Leading disruptor in civil litigation finds capital solution to drive unprecedented growth

By John Freund |

PURE Business Group (PURE), the multi-discipline legal services business, has today announced a new £multi-million funding facility with Sandfield Capital. PURE, which currently handles over 12,000 new instructions each year, hopes that this move will dramatically accelerate its ability to develop record numbers of cases over the next few years.

The agreement is anticipated to deliver dominant market-share in the volume civil litigation space in PURE’s current six case verticals, plus extend then across four new areas of focus. Combined with planned increases in the coming months, PURE will target 30,000 new cases per year from 2022, whilst more than doubling turnover and profit.

Group CEO, Phil Hodgkinson commented: “Now in our seventh year of trading, I’m proud to say that our business continues to go from strength to strength. Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, we have remained profitable throughout, and continue to break case settlement records month on month. Aside from fuelling a transformational growth in case volumes, the new funding agreement allows us to launch innovative new products and enter new markets, too. The future is incredibly exciting for this business and our colleagues within it.”

Sandfield Capital CEO, Steven DAmbrosio said: “We are delighted to support PURE in its future. Having run an initial pilot with them from January this year, we have already seen 25% of the total funded book come to settlement resolution. Based upon current data, we will see 100% settlement of the pilot scheme cases within a further six months. That has given us the confidence to extend the facility to a significant eight-figure sum, enabling PURE to increase new case volumes significantly and pursue those cases aggressively on behalf of clients.”

About Pure Business Group

PURE Business Group was created to provide a unique, innovative and collaborative solution to the civil litigation legal sector. Founded in early 2015 by Phil Hodgkinson, and bringing thirty yearsexperience within the insurance and legal sector, the group employs in excess of 450 staff in four UK locations. The group comprises a number of complimentary companies, including an ABS-structured barristers chambers and law firm, a technology business, a specialist vetting business, a claims-handling business and multiple marketing brands. Its unique model centres around non-recourse CCA disbursement loans to customers, which are fully insured by a large panel of A-Rated Insurers and Re-Insurers. This model allows us to concentrate its own cash flow on business growth and taking on new cases. It can also litigate in volume, without constraint, against any defendants who refuse to come to the table and settle valid cases in a reasonable and timely manner.

Sandfield Capital has been designed to support individuals pursuing legal claims and facilitate their access to justice. It was launched in 2020 by Steven DAmbrosio, a former Finance Director at Close Brothers Premium Finance, who has conceived and built a number of highly-successful ventures in the financial and legal sectors and remains extremely passionate about creating and tailoring funding solutions. Sandfield works directly with accredited legal firms to ensure that all clients achieve the best possible outcome, complimented by straight forward, innovative products that support their legal cases.

Announcements

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.”

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

Lex Ferenda Litigation Funding LLC Announces Promotion; New Appointment

By Harry Moran |

Lex Ferenda Litigation Funding LLC "LF2" is pleased to announce the following promotion and appointment: Andrew Kelley is now LF2's Deputy Chief Investment Officer; Andrew Bourhill joins LF2 as Associate Director, Investments. Kelley previously served as Managing Director, Underwriting and Risk. Bourhill, who was an intern at the company while completing his MBA at Columbia Business School, graduated this month and now joins on a full-time basis.

"LF2 has been working on its first investment fund, committing it to litigation assets around the US. It has always been our plan to increase our commitments to Andrew and Andrew, and we are pleased that the business is in a place that we are able to do that," said Chris Baildon, LF2's Chief Operating Officer.

PROMOTION

Kelley, who now serves as the Company's Deputy Chief Investment Officer, is a key part of the management team and works carefully with the co-founders and advisory board to understand risk and manage investments.

"I am excited to expand my role at LF2 and look forward to continuing to help our clients and their counsel successfully navigate the dispute resolution process without having to worry about how to pay for their representation," said Kelley. "As a former outside counsel and in-house lawyer, I understand the complex business and legal dynamics of successfully funding, prosecuting, and resolving disputes."

Prior to joining LF2 in early 2023, Kelley was Associate General Counsel and head of commercial litigation at Fortune 500 company, DaVita Inc.. He has also served as General Counsel to a private equity firm headquartered in Colorado and as outside counsel at two different international law firms in Colorado. Kelley received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is actively licensed to practice law in Colorado.

APPOINTMENT

Bourhill joins as Associate Director, Investments, and will be primarily responsible for creating, developing, and maintaining business relationships with law firms and litigants to ensure that LF2's commercial activity continues to expand while its clients receive best-in-class service.

"I am looking forward to joining the LF2 team and applying my unique perspective in a dynamic industry with such high growth potential," said Bourhill. "As a former litigator and finance professional, I'm excited to enhance outcomes for both our clients and investors while being able to promote access to high quality legal representation."

Prior to obtaining his MBA, Bourhill was an associate attorney at a premier defense law firm in Manhattan specializing in commercial litigation. Bourhill received his J.D. from the Cardozo School of Law, and his B.A. from Emory University. He is actively licensed to practice law in New York.

"I am humbled to have Kelley and Bourhill take expanded roles at LF2 and believe that their increased fidelity with our clients and investors will make our business stronger," said Michael German, Chief Investment Officer at LF2. "We are continuing to expand in the litigation finance space and are excited about the future, particularly with Andrew and Andrew playing strategic roles within the business," German said.

ABOUT LEX FERENDA LITIGATION FUNDINGLF2 is a commercial litigation finance company anchored by institutional capital. LF2 is structured with the objective of meeting the highest standards in investment process management, quality control, risk management, and compliance. For further information about LF2, please visit: www.lf-2.com.

Read More