Harbour Credit provides £2 million to UK law firm in first deal under new brand

Harbour Credit, the recently established law firm financing arm of litigation funder Harbour, has provided a £2 million funding package to Manchester-based Garvins Law, marking its first transaction under the new brand as Harbour expands its credit offering to UK legal practices.

The financing will support a management buyout of the credit hire litigation specialist, with Managing Director Neil Garvin becoming the firm's sole shareholder. The package also includes a £1 million working capital facility intended to finance new instructions and support the firm's expansion.

Founded in 2007, Garvins Law specialises in representing claimants seeking to recover replacement vehicle hire charges and associated losses following road traffic accidents. The firm works with credit hire and accident management businesses, a sector in which litigation expenses and the timing of recoveries can create significant working capital requirements.

Garvin said Harbour had taken the time to understand the firm's litigation portfolio, case progression and cash flow cycles before structuring the financing.

The transaction marks a further step in Harbour's expansion beyond traditional litigation funding into direct financing of law firms. Harbour began offering credit facilities to legal practices in 2023 and established Harbour Credit as a distinct brand in 2026 to differentiate its lending activities from its litigation investment business.

Unlike conventional third-party litigation funding, which typically provides capital in exchange for a share of proceeds from successful claims, Harbour's credit offering is designed to provide financing at the law firm level, including facilities supporting working capital requirements, acquisitions and business expansion.

Ellora MacPherson, Harbour's Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer, said the Garvins facility was structured to accommodate both the ownership transition and the firm's future growth.

MacPherson also indicated that Harbour Credit is pursuing additional transactions across the UK, with several opportunities expected to close in the coming months.

The deal reflects Harbour's broader strategy of financing legal businesses alongside individual disputes, providing law firms with access to capital to manage the gap between litigation expenditure and eventual recoveries.