LF Dealmakers
MASS TORTS EDITION
SEPTEMBER 17, 2024
NEW YORK CITY
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About The Event
ADVANCING MASS TORT LITIGATION FINANCE
We are excited to introduce the inaugural LF Dealmakers | Mass Torts Edition, taking place on September 17, 2024, in New York City. Building on the legacy of our flagship LF Dealmakers event, this edition focuses on the dynamic intersection of mass torts and litigation finance, a nexus of significant growth and innovation.
LF Dealmakers | Mass Torts Edition is designed to be the definitive gathering for the leading minds and key players across the litigation finance and mass torts landscape. The event aims to bridge the worlds of litigation finance and mass torts, providing a unique platform for litigation funders, plaintiffs’ firms, strategic advisors, and other key stakeholders to explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities.
With a focus on top-tier content and A-list speakers, the event will leverage all the hallmarks of a Dealmakers event, including — top-tier content, A-list speakers, one-to-one meetings, and a carefully curated audience of influential decision-makers to drive discussions and dealmaking.
98Percent
Overall networking was rated very good to excellent
97Percent
Program quality was rated very good to excellent
98Percent
1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent
STATS FROM OUR 2023 ANNUAL FORUM
LF Dealmakers by the numbers
275
Makers
13
SESSIONS
50
SPEAKERS
200+
mettings
EVENT GALLERY
DealmakERS in action
sponsorship opportunities
Become a sponsor
industry-leading discussions
2024 agenda
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 2024
8.30 - 9.15 AM
Registration & Breakfast
9.15 - 9.30 AM
WELCOME AND CHAIRPERSONS’ OPENING REMARKS
Paul Napoli, Founding Partner, Napoli Shkolnik
Steve Nober, Founder & CEO, Consumer Attorney Marketing Group (CAMG)
9.30 - 5.00 PM
ONE-TO-ONE MEETINGS
9.30 - 10.30 AM
THE VIEW FROM THE TOP: THE INTERSECTION OF MASS TORTS AND FUNDING
- How funding is changing the mass tort litigation landscape
- Key players and cases: who’s funding what and how?
- Using tech and AI to manage risk and capitalize on opportunities
- Trends in global mass actions in the UK and Europe
Speakers:
- Scott Hardy, President, Trimaxian (moderator)
- Ed Scanlan, Founder & CEO, Bridge Legal
- Ryan Stephen, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Pine Valley Capital
- Andrew Stulce, Director, Longford Capital
- Leanne Wilson, Managing Director, Contingency Capital
10.30 - 11.00 AM
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
MASS TORTS AT A CROSSROADS: IS WALL STREET MONEY A CATALYST OR COMPLICATION?
Join an intimate and candid conversation between industry pioneers Steven Weisbrot, CEO of Angeion, and Harris Pogust, Founding Partner at Pogust Goodhead, as they delve into one of the most debated topics in mass torts today: the growing role of Wall Street funding. As the influx of capital reshapes the landscape of mass torts, this discussion will explore whether it’s accelerating access to justice or distorting priorities. Weisbrot and Pogust will share their insights on the potential benefits and risks of external funding, how it’s transforming the dynamics between plaintiffs, law firms, and investors, and what the future might hold as big money becomes increasingly embedded in this high-stakes industry.
Speakers:
- Seth Meyer, Managing Partner, Meyer Law Firm (moderator)
- Steven Weisbrot, CEO, Angeion
- Harris Pogust, Founding Partner, Pogust Goodhead
11.00 - 11.30 AM
Networking Break
11.30 - 12.15 PM
GETTING PAID: A BREAKDOWN OF RECENT SETTLEMENTS
- Largest settlements and amounts
- Examining payout priorities and distributions
- How the latest settlements have actually gone down
- Learnings and key takeaways
Speakers:
- Max Doyle, Chief Strategy Officer, Consumer Attorney Marketing Group (CAMG) (moderator)
- Samuel Dolce, VP, Milestone
- Jennifer Hoekstra, Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
- Michael A. London, Founding Partner, Douglas & London
- Eamon Walsh, President, US Market, Advoc8se
12.15 - 1.45 PM
Networking Luncheon
1.45 - 2.30 PM
TRENDS IN UNIQUE FINANCING DEALS AND STRUCTURES
- Traditional vs emerging funding structures
- Evolving trends: alternative business structures and insurance
- Challenges that are shaping deal structures
- What does the future look like?
Speakers:
- Shai Silverman, SVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty (moderator)
- Lisa DiDario, Co-Founder, C Cubed Capital Partners
- Paul Napoli, Founding Partner, Napoli Shkolnik
- Thomas Stoughton, Managing Director, Legis
- Larry Taylor, Managing Partner, The Cochran Firm
2.30 - 3.15 PM
LAW FIRM PERSPECTIVES ON FUNDING: BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNED
- Finding the right funding options and structuring the best deal
- Understanding what funders look for and how they assess risk
- Ensuring ongoing alignment between the firm and funder
- What to do when the partnership goes south
Speakers:
- Gerald Meyer, VP, Investments, Gerchen Capital Partners (moderator)
- Ted Farrell, Founder, Litigation Funding Advisers
- Amanda Fox Perry, Founding Partner, Fox McKenna
- Robert Kinsman, Founding Partner, Krause & Kinsman
- Brett Turnbull, Founding Partner, Turnbull, Holcomb and Moak, P.C.
