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3RD ANNUAL

LF Dealmakers

europe

Where legal capital meets strategy

May 11-13, 2026

RoYAL garden hotel LONDON

Featured speakers

About The Event

For Legal Finance & Law Firm Leaders

LF Dealmakers Europe brings together the senior decision-makers across law firms, funders, and investors who are shaping how legal risk, disputes, and claims are structured, financed, and executed.

At a time when capital is playing an increasingly central role in how cases are built and firms grow, the event focuses on how legal strategy and financial discipline intersect in practice—examining what works, where models break down, and how deals are actually done in today’s market.

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

New closed-door boardrooms: Designed for deeper, candid conversations

Judicial panel: Perspectives from the bench on complex disputes

35+ international speakers: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the U.S.

Law firm growth focus: How modern firms are using capital to scale

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform facilitating new partnership and business opportunities

Senior leaders from litigation funders, claimant law firms, investors, regulators and specialist advisors.

Audience

A curated audience of carefully vetted senior decision-makers made of funders, law firm leaders, investors, regulators and specialist advisors – the people you actually need to meet.

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

92percent

Overall networking was rated very good to excellent

97percent

Program quality was rated very good to excellent

80percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT​

Dealmakers by the numbers

260

Decision
Makers

8+

Hours of dedicated networking

45

EXPERT
SPEAKERS

120+

one to one
mettings

EVENT GALLERY

DealmakERS in action

sponsorship opportunities

Become a sponsor

2026 PRELIMINARY agenda

Get updates and inquire about sponsoring in 2026 below.

Please note: This event will be co-located with the 3rd Annual IP Dealmakers Europe. If you would like to attend sessions at both events, register with an all access ticket. 

OPENING DAY: MONDAY, may 11, 2026

DAY ONE: TUESDAY, may 12, 2026 - THE BUSINESS OF GLOBAL CLASS ACTIONS AND DISPUTES

  • The economics of complex disputes: funding, cost exposure and proportionality
  • AI, technology and evidential complexity in modern litigation
  • Expectations in high-stake litigation

Speakers:

  • Sir Colin Birss, Chancellor, High Court (UK)
  • Judge Kai Härmand, Nordic-Baltic Regional Division, Unified Patent Court (Sweden)
  • Judge Alexandre Au-Yong Oliveira, Judge, Court of Appeals of Lisbon (Portugal)
  • Judge Fabian Richter Reuschle, Deputy Presiding Judge, Stuttgart Regional Court (Germany)
  • The non-negotiables of fundable claims
  • Pressure points tested before capital is committed
  • Why some claims clear the bar – and others don’t

Speakers:

  • Becca Hogan, Partner, Signature Litigation (UK) (moderator)
  • Eduardo Ayuela Zurita, Co-Founder & Head of Commercial Law, Corporate Disputes and Arbitration, Ayuela Jiménez (Spain)
  • Anthony Maton, Global Co-Chair, Hausfeld (UK)
  • Natasha Tardif, Managing Partner, Reed Smith LLP (France)
  • Emerging fertile grounds for funded claims 
  • Case anatomy in emerging vs established markets 
  • US-UK-EU: Origination, funding and execution of cross-border partnerships

Speakers:

  • Gian Paolo Coppola, Partner, LCA Studio Legale (Italy) 
  • Andoni de la Llosa, Partner, Redi (Spain)
  • Porfírio Moreira, Partner, Sousa Ferro & Associados (Portugal)
  • Carlijn van Rest, Partner, Scott+Scott (Netherlands)

Interested in joining? To request an invite email:

Chloe Culver

  • Strategies for identification and distribution 
  • Tools and resources for claimant identification, verification, and onboarding
  • Managing gaps and low claimants rates

Speakers: 

  • Robert Marven KC, Barrister, 4 New Square Chambers (UK) (moderator)
  • Karl Hennessee, SVP, Litigation, Investigation  and Regulatory Affairs, Airbus (France)
  • Shazia Yamin, Partner, Mishcon de Reya (UK)
  • To what extent is the industry currently enhancing access to justice?
  • Sustainability of current funding, claim sharing, and governance models 
  • Ensuring long-term viability and attractiveness of the legal financing market

Speakers:

  • Andrew Higgins, Professor of Civil Justice Systems, University of Oxford (UK) (moderator)

FOR FUNDING:

  • Martyn Day, Senior Partner, Leigh Day (UK)
  • Polly O’Brien, Partner, McDermott Will & Schulte (UK)

AGAINST FUNDING:

  • Richard Blann, Head of Group Litigation and Conduct Investigations Legal, Lloyds Banking Group (UK)
  • Christopher Chorba, Partner, Gibson Dunn (U.S.)

