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NLJ this week: Litigation funding must serve justice, not failure

12 September 2025
Issue: 8130 / Categories: Legal News , Litigation funding
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Geoff Dover, managing director at Heirloom Fair Legal, sets out a blueprint for ethical litigation funding in the wake of high-profile law firm collapses

Recent failures exposed structural and ethical flaws, with rigid repayment schedules, misaligned incentives, and excessive reporting requirements leaving firms and consumers exposed.

Dover argues for funding models that prioritise client outcomes, transparency, and shared success, rejecting commission-based structures and punitive terms. Law firms should question funders, ensure downside risk is shared, and avoid unsustainable growth. Ethical funding requires all stakeholders to operate collaboratively and benefit only when the client does. He calls for a fundamental shift in litigation finance, making funding a tool for access to justice rather than a source of risk.

Issue: 8130 / Categories: Legal News , Litigation funding
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NEWS
Writing in NLJ this week, Kelvin Rutledge KC of Cornerstone Barristers and Genevieve Screeche-Powell of Field Court Chambers examine the Court of Appeal’s rejection of a discrimination challenge to Tower Hamlets’ housing database
Michael Zander KC, Emeritus Professor at LSE, tracks the turbulent passage of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill through the House of Lords in this week's issue of NLJ. Two marathon debates drew contributions from nearly 200 peers, split between support, opposition and conditional approval
Alistair Mills of Landmark Chambers reflects on the Human Rights Act 1998 a quarter-century after it came into force, in this week's issue of NLJ
In his latest Civil Way column for NLJ, Stephen Gold surveys a raft of procedural changes and quirky disputes shaping civil practice. His message is clear: civil practitioners must brace for continual tweaks, unexpected contentions and rising costs in everyday litigation
Barbara Mills KC, chair of the Bar 2025 and joint head of chambers at 4PB, sets out in this week's NLJ how the profession will respond to Baroness Harriet Harman KC’s review into bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bar
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