3.15 - 3.45 PM
Networking Break
3.45 - 4.30 PM
ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS & CONTROVERSIES: CHASING JUSTICE NOT JUST RETURNS
- Unpacking controversies in mass tort advertising and case acquisition
- How to ensure cases are compensable
- Exploring funder control and disclosure issues
- Data transparency and data driven litigation outcomes
Speakers:
- Patrick Luff, Founding Partner, Luff Law Firm (moderator)
- Paul Liebman, VP of Business Development, Torticity
- Steve Nober, Founder & CEO, Consumer Attorney Marketing Group (CAMG)
- Etia Rottman Frand, Head of Litigation Partnerships, Darrow
- Hunter Shkolnik, Partner, Napoli Shkolnik
4.30 - 5.15 PM
HOT TORTS: TOP CURRENT AND EMERGING FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- Current torts
- Emerging torts
- Planning ahead: opportunities and threats for the next 3-5 years
- What torts funders should invest in: how, when, and why
Speakers:
- Anthony Johnson, Managing Partner, The Johnson Firm (moderator)
- Erin Copeland, Partner, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs
- Rayna Kessler, Partner, Mass Tort National Practice Group, Robins Kaplan
- R. Brent Wisner, Managing Partner, Wisner Baum
- Diandra “Fu” Debrosse, Partner, DiCello Levitt
5.15 - 5.25 PM
CHAIRPERSONS’ CLOSING REMARKS
Paul Napoli, Founding Partner, Napoli Shkolnik
Steve Nober, Founder & CEO, Consumer Attorney Marketing Group (CAMG)
6.00 - 8.00 PM
CLOSING DRINKS RECEPTION
For more details and to register for the 7th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum, visit: https://lf.dealmakersforums.com.
FEATURING OUR
2024 SPEAKERS
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Steven Weisbrot
CEO
Angeion
Steven Weisbrot
Prior to Angeion Group, Steven was Director of Class Action Services at a leading class action claims administration company, where he designed and implemented notice and settlement processes. Before that, he spent the better part of a decade in private law practice and was associated with several leading law firms where he concentrated his practice on complex civil cases. Steven received his J.D. degree from Rutgers University School of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree from Rowan University. He is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Harris Pogust
Chairman
Pogust Goodhead
Harris Pogust
Harris Pogust has spent his career representing people who have been injured by the negligence of others and the greed and intentional actions of large corporations across the United States. His work has seen him come up against software companies, manufacturing companies, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as the federal government.
For over thirty years, Harris has been litigating, bringing to trial, and settling claims on behalf of his injured clients. He has over twenty-five years of experience working as lead counsel in class action suits, state court mass tort programs, and federal multidistrict litigations programs.
Harris has testified twice before the United States Senate and has served as lead counsel in numerous landmark class action litigations.
FORUM SPEAKERS
Erin Copeland
Partner
Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs
Erin Copeland
After graduating cum laude from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Arts, Erin Copeland went on to earn her Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law. She has been with Fibich, Leebron, Copeland, Briggs & Josephson ever since, claiming a place as the only female partner. Erin represents personal injury cases in both state and federal courts across the country.
Erin is currently licensed to practice law in Texas and Missouri, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the Southern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Texas, and other jurisdictions by pro hac vice admission. She was recently honored to be admitted to practice law in the United States Supreme Court, and has also been certified as an Attorney Ad Litem in Texas.
Erin Copeland is proud to be the only female who served on both the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in the Pradaxa federal multidistrict litigation pending in the Southern District of Illinois and the federal transvaginal mesh multidistrict litigation pending in the Southern District of West Virginia. She is also the only female to be appointed as State-Federal Liaison Counsel for the Pradaxa MDL.
Aside from handling a wide array of injury cases, Erin also manages transvaginal mesh cases for Fibich, Leebron, Copeland, Briggs & Josephson. She has even served as one of the lead lawyers in a Florida transvaginal mesh case, which resulted in a favorable verdict for four injured women. She is also part of a team of attorneys who represent hundreds of victims in dangerous drug cases.
DIANDRA “FU” DEBROSSE
Partner
DiCello Levitt
Diandra "Fu" Debrosse
Diandra “Fu” Debrosse is a fearless plaintiffs’ attorney who fights unapologetically for individuals and public entities injured by wrongful conduct, whether by defective medical devices, drugs, or cosmetics, environmental contamination, corporate misconduct, or civil rights abuse. Nationally recognized as a powerhouse in mass torts, class actions, products liability, discrimination, and sexual assault claims, Fu has recovered nearly $1 billion in damages for her clients. Blending her exceptional talents in multidistrict and mass tort litigation with state-of-the-art tools, Fu uses sophisticated modeling to identify technology-based and other forms of discrimination, including environmental injustice, defective devices, and unfair insurance practices.