Interested in joining? To request an invite email:

Chloe Culver

9:30 AM – 5:30 PM:
ONE-TO-ONE MEETINGS

Participants have the option to schedule 30-minute meetings utilising our desktop or mobile app. Registered attendees will receive an invitation to login to the app the week prior to the event.

DAY TWO: WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2026 - THE BUSINESS OF LAW FIRMS AND LEGAL FUNDING

  • Where new money is coming from – and how LP expectations are reshaping deployment 
  • How capital is diversifying across the US, UK and Europe 
  • From cases to portfolios to firms: the models and risk profiles attracting global capital

Speakers:

  • Louise Trayhurn, Founder & Director, Crescient Ltd (UK) (moderator)
  • David Greene, Senior Partner, Commercial Disputes and Class Actions, Edwin Coe (UK), & Co-President, The Collective Redress Lawyers Association – CORLA (CORLA) (UK)
  • Simon Hitchcock, Managing Partner, Horizon Capital (UK) 
  • Nicholas Moore, Head of Office, CAC Specialty (UK)
  • Budgeting for duration, capital strain, and downside
  • Pricing and negotiation dynamics with funders in a tighter market
  • When firms retain risk, share risk or transfer risk entirely

Speakers:

  • John Hyde, Deputy News Editor, The Law Society Gazette (UK) (moderator)
  • Mike Giles, Chief Financial Officer, HFW (UK)
  • Jennifer Whitley, Chief Financial Officer, Bracewell (U.S.)
  • Strong firm-funder partnerships which work
  • Ethical duties, professional obligations and regulatory expectations
  • Structural considerations that affect control and accountability

Speakers:

  • Mark Friston, Barrister, Hailsham Chambers (UK) (moderator)
  • Quirijn Bongaerts, Partner, Birkway (Netherlands)
  • Genevieve Quierin, Partner, Stephenson Harwood (UK)
  • Susan Dunn, Chair, Association of Litigation Funders of England & Wales (ALF) (UK)
  • Misjudging timelines, courts, and jurisdictional nuance
  • Backing claims without backing leadership
  • Where diligence breaks down – and how to fix it

Speakers:

  • Teresa Rodriguez de las Heras Ballell, President, European Law Institute (ELI) (Spain) (moderator) TBC
  • Andrew Leitch, Partner, Hogan Lovells (UK)
  • Jessica de Rooij, Partner, Evers Soerjatin (Netherlands)
  • Julia Suderow, Partner, Suderow Fernández Abogadas (Spain)

9:30 AM – 2:30 PM:
ONE-TO-ONE MEETINGS

Participants have the option to schedule 30-minute meetings utilising our desktop or mobile app. Registered attendees will receive an invitation to login to the app the week prior to the event.

2026 SPEAKERS

The 2026 program is in development. Get updates and Enquire about speaking in 2026 below.

2026 FEAUTRED SPEAKERS

Sir Colin Birss

Chancellor
UK High Court

UK

 

 

Judge Kai Härmand

Nordic-Baltic Regional Division
Unified Patent Court
ESTONIA

Judge Alexandre Au-Yong Oliveira

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

PORTUGAL

Judge Fabian Richter Reuschle

Deputy Presiding Judge

Stuttgart Regional Court

GERMANY 

 

2026 SPEAKERS

Richard Blann

Head of Group Litigation and Conduct Investigations Legal

Lloyds Banking Group

UK

QUIRIJN BONGAERTS

Quirijn Bongaerts

Founding Partner

Birkway

NETHERLANDS

 

GIAN PAOLO COPPOLA

Gian Paolo Coppola

Equity Partner

LCA

ITALY

 

Christopher Chorba

Partner

Gibson Dunn

US

Martyn Day

Senior Partner
Leigh Day
UK

 

