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10 May 2018 / Georgina Squire
Issue: 7792 / Categories: Features , Profession , Costs , Commercial
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A costs conundrum

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Can litigation funding negate a security for costs application, asks Georgina Squire

  • Litigation funding is on the rise and greater scrutiny from the courts has followed.
  • Funders have looked to the support of after the event insurance policies, but these have also been put under the microscope.
  • The ‘Arkin Cap’ is now a significant consideration for third party funders when assessing whether and at what level to provide funding for litigation.

We are all seeing a rise in litigation funding, evidenced recently by the explosion in profits of one significant AIM listed funder, Burford Capital LLC. Burford’s 2017 Annual Report shows income up by 109% to £341m and profit after tax up by 130% to £265m.

However, with this rise in funding, comes greater scrutiny by the courts of the role of funders in litigation and their potential liability to other parties. Recent case law has increased that potential liability. Funders often look to the support of an after the event

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

NLJ Career Profile: Stephen Ward, The Barrister Group

From mowing lawns to life at the Bar: Stephen Ward reflects on an unconventional career

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Clarke Willmott—Ben Loosemore

Commercial property partner joins Clarke Willmott in Southampton

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Ellisons—Robert Tiffen

Robert Tiffen joins Ellisons as Partner in growing Norwich office

NEWS
The Law Society RFC Festival of Sport returns next month, bringing together legal and financial services professionals for one of the sector’s largest annual sporting events
Legal aid deserts leave almost one in four without adequate access to justice
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has warned solicitors and law firms that using artificial intelligence does not alter their professional obligations, amid concerns over inaccurate legal material and client confidentiality
From forgotten interest claims to case-management appeals, a string of procedural developments offers useful—and occasionally cautionary—lessons for practitioners

Jonathan Fisher KC highlights that it now accounts for around 40% of criminal offences, with roughly 70% involving technology, and argues that the UK cannot simply prosecute its way out of the problem. Detection, investigation and prosecution all require improvement, while different fraud types demand tailored responses.

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