As the managing partner of DiCello Levitt’s Birmingham office and co-chair of both the firm’s Mass Torts Litigation Practice Group and its Civil and Human Rights Litigation Practice Group, Fu holds prominent leadership positions in numerous multidistrict litigations. She is co-lead counsel in the massive products liability MDL against two of the world’s largest infant formula manufacturers, Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson, and in the MDL against L’Oréal and other makers of disease-causing hair relaxer products marketed primarily to Black and Latina women. Fu also holds leadership positions in several other significant MDLs, including the litigation against Chevron and Syngenta for their marketing and sale of the disease-causing herbicide paraquat, as well as the social media MDL in which the plaintiffs are seeking damages against Meta Platforms, TikTok, YouTube, and others for creating defective products that encourage addictive behavior, resulting in various emotional and physical harms, including death.
Fu also leads many systematic civil rights and sexual assault cases; represents the City of Baltimore in legal actions addressing the catastrophic Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse; represents Attorneys General in various actions and investigations; and represents over 50 municipalities in two separate nationwide prescription opiate MDLs.
Lisa DiDario
Co-Founder
C Cubed Capital Partners
Lisa DiDario
Lisa is a litigation industry veteran, having come up the ranks supporting defense and plaintiff litigation attorneys. She started her career in 1998 with McFarlain, Wiley, Cassedy and Jones, focused on insurance defense nursing home defense. Over the next many years, she worked on such matters as ranging from medical chronologies, discovery preparation, organization for trial, witness research and overall case management, helping her build a strong understanding of every step in the litigation process, what to review, when to file, etc. In 2005, Lisa launched her own independent legal consulting practice, assisting smaller plaintiff and defense law firms with their litigation needs, including discovery, witness prep, witness retention, case reviews and the like. Today, she leverages her experience to help attorneys understand the benefits of litigation finance to growing their law firms.
Samuel Dolce
Vice President
Milestone
Samuel Dolce
As an attorney/VP at Milestone, Sam Dolce oversees the legal department and the establishment of qualified settlement funds. Sam is an expert in streamlining post-settlement processes, often serving as the face of the company at legal conferences and judicial hearings. As a pioneer of Pathway®, Milestone’s mass tort qualified settlement fund platform, Sam has helped push the industry forward to new heights. He is passionate about justice for survivors and spearheaded the trauma-informed care trainings attended by all Milestone staff. Outside of the office, Sam enjoys spending time with his family and cheers on his hometown team, the Buffalo Bills.
Max Doyle
Chief Strategy Officer
Consumer Attorney Marketing Group (CAMG)
Max Doyle
Max recently joined CAMG as Chief Strategy Officer, where he oversees capital sourced from institutional partners, funders, and family offices. With a long track record in litigation finance and mass tort financing, Max was previously CEO of New York-based LexShares and Head of North America for London-based Augusta Ventures. He has over 20 years of experience as an international investor in alternative assets, including structured credit, private equity, and other non-traditional investments. Max has held senior roles at two large family offices in Canada and is a seasoned investor across multiple asset classes, with extensive experience in banking, securitization, and insurance markets.
Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Max now resides in Toronto with his family. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Studies (Banking & Finance) from University College Dublin. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, fitness, and is a long-suffering Toronto Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan.
Ted Farrell
Founder
Litigation Funding
Advisers
Ted Farrell
Ted Farrell is the Founder of Litigation Funding Advisers, (“LFA”), a full-service legal finance advisory firm. Recognized by Chambers and Partners as one of the leading Litigation Finance Brokers in the United States, he leverages his experience as both a user of litigation funding in private practice and his time working for a global legal finance firm to secure optimal funding solutions for law firms and claim holders. Additionally, he is frequently engaged by investment firms to provide advice on secondary transactions.
Before founding LFA, he was a Managing Director at Vannin Capital responsible for originating, underwriting and negotiating transactions with law firms and claimants across the globe.
Prior to Vannin, Mr. Farrell was a Partner at RuyakCherian LLP, which he joined after years as an associate at Winston & Strawn, LLP. Mr. Farrell has litigated a wide variety of antitrust, intellectual property and other commercial disputes in state and federal courts across the United States with hundreds of millions of dollars in controversy.
A graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Farrell is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and numerous federal trial and appellate courts across the country.
Amanda Fox Perry
Founding Partner
Fox McKenna
Amanda Fox Perry
Amanda Fox represents hostages and victims of terrorist attacks in lawsuits against foreign governments and organizations that provide material support to terrorist organizations including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Taliban. She also brings claims against financial institutions and platforms that aid and abet terrorism in violation of sanctions and trade practices. Amanda’s clients include U.S. citizens and foreign nationals who were injured or killed in the U.S. Embassy bombings in Lebanon, Kenya, and Tanzania, as well as victims of the September 11th attacks and the 1983 Marines Barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon. She has secured judgments exceeding $300 million and has recovered significant proceeds of those judgments from the governments of Iran and Sudan through claims resolutions, enforcement actions, and the U.S. Victims of State Sponsors of Terrorism Fund. She spent the first decade of her professional career working for the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs where she focused on border security, trans-national crime, and intelligence. Amanda’s political experience gives her a unique understanding of the legislative process and the wide range of geopolitical and diplomatic variables that often impact her terrorism cases. Her broad network in Washington, D.C. and access to relevant policymakers allows her to stay informed of key events and legislative developments that influence her cases and shape the landscape of future litigation.
