Member Spotlight: Michael Perich

By John Freund |

Michael Perich is a Senior Vice President and Head of Litigation Insurance in the Transaction Liability Practice at Lockton.  Prior to joining Lockton, Michael spent much of his career working at the world’s largest litigation finance company, Burford Capital, as well as a Chambers-ranked litigation finance broker, Westfleet Advisors. In these roles, he helped a wide range of clients—including multinational corporations and AmLaw100 firms—use innovative litigation finance structure to achieve their financial objectives.

Michael is also a former litigator, having represented clients on contingency fee, alternative fee, and hourly fee arrangements.  He now uses those skillsets to help his clients structure bespoke insurance policies designed to help his clients achieve their financial objectives.

Michael has been recognized by LawDragon as one of the top 100 Global Leaders in litigation finance and is listed in the IAM Strategy 300, a guide listing individuals who innovatively create and action strategies which realize and amplify the worth of IP portfolios.

Company Name and Description:   Lockton is the largest privately held global insurance brokerage that provides outstanding risk mitigation and claims management through the application of modern insurance strategies. With expertise in risk management, property and casualty, employee benefits/people solutions, professional and private risk, we help our clients protect what matters to them most: people, property, and their bottom line.

Company Website: https://global.lockton.com/us/en

Headquarters:  Kansas City

Area of Focus:  Litigation Funding and Contingent Liability Insurance products

Member Quote: Having ventured into the field of litigation finance almost ten years ago, I remain repeatedly astounded and impressed by the growth and increased sophistication the market has exhibited in recent years. The progress has been truly remarkable, and I feel grateful to be involved in this dynamic industry.

Commercial

View All

Audley Capital Appoints Rick Gregory to Executive Board

By Harry Moran |

In a post on LinkedIn, Audley Capital announced the appointment of Rick Gregory to its executive board. Gregory serves as a Director for Audley and is a legal funding specialist, “with over 28 years of experience in legal funding, law firms, insurance, and volume litigation.”

The announcement highlighted Gregory’s vast experience across the legal sector, saying that “his profound understanding of the market, regulatory landscape, and commercial requirements for all stakeholders has paved the way for the implementation of litigation funding across some of the largest volume schemes in the UK.”In addition to his work on the executive board Audley, Gregory is also the co-founder of Legal Intelligence, a legal tech company that provides a range of AI solutions to “drive efficiency, innovation, and scalability, empowering professionals to gain a competitive edge and achieve sustainable growth and client delight.”

CAT Approves £25 Million Settlement in Boundary Fares Class Action

By Harry Moran |

As LFJ reported last month, the parties in the Stagecoach South Western Trains class action had reached a settlement agreement, with SSWT agreeing to pay up to £25 million to eligible class members who were overcharged on their rail fares by the train operator.

An article in City A.M. provides an update on the case, as the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has approved the proposed settlement. Now that it has been approved by the tribunal, class members will be able to register and submit a claim for payment in order to receive compensation from the settlement. The claim period will last for six months, from 10 July 2024 to 10 January 2025.

Within four months of the claim period ending, the class representative will then provide SSWT with the total amount to be claimed, up to the total of £25 million agreed in the settlement. SSWT will then have a period of 21 days following receipt of this information to pay the class representative the ‘notified damages sum’.

The class action was filed by Charles Lyndon, with Woodsford Group providing the funding for the litigation. 

Steven Friel, Woodsford’s CEO said: “This settlement approval confirms Woodsford as the most active and the most successful litigation funder in the CAT collective proceedings regime. Our actions have resulted in the first two, and as yet only, court-approved settlements in the regime.”The full collective settlement approval order from the CAT can be read here.

Burford Capital Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

By Harry Moran |

Burford Capital Limited ("Burford"), the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today announces its first quarter 2024 results.

In addition, Burford has made available an accompanying first quarter 2024 results presentation on its website at http://investors.burfordcapital.com.

Christopher Bogart, Chief Executive Officer of Burford Capital, commented:

"Our first quarter showed our highest ever reported level of first quarter cash receipts, above-average realized gains, continued case conclusions with loss levels below historical experience and moderate new business activity broadly consistent with a typical first quarter. Total revenues reflected the variable timing of recognition we expect in our business; the underlying portfolio continued to show forward momentum with no material negative developments, while lower operating expenses reflected the absence of elevated variable costs."The full summary of the quarterly results can be read here.

Read More