ANDONI DE LA LLOSA

Andoni De La Llosa

Partner

Redi

SPAIN

 

 

Jessica de Rooij

Partner

Evers Soerjatin

NETHERLANDS

 

 

Susan Dunn

Chair

Association of Litigation Funders of England & Wales (ALF)

UK

Mark Friston

Barrister

Hailsham Chambers

UK

 

 

MIKE GILES

Mike Giles

Chief Financial Officer

HFW

UK

DAVID GREENE

Senior Partner, Commercial Disputes & Class Actions

Edwin Coe

UK

Karl Hennessee

Senior Vice-President, Litigation, Investigations, and Regulatory Affairs

Airbus

FRANCE

John Hyde

Deputy News Editor

The Law Society Gazette

UK

Andrew Higgins

Professor of Civil Justice Systems

University of Oxford

UK

SIMON HITCHCOCK

Simon Hitchcock

Managing Partner

Horizon Capital

UK

 

 

BECCA HOGAN

Partner

Signature Litigation

UK

Leitch_Andrew

Andrew Leitch

Partner

Hogan Lovells

UK

Rosie Ioannou

Managing Director

Fortress Investment Group

UK

Robert Marvin KC

Barrister

4 New Square Chambers

UK

Anthony Maton

Anthony Maton

Global Co-Chair

Hausfeld

UK

Porfirio Moreira

Partner

Sousa Ferro

PORTUGAL

Nick Moore

Head of Office

CAC Specialty 

UK

Polly O’Brian

Partner

McDermott Will & Schulte LLP
UK

Genevieve Quierin

Partner

Stephenson Harwood
UK

Carlijn van Rest

Partner

Scott+Scott

NETHERLANDS

Julia Suderow

Julia Suderow

Partner

Suderow Fernández Abogadas

SPAIN

Natasha Tardif

Managing Partner

ReedSmith

FRANCE

Louise Trayhurn

Co-Founder & Director

Crescient

UK

Jennifer Whitley

Chief Financial Officer

Bracewell

US

Shazia Yamin

Partner

Mishcon de Reya

UK

Boris Ziser

Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs & Alternative Assets

McDermott Will & Schulte LLP
US

 

Eduardo Ayuela Zurita

Co-Founder & Head of Commercial Law, Corporate Disputes and Arbitration

Ayuela Jiménez
SPAIN

THANK YOU TO OUR

2025 SPONSORS & PARTNERS

The 2026 program is in development. Get updates and Enquire about sponsoring in 2026 below.

silver sponsors

media partnerS

SUPPORTING ORGANISATION

more about OUR

2025 SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

CAC Group is a leading insurance broker and advisor that provides expertise and placement capabilities across the spectrum of insurance and capital markets. The entity comprises CAC Specialty, CAC Agency, and CAC Capital.  Collectively, CAC Group serves large corporations, small-to-medium enterprises as well as individuals. It is an employee-owned company and ranked in the top 40 of all U.S. brokerage firms. 

Consumer Attorney Marketing Group (CAMG) is a full service Marketing Agency made up of experts in Direct Response Marketing. We are committed to helping law firms leverage this experience in order to create the most successful legal marketing campaigns possible. Our services include, but are not limited to, creative messaging, media buying, tracking and optimization, call intake services, and performance-based reporting.

The D. E. Shaw group is a global investment and technology development firm with over $60 billion in investment and committed capital as of April 1, 2023. We have earned an international reputation for successful investing based on innovation, careful risk management, and the quality and depth of our staff.

With a firm focus on private capital, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP comprises legal advisers and commercial problem-solvers who combine exceptional experience, industry insight, integrated intelligence and commercial creativity to help clients raise and invest assets and protect and expand their businesses. The firm has offices in New York, Washington, DC and London, and advises clients on investment management, corporate and transactional matters, and provides counsel on securities regulatory compliance, enforcement and investigative issues.

​Winward provides dispute resolution finance and works with claimants, intermediaries and lawyers to assess risk. Winward will ensure that its decisions are made robustly and swiftly and it will be prepared to earn the trust of those that do business with it. Winward is financed by a substantial US asset manager and led by Jeremy Marshall, formerly the CIO of Innsworth Advisors and a Senior Investment Manager with Omni Bridgeway.