Scott Hardy
President
Trimaxian
Scott Hardy
For over sixteen years, Scott Hardy has led the charge for consumers–this journey began with the creation of Top Class Actions. During that time he’s helped drive hundreds of millions of claims in mass litigation around the world. Scott is also the founder of one of Arizona’s first non-lawyer-owned law firms, which is currently representing clients nationwide with a docket value swiftly approaching an estimated $500,000,000.
Scott’s latest venture, Trimaxian, aims to become the largest consumer-litigation-focused mass litigation funder in the world. Trimaxian will connect private equity and family offices to opportunities easily through its secure and private online platform. The investments stay within the ecosystem created by Scott so that Trimaxian is the only mass litigation fund whose manager controls the fund, law firm, and marketing agency, ensuring investments are expertly managed from deployment through capital return.
Jennifer Hoekstra
Partner
Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
Jennifer Hoekstra
Jennifer M. Hoekstra is a partner with Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC. She earned her earned Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science from Columbia College, Columbia University in the City of New York. She relocated to Louisiana to attend Tulane Law School, where she earned her J.D. while also completing a certificate in Environmental Law. Jennifer has been involved in complex litigation cases of all forms since 2007. Her passion and expertise lies in Electronically Stored Information and coordinating discovery across multiple defendant litigations. She has earned a solid reputation and plays an integral role multiple complex litigation cases, practicing in the areas of Pharmaceutical Mass Torts, Defective Device Mass Torts, and other complex litigation. Ms. Hoekstra is currently on the Plaintiffs Executive Committee for the MDL 3060 Hair Relaxer and MDL 2789 Proton-Pump Inhibitors Products Liability Litigations. Additionally, Jennifer is a passionate litigator and has been central to the successful outcome in dozens of MDL bellwether trials over the course of her career with more than $11 Billion in trial verdicts to her credit. Most recently in 2021 and 2022, she served as trial counsel and/or as an integral member of the trial team in all of the sixteen 3M Earplug trials securing more than $300 Million in compensatory damages for military veterans.
Anthony Johnson
Managing Partner
The Johnson Firm
Anthony Johnson
Anthony Johnson is the CEO and Founder of Stellium and Johnson Firm. He’s disrupting the legal industry through relentless technology and data innovation, promoting greater access to justice and standardization. Johnson received a BA in computer engineering from the University of Arkansas and a Juris Doctorate from UALR Bowen School of Law. With a deep understanding of legal, technological, and marketing domains, AJ advocates cross-disciplinary collaboration to explore new solutions and opportunities. He has championed technology as a critical driver of efficiency in the industry, and by focusing on community-building, he aims to create a powerful movement for change that inspires others to join them on the journey toward a brighter future for the legal industry.
The American Bar Association Journal has recognized him for his contributions to the legal industry and entrepreneurship as America’s Techiest Lawyer. AJ has also been recognized by the Forbes Young Entrepreneur and Legal Council and Empact Showcase’s top 100 Entrepreneurs in the USA. Other companies in his portfolio where he has direct involvement include Attorney Group and Datavative, which align with Stellium’s vision of disrupting the legal industry together. Stellium is actively expanding its alliance beyond AJ’s portfolio and is seeking those brave enough to become the change needed across the legal industry.
For more information on AJ, click this link for his website: https://www.awesomeattorney.io/
Rayna Kessler
Partner
Robins Kaplan
Rayna Kessler
Rayna Kessler is a partner in the New York City office of Robins Kaplan LLP. She specializes in navigating complex civil and multivenue litigation, including products liability, medical malpractice, along with pharmaceutical and medical devices.
With a reputation built on pioneering work in mass tort litigation, she is often at the forefront of emerging legal battles, such as the Benicar multidistrict litigation. She is also widely recognized for her advocacy on behalf of survivors of child sex abuse against large institutions, including the Catholic Church and the Jehovah’s Witnesses. In recent milestones, Rayna was appointed as MDL Liaison Counsel for Exactech’s knee, hip, and ankle replacement device litigation, which is currently pending in the Eastern District of New York.
Her contributions to the legal profession have garnered numerous accolades and recognitions, including multiple awards from the New Jersey Law Journal for her outstanding contributions to the legal community. She has been consistently honored as a “New York Rising Star” by Super Lawyers and was recognized as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” in 2024. Crain’s New York Business also featured her on their prestigious “Notable Women in Law List” in 2023.
Rayna currently serves as a board member for Public Justice and is a founding board member for Collective Liberty.
Robert Kinsman
Founding Partner
Krause & Kinsman
Robert Kinsman
Robert L. Kinsman is devoted to bringing large-scale results to a wide arrange of clients. Robert has been at the forefront of some of the most unique cases in the country. Since his firm opened less than 10 years ago, almost one hundred thousand consumers have hired Krause & Kinsman as their attorneys. K&K has developed some of the most innovative client relations systems in the legal space. Aside from client engagement, Robert plays a significant leadership role in each of his cases, whether it be case investigation and development, science and expert development, bellwether selection, settlement negotiation and coordination, trial and trial preparation, or briefing case-defining motions and case management orders. Robert currently sits on the Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the Camp Lejeune litigation and the Plaintiffs Steering Committee in the Bard Hernia Mesh MDL.
