Litigation funding

The proper funding of our justice system, so neglected by recent governments, is a vital issue for our society and it demands urgent action, says Geoffrey Bindman KC

NLJ columnist Roger Smith, former director of JUSTICE, looks at the area of third-party litigation funding in this week’s issue. It’s an area that has been subject to rapid change, now providing funding to the tune of more than £2bn.

It’s time to acknowledge that law, justice & the courts are being commoditised, says Roger Smith

Is the approach to litigation funding in England & Wales ‘soft’, & is regulation on its way? Jason Woodland & Caroline Timoney investigate

All bets are off: Philip Young discusses the difficulties of boiling a complex case down to a mathematical percentage

Addleshaw Goddard has launched a litigation finance product, Control, that provides specialist advice to corporates, third party funders and other law firms on single case and portfolio funding arrangements

In a special NLJ report, Grania Langdon-Down talks to Mrs Justice Cockerill, head of the Commercial Court, and litigators about the challenges of 2020 and what 2021 will bring in relation to work-flow, procedural reform, diversity and well-being. She also draws on responses from the latest London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) and NLJ Litigation Trends Survey. Overall, most responders were positive that the litigation market would grow or, at least, remain unchanged. There was overwhelming support for virtual hearings and agile working. But there was also a strong message to the profession’s leaders that the legal community needs to do more to promote both diversity and inclusion and the importance of good mental health.

As members prepare for an expected spike in litigation, LSLA president Chris Bushell (pictured) is determined to ensure that mental health and diversity and inclusion remain key priorities for London’s litigators

Georgina Squire reflects on the judicial evolution in the approach to the Arkin cap & the rise of start-ups

Litigation funding is on the rise, providing financing solutions to increasing numbers of claimants