was the right place for me to do that, given its industry stature and commitment to operating ethically and transparently.”

Mr. Perich brings substantial experience in litigation finance to Westfleet. He previously worked at two leading litigation finance providers, where he underwrote litigation funding deals across a wide range of subject matter and assessed the strengths of new legal claims. At Ice Miller, he was the firm’s primary resource to answer questions about litigation funding and to structure unique contingency or alternative fee arrangements.

“Having seen litigation funding deals from the perspective of both funders and law firms, I appreciate the need for parties seeking financing to have a truly independent advisor at the table,” said Mr. Perich. “Westfleet recognized that need years ago. That’s one of the reasons Charles and Westfleet are so well respected as leaders in the industry.”

Mr. Perich will work from Chicago, while Mr. Kamar will be based in New York.

About Westfleet Advisors

Westfleet Advisors is the leading litigation finance advisor in the United States. It was founded in 2013 to bring greater transparency and efficiency to the litigation finance market by equipping users of litigation financing with expertise and resources. Our core mission is to ensure claimholders and lawyers have all the information they need to be successful with litigation financing. Our senior leadership has been active in the litigation finance industry since 1998.

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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?

Backlit Capital Solutions Launches Legal Finance Consultancy

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.