Paul Liebman
VP of Business Development
Torticity
Paul Liebman
MICHAEL LONDON
Founding Partner
Douglas & London
Michael London
Michael A. London is one of the founding partners of the law firm Douglas & London, P.C., located in downtown New York City. Mr. London obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and his Juris Doctor degree from Brooklyn Law School in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. London is admitted and licensed to practice law in the States of New York and New Jersey, as well as in the United States District Courts for the Eastern District, Southern District, and Western District of New York, as well as the District of New Jersey.
Since obtaining his law degree, he has devoted his entire career to representing consumers and injury victims, primarily in mass tort settings. His practice area in the law has always focused on and continues to focus on, products liability and complex litigation with an emphasis on pharmaceutical and medical device litigation.
Mr. London has been privileged and honored to have been appointed to, and have served, as lead or liaison counsel in some of the largest national mass tort and complex litigations in recent years.
Patrick Luff
Founding Partner
Luff Law Firm
Patrick Luff
Patrick is a nationally recognized mass torts litigator who has obtained a number of significant victories for his clients, including a $15.4 million wrongful death judgment and a precedent-setting federal appeal. Patrick has served as Co-Liaison (Lead) Counsel in the Texas MDL In re: Winter Storm Uri Litigation, and on the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for In re: Paragard IUD Products Liability Litigation, In re: Recalled Abbott Infant Formula Products Liability Litigation, and In re: Acetaminophen – ASD/ADHD Products Liability Litigation.
Prior to entering practice, Patrick spent several years as a professor of law. While at the University of Oklahoma, Arizona State University, and Washington and Lee University. During this time, Patrick established himself as a national authority on mass torts. Between law school and teaching, he did doctoral work at the University of Oxford on the regulatory role of litigation.
Gerald Meyer
VP, Investments
Gerchen Capital Partners
Gerald Meyer
Gerald Meyer serves as Vice President, Investments at Gerchen Capital Partners, where he is responsible for identifying and evaluating investments, as well as managing underwriting and due diligence processes.
Gerald has evaluated litigation investments across a wide variety of substantive law and across an array of domestic and international jurisdictions. Prior to joining GCP, Gerald was a Partner at MoloLamken LLP, where he represented groups of plaintiffs in class actions, multidistrict litigation, and arbitrations. His significant legal experience spans the life of litigation, from origination, evaluation, and filing strategy to trial, appeal, and judgment enforcement. His experience included leading trial teams in state and federal courts, leading arbitration teams, working with economic experts, taking depositions, briefing and arguing appeals before the state and federal courts of appeal, and briefing cases before the Supreme Court of the United States.
Previously, Gerald was an Associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where he advised clients on a broad array of transactional matters, including securities issuances, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, and international tax planning. Gerald also served as a law clerk for Judge G. Steven Agee of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Judge Robert R. Beezer of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Gerald graduated summa cum laude from The University of Illinois College of Law, where he also served as the Editor-in-Chief of the University of Illinois Law Review.
Paul Napoli
Founding Partner
Napoli Shkolnik
Paul Napoli
Mr. Napoli brings more than 31 years of legal experience to his primary areas of practice, including governmental affairs, environmental law and mass tort litigation. He is widely recognized as one of the country’s top litigators, having successfully led numerous high-profile cases such as the World Trade Center litigation, the Flint Water Crisis and claims brought on behalf of local cities and states involving the Opioid Epidemic.
Most recently Paul successfully negotiated two historic class action settlements in the multi-district litigation over the contamination of drinking water with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) resulting from the widespread use of aqueous film-forming foam (“AFFF”). As one of the court-appointed Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsels in the litigation, he was a key negotiator in the $1.185 billion agreement with DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva as well as the $12.5 billion agreement with 3M Company.
Well-known for his ability to oversee large-scale complex cases involving large multi-billion corporations, Paul’s wins run the gamut of issues from defective pharmaceutical drugs, such as the diet drug Phen-fen, to environmental contamination caused by ExxonMobil petroleum additive leaks.
He is annually selected to the invitation-only Super Lawyers® list and is recommended as a leading lawyer by Best Lawyers in America, Lawyers of Distinction and Legal 500 US.
Mr. Napoli serves on the Board of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, was named to Law360’s 2020 Editorial Boards in the Environmental Category and was chose as a recipient of Law360’s 2020 MVP Awards: Environmental.
Steve Nober
Founder & CEO
Consumer Attorney Marketing Group
Steve Nober
Steve Nober, the founder and CEO of Consumer Attorney Marketing Group (CAMG), has been a significant force and innovator in the legal marketing industry for over 15 years. Often hailed as the Mass Tort Whisperer℠, Nober earned his reputation through over a decade of spearheading successful mass tort campaigns and fostering close relationships with top handling firms, showcasing unparalleled expertise in the mass tort arena. He is a sought-after speaker, presenting at over 40 conferences annually, across the United States and globally, covering a range of topics, including best marketing practices, ethics in advertising, and litigation funding.
Under Nober’s leadership, CAMG has grown into the largest fully integrated legal marketing agency in the United States, steadfastly committed to its core values of ethics first, transparency, innovation, and efficiency.
With a remarkable career spanning over 30 years, Steve Nober has demonstrated executive leadership and innovation in marketing, media management, and digital and computer technologies. His experience includes managing mergers and acquisitions, corporate turnarounds, and startups. In the advertising sector, his specialties include direct response marketing, digital and offline advertising, and lead generation strategies, as well as media buying and analysis, particularly focused on the legal sector.