MEDIA PARTNERS

Litigation Finance Insider is an independent media company focused exclusively on the global litigation finance market. Our aim is to deliver timely insights to litigation funders, lawyers and investors on the key trends, developments and stories that are shaping the industry.

Litigation Finance Insider is an independent media company focused exclusively on the global litigation finance market. Our aim is to deliver timely insights to litigation funders, lawyers and investors on the key trends, developments and stories that are shaping the industry.

supporting organisation

WOLF is a network that promotes, connects and advances the professional development of women in the field of third party dispute finance.

sponsorship opportunities

Become a sponsor

Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

LF Dealmakers Europe is where legal finance moves from discussion to execution. Bringing together law firms, funders, investors, and corporates, the event focuses on how legal risk is actually structured, financed, and delivered in today’s market.

At a time when capital is more selective and models are under pressure, we go beyond theory to examine what works, where deals break down, and how successful partnerships are built in practice.

Our value lies in convening the full ecosystem in one place—connecting those originating claims, structuring opportunities, and deploying capital. The result is a highly focused environment for meaningful conversations, strategic alignment, and dealmaking.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with the counterparties you actually want to meet

A highly curated audience of senior decision-makers across law firms, funders, investors, corporates, insurers, and advisors

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for commercial conversations—not surface-level interactions

11 focused sessions tackling capital deployment, risk, governance, and real deal dynamics

Why Should you Attend as:

Law Firms

Secure capital, scale your cases, and compete more effectively in a capital-driven disputes market.

  • Secure funding partnerships to originate, scale, and de-risk cases and portfolios
  • Understand how funders assess risk, structure deals, and price opportunities in a more selective market
  • Benchmark your funding and growth strategy against leading claimant firms across Europe
  • Explore alternative fee arrangements, portfolio models, and firm-level financing strategies
  • Access investors and advisors to support expansion, case development, and balance sheet management
  • Stay ahead of how capital is reshaping litigation strategy, firm economics, and competitive positioning

Access high-quality opportunities, refine your deployment strategy, and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive capital market.

  • Source high-quality opportunities across jurisdictions, sectors, and claim types
  • Benchmark your underwriting, portfolio construction, and deployment strategies against leading funders
  • Understand how law firms are structuring, packaging, and presenting opportunities in today’s market
  • Access origination partners, co-investment opportunities, and new distribution channels
  • Explore emerging asset classes, including ESG, securities, and cross-border collective actions
  • Stay ahead of regulatory developments, capital flows, and structural shifts impacting returns

Understand the legal finance asset class, access deployment opportunities, and connect with those structuring and managing risk.

  • Understand how legal finance is evolving across cases, portfolios, and firm-level strategies
  • Access funders, law firms, and platforms originating and managing opportunities
  • Evaluate risk, return profiles, and structuring approaches across jurisdictions and asset types
  • Explore entry points into legal finance, including co-investment, private credit, and secondary markets
  • Benchmark allocation strategies against other institutional investors
  • Stay ahead of how capital is flowing into and shaping the legal finance market

Position your capital within the evolving legal finance ecosystem and access opportunities in structured risk and claims portfolios.

  • Understand how litigation funding and insurance are converging across complex disputes
  • Explore opportunities to partner with funders and law firms on risk transfer and capital solutions
  • Benchmark underwriting approaches, pricing models, and emerging insurance products
  • Access key stakeholders originating and structuring large-scale claims and portfolios
  • Explore how insurance can enhance capital efficiency, mitigate downside, and support deal structures
  • Stay ahead of trends in claims, portfolios, and structured risk across jurisdictions

Unlock claims, manage risk, and access the capital and partners needed to pursue high-value disputes.

  • Understand how legal finance can unlock claims while managing cost and balance sheet exposure
  • Explore strategies for pursuing complex, cross-border, and high-value disputes
  • Access funders, law firms, and advisors to structure and execute claims effectively
  • Benchmark your approach against leading corporates and claimant groups across Europe
  • Understand how funding impacts control, governance, and outcomes
  • Stay ahead of how disputes are being originated, financed, and executed in today’s market

Companies Attending Include:

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

From countries including:

Secure Your Seat

VENUE & Accommodations

Royal garden hotel

The 3rd LF Dealmakers Europe will be hosted at the Royal Garden Hotel, a five-star landmark set directly on Kensington Gardens in one of London’s most prestigious neighbourhoods. With its sweeping views, refined interiors, and unbeatable access to Kensington’s cultural hubs, the Royal Garden Hotel provides the perfect backdrop for high-level discussions, strategic connections, and dealmaking.

