UK litigation funders’ war chests grow as class action interest mounts

UK-based litigation funders have amassed record war chests to finance the growing interest in class action law suits, according to a new study by RPC. Litigation funders’ assets jumped 11% last year to hit £2.2bn, almost double the £1.3bn that had been built up in 2017/18 and a more than ten-fold increase over the past decade. RPC’s analysis is based on regulatory data submitted by 15 of the largest UK litigation funders. Raymond van Hulst, EMEA executive director of Omni Bridgeway notes, however, that while low interest rates and excess liquidity had previously driven growth, a combination of rising inflation and higher interest rates means only the most successful funds will likely be attractive going forward and funders with low success rates will struggle.