Etia Rottman Frand
Head of Litigation Partnerships
Darrow
Etia Rottman Frand
Etia is the Head of Litigation Partnerships at Darrow. She is an attorney and has previously worked at Kirkland & Ellis as a litigator. Etia holds two law degrees from both Columbia Law School and Tel Aviv University, and clerked for the Deputy Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of Israel.
Ed Scanlan
Founder & CEO
Bridge Legal
Ed Scanlan
Ed is the Founder and CEO of Bridge Legal. Launched in 2018, Bridge Legal stands as the leading platform for high-volume litigation firms and funders offering comprehensive solutions for capital deployment, client acquisition, and case maturation. Bridge’s software platform, Bridgify, provides predictive analytics to manage risk and improve ROI for funders and firms.
Prior to Bridge, Ed founded and was CEO of Total Attorneys. Since its inception in 2002, Total Attorneys was a pioneer in legal technology and digital marketing, inventing the legal lead generation industry and growing to serve thousands of law firms across the United States until its sale to Internet Brands in 2014.
In 2021, Ed launched the specialty finance company Ute Capital, which provides capital to firms building mass tort portfolios. In 2022, Ute raised a $50MM institutional facility to fund its strategies.
Ed was inducted into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, was listed in Crain’s Chicago Business 40 under 40, named Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Young CEO of the Year, and was a Midwest Finalist for the Ernest and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He has been featured in multiple publications, including the New York Times, Business Week, Inc., Smart Money, Crain’s Chicago Business, and the Chicago Tribune.
Hunter Shkolnik
Partner
Napoli Shkolnik
Hunter Shkolnik
Hunter Shkolnik is a partner of nationally renowned litigation firm Napoli Shkolnik where he leads the firm’s discovery and trial teams. He brings more than 40 years of litigation experience to the representation of government entities in the national opioid cost recovery litigation, mass tort pharmaceutical & medical device litigations and environmental contamination cases.
Mr. Shkolnik has successfully tried bench and jury trials and has argued before numerous state, federal, and appellate courts throughout the country. He currently serves as a chairman, leader, or court-appointed representative on Plaintiff Steering Committees in various drug and other mass torts.
Hunter is a founding board member of the Trial Lawyers of Puerto Rico (TLPR), a trade association bringing together top trial lawyers to share expertise, build partnerships, and to add value to the local Puerto Rico community. A sought-after speaker, he returned as a featured speaker at the Mass Torts Puerto Rico conference in May 2024.
For his numerous legal achievements, Mr. Shkolnik has been recognized by the legal industry. Notably, he was selected by Best Lawyers in America® as a Best Lawyer in the areas of Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability – Plaintiffs; been named to New York Super Lawyers® for 16+ consecutive years; and been included in Law360’s Product Liability Advisory Board.
Shai Silverman
SVP, Contingent Risk
CAC Specialty
Shai Silverman
Ryan Stephen
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Pine Valley Capital Partners
Ryan Stephen
Ryan Stephen is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Pine Valley Capital Partners, a boutique private credit manager focused on post-settlement and late-stage litigation finance. He has led, originated, or managed more than $2 Billion in private financing transactions since 2009. Before co-founding Pine Valley, Mr. Stephen served as Chief Financial Officer for Trinity Environmental, a privately-held oilfield midstream company. Prior to Trinity, he sourced, structured, and managed private credit and equity investments with Guggenheim Partners. Mr. Stephen resides in Austin, TX with his wife and their three children.
Thomas Stoughton
Managing Director
Legis
Thomas Stoughton
Andrew Stulce
Director
Longford Capital
Andrew Stulce
Andrew is a Director of Longford Capital. He is responsible for investment sourcing, due diligence, and monitoring of portfolio investments.
Andrew is an accomplished attorney with more than ten years of experience working on complex and high-value litigation and arbitration. After serving as a law clerk in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Andrew spent the bulk of his career in private practice in the litigation departments of Hunton & Williams LLP (now Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP) and McGuireWoods LLP.
Andrew also teaches a litigation finance course as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens, Georgia.
Larry Taylor
Managing Partner
The Cochran Firm
Larry Taylor
As Larry ascended to the leadership role in the MDL litigation, he recognized that he was often the only one who looked like him at the table. In an attempt to rectify the lack of diversity in this area of litigation, Larry partnered with five mass tort attorneys of color to form Shades of Mass.
Larry has served in leadership roles with American Association of Justice (“AAJ”), a national trial lawyer organization, and the Texas Trial Lawyers Association (“TTLA”) as a mentor to young lawyers and to increase diversity in the membership that has historically been predominantly Caucasian. Because of his efforts in both organizations, Larry has been recognized with the 2022 Minority Caucus Stalwart Award and the American Association of Justice Distinguished Service Award.
Attorney Taylor has been recognized for his professionalism, ethical conduct, and his advocacy to civil justice. In 2021, Larry was honored to be presented with the David S. Shrager President’s Award from American Association of Justice (AAJ). The award recognizes an AAJ member who has demonstrated former AAJ President David Shrager’s passion for the law and trial bar, and who has made an outstanding contribution to civil justice. Larry was the first person of color to receive the award. Additionally, he was recognized as the National Trial Lawyers Top 100.