To enhance the attendee experience, Dealmakers has secured a limited block of discounted rooms at an exclusive rate of £295 (Inclusive of VAT) per night. Rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are expected to sell out quickly. Reservation details will be shared with confirmed registrants.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

The 3rd Annual LF Dealmakers Europe will be held on May 11 – 13, 2026 at The Royal Garden Hotel London. It will be co-located with the 3rd Annual IP Dealmakers EuropeYou may find additional information regarding the venue and accommodations on our Venue page

You may register for the event using our online registration system.  Please note that all registrations need to be approved.

All registered attendees will have access to the following:

  • Admission to main conference
  • Networking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptions
  • Online event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messaging
  • Recorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

The LF Dealmakers Forum brings together a select group of leaders in the business community to address critical issues impacting the litigation finance and broader legal landscape. In order to ensure the event has balanced representation from market leaders and to maintain an optimal networking dynamic, we have instituted an approval process for all registrations.

We actively seek thought leaders and senior executives with experience and decision-making power within their respective organizations. We review individual registrations based on organizational profile, level of seniority as represented by job title, biographical information, and referral source.

We consider the type of organization, aiming to achieve a balanced representation of corporate IP owners, licensing company executives, law firm executives, investors, advisors, and other key stakeholders.

Additionally, we look to include perspectives from those that have not previously attended the event, as well as historically underrepresented groups.

Once you have completed your online registration, you will receive an email notification regarding the status of your application within 48 business hours.

Due to capacity limits at our event venue, along with our aim to achieve optimal dynamics for discussion and networking, we must be selective with registration approvals. If your registration was declined, we may have reached venue capacity, or it’s possible that you did not meet the criteria for attendance. We encourage you to reapply the following year.

Alternatively, you may be offered a place on the waiting list if we’ve reached our maximum capacity for your organization type (e.g., law firm, advisor, licensing company, etc.) Additionally, we limit the number of attendees per non-sponsoring organization to two individuals, so you may be offered a place on the waiting list if your organization has already registered two individuals.

Once you submit your registration, a hold will be placed on your card provided during registration. If your registration is approved, your payment will be processed using the credit card information you provide below.

If your registration is declined or you are waitlisted, your credit card will not be charged.

We welcome sponsorship inquiries and discussions regarding how to get involved in the event. Please contact us directly at info(at)dealmakersforums.com to request our prospectus which includes detailed information regarding sponsorship packages and opportunities to get involved in the event. We look forward to hearing from you.

We welcome speaking proposals from industry thought leaders and senior executives. Feel free to submit your proposal via this form. Please include as much detail as possible regarding your interest and relevant experience. Please note that we do not accept sales pitches or allow them at our events. 

Leveraging our experience examining complex markets, we engage in a rigorous market-based research process to develop our program content, including identification of session topics, discussion points, and speakers. We rely on the expertise and valuable insights of our community, including industry advisors, sponsors, and partners in this process.  

Registered participants will be invited to the 1:1 meetings platform via email approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the event start date, at which time all participants may begin scheduling their meetings.

Our 1-to-1 meetings feature is available to all registered attendees. You may request meetings with anyone attending the event, however, meetings are only confirmed and assigned a meeting location once the invited party accepts the request.

Cancellations received before 30 days prior to the event start date will receive a full refund minus processing fees. Cancellations received after this time will receive a credit with Dealmakers Forums that can be used toward a future event. No-shows will not be issued a refund or a credit.

To cancel your registration, contact us at registration(at)dealmakersforums.com with your request.

Substitutions are allowed at any time prior to the start of the event, but the substituting individual must be approved for attendance. If the individual is not approved, the registration will be considered a cancellation subject to the cancellation policy above.

Contact us at registration(at)dealmakersforums.com with your substitution request.

You may reach out to us at info(at)dealmakersforums.com or +1.914.365.7732. We look forward to hearing from you!