Introduction:
As litigation finance increasingly becomes a widely accepted means of accessing capital, we continue to explore the perspective of practicing attorneys in this burgeoning field. Today, we are publishing findings from our second survey of practicing lawyers regarding litigation finance, which collected insights into questions such as:
Keep reading for findings from our research.
Consistent with earlier findings, the largest proportion of firsthand experience with litigation finance (56.45%) was reported by attorneys in the smallest (non-solo) cohort of firms (2-25 attorneys).
The next-largest proportion of firsthand experience was concentrated among attorneys at the largest firms (500+ attorneys).
Litigators whose practices concern the Energy and Telecommunications industries were the only respondent cohorts with a majority proportion of firsthand experience, though litigators in the Technology, Automobiles, and Life Sciences/Healthcare industries all reported a nearly 1 in 2 ratio (each 49 percent plus) of firsthand experience as well. Litigators in the Finance/Banking and Media/Entertainment sectors had the lowest rates of firsthand experience.
Compared with our 2016 findings, the practitioners in the following industries saw an uptick in firsthand experience:
1As indicated by responses to the question “Does your practice concern any of the following industries?” accompanied by the (obviously non-exhaustive) menu of the nine industries listed above. Multiple selections were permitted.
In our earlier survey findings, we found an interesting divergence of perspective between in-house counsel and law firm partners regarding the main driver of the decision to seek litigation financing. This year, we see that divergence widening.
In-house attorneys reported that general counsel/legal departments (i.e. themselves and their peers) drove the decision roughly 40% of the time (a 10% increase from 2016), with outside law firms being the main driver about 10% of the time (down more than 5% over our earlier finding).
By contrast, law firm partners characterized outside counsel (i.e. themselves and their peers) as driving the decision about one-third of the time (up slightly from 2016), while general counsel/legal departments were perceived as driving the decision only about 7% of the time.
Asked of respondents with previous firsthand experience
In-house counsel “strongest motivation” 2016 vs. 2018
Consistent with our earlier findings, in-house counsel were the only category of respondent citing “As a means to fund operating expenses” in significant numbers, at 27%, up 2% from 2016.
Law firm partner “strongest motivation” 2016 v. 2018
“Hedge risk of litigation” was a close runner-up as a motivating factor for law firm partners, at 35%, down just over 4% from our previous findings.
Respondents were asked to assign an ordinal value (1 being highest, 7 being lowest) to a set of factors. Overall, respondents ranked factors in the following order of relative importance:
1. Economic terms (2.46)
2. Flexibility regarding the structuring of financing arrangements (3.92)
3. Financier’s reputation/track record (3.92)
4. Financier’s right to influence/decide strategy or settlement (3.96)
5. Subject-matter or industry-specific expertise (4.45)
6. Speed/responsiveness (4.54)
7. Relationship with funder (5.38)
8. Other (6.79)
Across all respondent categories, by a wide margin, economic terms were cited as the most important selection criterion. If we isolate the responses from law firm partners and in-house counsel, some interesting differences emerge. (Recall that the lower the number, the more important the criterion.)
| Right to Influence | Flexibility | Reputation | Specific Expertise | Speed | |
| In-House | 2.88 | 3.45 | 3.85 | 3.90 | 3.80 |
| Partners | 4.25 | 3.05 | 3.70 | 4.62 | 4.44 |
(asked of those respondents with firsthand experience)
As in our 2016 survey, more than 80 percent of respondents with firsthand experience with litigation finance stated that they would use litigation finance again, though the proportion of respondents answering “yes” to this question declined slightly – by about 3% – since our 2016 survey.
In line with previous findings, this overall proportion was essentially consistent across all categories of respondent position, firm size, and industry focus. Law firm partners were most satisfied as a group (88% would use litigation finance again) and law firm associates were the least satisfied (75%).
(asked of those respondents with firsthand experience)
Similar to the previous – and related – question, this overall pattern was consistent across all respondent categories. The “No” cohort has increased by about 5% since our 2016 survey.
(asked of those respondents without any firsthand experience with litigation finance)
The proportion of respondents who would NOT consider litigation finance holds steady since our 2016 survey at about 30%.
(multiple selections permitted)
A significant majority (77%) of respondents predict the industry will continue to grow
Roughly one-third of respondents see claims by underfunded plaintiffs driving future growth, although about one-quarter view the growth of portfolio financing as most important.
There was no consensus on the greatest future challenges facing litigation, although a plurality cited “attorney ethical rule changes/new applications.”
As with the previous question, potential ethical issues took the first position, followed by the rising influence of AI.