Brett Turnbull
Founding Partner
Turnbull, Holcomb and Moak, P.C.
Brett Turnbull
Brett Turnbull is a trial lawyer from Alabama with a national practice wherein he has been lead trial counsel in cases from coast to coast. He is the managing partner of Turnbull, Holcomb & Moak, PC with law offices in Birmingham, AL, Atlanta, GA and Houston, TX.
Brett has more than a decade of successful courtroom experience in almost all areas of complex, personal injury litigation including trucking, product liability, car crashes, traumatic brain injury, medical malpractice, and nursing home malpractice. Brett has received jury verdicts of 21.5 million, 9 million, and 5 million in product liability and medical malpractice cases in multiple states.
In addition to his successful law practice, Brett is also a founding member and instructor of Trial Structure, co-founder of the National Brain Injury Lawyer organization, and has served in leadership positions with the Alabama Association for Justice, Alabama State Bar, American Association for Justice, and The Southern Trial Lawyers Association. He has been named a top-rated Super Lawyer for almost a decade and is regarded as one of the top up and coming trial lawyers in the United States.
Brett has more than a decade of successful courtroom experience in complex litigation, including trucking cases, product liability, automobile defects, pediatric burns, traumatic brain injury, and nursing home malpractice. Brett is licensed in four states and has taken 70 jury trials to verdict. In the last few years alone, Brett has received jury verdicts of $21.5 million, including $9 million in product liability cases and $5 million in medical malpractice cases.
Beyond the verdicts, Brett takes great pride in helping others. “The thing that I enjoy most about my job is that I get to take up the part of the underdog and stand up for those who have been wronged,” he says. “There is more to this job than just money, and that feels good.”
Eamon Walsh
President, Americas
Advoc8se
Eamon Walsh
Eamon Walsh serves as the President, Americas at Advoc8se.io, where he leads the growth team for the Claimant Docket Surveillance Technology platform. In this role, he drives client capital maximization across alternative asset classes, focusing on litigation finance, distressed debt, and special situations, with an emphasis on complex and private illiquid investments.
Walsh is responsible for the full litigation life cycle of investment activities from investment initiation to investment realization. Further, he has oversight realization of investor and litigation partners communications and portfolio company support as well as management of the financial and administrative functions of the firm.
In addition to his leadership at Advoc8se.io, Walsh is the Managing Partner at LevelSeven, an interdisciplinary firm at the intersection of legal and finance. Here, he guides clients in developing first-party claimant data strategies, building comprehensive back-office case management systems, and spearheading data visualization initiatives for firms focused on securitizing litigation as an asset class.
Prior to founding LevelSeven, Walsh held senior positions at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Publicis Group, and IBM, where he led complex data, digital, and collaboration programs. With over 15 years of experience in Fortune 100 system architecture, his career has consistently fused data, technology, and analytics to drive innovation in product development and data monetization.
Walsh holds an MBA from the Babson Olin School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Bentley University.
Leanne Wilson
Managing Director
Contingency Capital
Leanne Wilson
Leanne Wilson is a Managing Director at Contingency Capital.
Leanne was formerly an Analyst on the litigation finance desk at Sculptor Capital (formerly known as Och-Ziff).
Prior to working at Sculptor Capital, Leanne was Counsel at Grais & Ellsworth LLP, where she represented investment funds, the Federal Home Loan Banks, and the FDIC in litigation related to residential mortgage-backed securities and other structured products.
Leanne began her legal career at Mayer Brown LLP in the appellate litigation group.
Leanne has a JD from Columbia University School of Law, an MBA from McMaster University (Ontario, Canada), and a BSc from Queen’s University at Kingston (Ontario, Canada).
R. Brent Wisner
Managing Partner
Wisner Baum
R. Brent Wisner
R. Brent Wisner is the managing partner and lead trial attorney at Wisner Baum. Recognized as one of America’s 50 Most Influential Trial Lawyers by Trial Lawyer Magazine, Brent has built a reputation for taking on large corporations in high-stakes litigation and securing significant verdicts and settlements for clients.
Brent has litigated cases against companies, including Bayer, Eli Lilly, Forest Labs, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Monsanto, Pfizer, Sanofi, and Takeda. He has obtained multiple verdicts totaling $2.427 billion and negotiated mass tort settlements exceeding $1 billion. In 2019, he became the youngest attorney in U.S. history to win a multi-billion-dollar jury verdict with a $2 billion Roundup cancer verdict against Monsanto.
Wisner Baum is leading several mass torts, including the Zantac cancer litigation in California, where Brent serves as Co-Lead Counsel for the Ranitidine Product Cases JCCP-5150 with over 5,000 cases filed. He also serves as Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead National Counsel for the Delaware state court Zantac litigation with more than 72,000 cases filed. In May 2024, the judge overseeing the Delaware litigation greenlighted the cases for trial, finding the plaintiffs’ experts reliable and admissible.
Brent is also Co-Lead Counsel for the Baby Food Products Liability multidistrict litigation (MDL-3101) in San Francisco with two of his partners on the PSC, representing plaintiffs alleging toxic heavy metals in commercial baby food caused autism or ADHD. In 2023, Brent’s team achieved unprecedented class certification for the first non-settlement national RICO class action lawsuit against Big Pharma. The case against Takeda and Eli Lilly, alleges the companies conspired to conceal the cancer risk associated with the diabetes drug Actos.
