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What a Fund Manager Should Know About Entering the Litigation Finance Industry
Best of the Best USA Expert Guide 2019
June 2019
The term “litigation finance” (also known as “litigation funding”), refers to several forms of funding transactions, some of which do not involve the actual funding of a specific litigation. For an industry that, until recently, was little known in the legal and finance markets, litigation finance has grown sharply — not only due to broader acceptance but also because of the high potential returns and the uncorrelated nature of the investment. While private funds in 2018 were able to marginally outperform the S&P for the first time in a decade, the returns for the industry have been generally inconsistent and lackluster for many private funds. Managers are seeking more unique asset classes. Litigation finance offers the prospect of higher returns than traditional investment strategies and of being uncorrelated to equity market movements, both of which are particularly alluring during periods of market downturn and volatility. In this article, partners Stephanie Breslow and Boris Ziser and associate Yasmin Naghash discuss why litigants seek financing, types of litigation finance, assets funded and the structure of a litigation finance vehicle.
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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) have overhauled Form PF and private fund managers have until March 12, 2025, to begin reporting on the new Form. The changes to the reporting requirements mandated by the amendments to the Form (“Form PF Amendments”) will require substantial preparation by many managers.[1]
Alerts
On March 1, 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law an amended version of the New York LLC Transparency Act (“NYLTA”),[1] requiring certain limited liability companies (“LLCs”) formed or authorized to do business in New York (each, a “NY Reporting Company”) to file a beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) report with the NY Department of State (“NY DOS”). Each NY Reporting Company will be required to disclose on its BOI report identifying information pertaining to each individual who directly or indirectly exercises substantial control or owns or controls 25 percent or more of the ownership interests of a NY Reporting Company (each, a “Beneficial Owner”) and the individuals involved in the NY Reporting Company’s formation or registration to do business in New York (each, an “Applicant”). Information reported to NY DOS will be maintained in a private database not accessible to the public. The NYLTA goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026 and requires the NY DOS to promulgate regulations implementing the legislation.
Alerts
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) have overhauled Form PF and private fund managers have until March 12, 2025, to begin reporting on the new Form. The changes to the reporting requirements mandated by the amendments to the Form (“Form PF Amendments”) will require substantial preparation by many managers.[1]
Alerts
On March 1, 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law an amended version of the New York LLC Transparency Act (“NYLTA”),[1] requiring certain limited liability companies (“LLCs”) formed or authorized to do business in New York (each, a “NY Reporting Company”) to file a beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) report with the NY Department of State (“NY DOS”). Each NY Reporting Company will be required to disclose on its BOI report identifying information pertaining to each individual who directly or indirectly exercises substantial control or owns or controls 25 percent or more of the ownership interests of a NY Reporting Company (each, a “Beneficial Owner”) and the individuals involved in the NY Reporting Company’s formation or registration to do business in New York (each, an “Applicant”). Information reported to NY DOS will be maintained in a private database not accessible to the public. The NYLTA goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026 and requires the NY DOS to promulgate regulations implementing the legislation.
Alerts
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) have overhauled Form PF and private fund managers have until March 12, 2025, to begin reporting on the new Form. The changes to the reporting requirements mandated by the amendments to the Form (“Form PF Amendments”) will require substantial preparation by many managers.[1]