Some of Brent’s awards include “Civil Plaintiffs Trial Lawyer of the Year,” “Elite Trial Lawyers,” “Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar,” Daily Journal’s “Top Plaintiffs Lawyers” and “Top 100 Lawyers” and induction into the Verdicts Hall of Fame.
read more about OUR
2024 SPONSORS
Platinum sponsorS
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.
Napoli Shkolnik is a law firm with an international presence providing representation in large-scale litigation primarily in the areas of class actions, product liability and pharmaceutical matters, complex commercial litigation, mass torts, and environmental law. With a client-focused approach, our dedicated team of attorneys and staff have a track record of success achieving results for individuals, as well as municipalities and governmental entities. Our lawyers are consistently industry recognized, notably by Super Lawyers®, The National Trial Lawyers, and Best Lawyers® in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Headquartered in New York, the firm has additional offices across the United States, as well as affiliate offices in Puerto Rico and Canada, affording the resources and reach to effectively pursue difficult cases and win favorable outcomes for our clients.
GOLD sponsorS
CAC Specialty’s Contingent & Litigation Risk Solutions Group is an integrated team of seasoned corporate litigators and senior investment bankers. Whether you are a litigation finance group, law firm, or corporate litigant, CAC’s industry-leading team can help you protect against downside litigation risk, lock in a core value to a legal asset, secure non-recourse financing to bring forward litigation proceeds, and decrease your cost of capital. CAC Specialty brings an innovative, proactive approach to insurance broking and structured solutions to solve your risk challenges – from the simple to the previously unsolvable.
Longford Capital is a leading private investment company providing capital to law firms, public and private companies, universities, and others involved in large-scale, commercial legal disputes. Longford was one of the first litigation funds in the U.S. and is among the world’s largest litigation finance companies with more than $1.2 billion in assets under management. Longford offers a range of solutions to fund litigation costs and manage the financial risks of litigation. The firm invests in a variety of areas, including, contract breaches, antitrust/trade regulation, intellectual property (patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret), bankruptcy, arbitrations, insurance matters, and mass/class actions.
SILVER sponsorS
Advoc8se.io enhances asset visibility and provides investors with the tools to manage mass tort collateral with precision. Our platform offers comprehensive insights into the operational performance of law firms, ensuring that cases are rigorously documented, qualified, communicated, and compensable financial maturation is realized. By delivering enhanced collateral surveillance, Advoc8se.io helps you navigate the complexities of litigation finance, providing the clarity and control necessary to optimize your portfolio and drive better financial outcomes.
Bridge Legal has developed the world's first global LitFinTech platform, Bridgify. With over a billion dollars in case assets on our platform, we empower industry-leading litigation funders by streamlining enhanced data management, fund administration, and intelligent outcome forecasting. Bridgify also improves ROI for high-volume law firms and ABSs through AI-enabled client acquisition and case maturation workflows. Bridge Legal and its technology are at the forefront of the rapidly evolving intersection of funders, firms, and clients.
Contingency Capital is a global asset management business focused on credit oriented legal assets. Contingency Capital invests in a broad spectrum of legal assets where the primary driver of value is related to a legal, tax or regulatory process. The firm’s investment strategy combines litigation expertise with a fundamental credit approach to build diversified pools of legal assets and structures them to create non-binary outcomes with sustainable credit-like returns.
Darrow is an AI-powered legal intelligence platform on a mission to fuel law firm growth and deliver justice for victims of class and mass action lawsuits. By leveraging generative AI and world-class legal experts and technologists, Darrow uncovers egregious violations across legal domains spanning privacy and data breach, consumer protection, securities and financial fraud, environment, and employment. Darrow is based out of New York City and Tel Aviv.
Milestone streamlines mass tort QSF administration through innovative technology and provides tailored plaintiff settlement planning. Milestone’s mission is to bring efficiency, transparency, and education to law firms and their clients after settlement.
Pine Valley Capital Partners is a global asset management firm focused on post-settlement and late-stage litigation finance. We deploy senior corporate loans to law firms using their fees receivable from settlements as collateral. Our differentiated approach seeks to eliminate principal risk, manage timing risk, and provide top-caliber risk adjusted returns through creative and aligned investment structures.
Winning Through Innovation: Strategic Solutions in Personal Injury, Mass Tort, and Lien Resolution. Torticity transforms your practice with our proprietary technology-driven services, offering real-time visibility of case progress and seamless support from post-intake to the time of settlement. The future of legal services, powered by cutting-edge technology and comprehensive support, is here to help you deliver the win.
BRONZE SPONSOR
Case Works is a leading case development and client engagement solution for mass tort and personal injury law firms. The company creates financial leverage for firms by driving high case conversion and increasing asset value.
A leading global corporate and trust services provider with over $13B of assets under administration, Dominion offers consulting, wealth management, and corporate finance opportunities for contingent-fee plaintiff law firms through its subsidiary Dominion Plaintiff Bar Consulting Services LLC.
Turnbull, Holcomb & Moak is a personal injury law firm with locations in Birmingham, Atlanta, and Houston. We are renowned for securing substantial settlements and trial victories nationwide. Our expert team handles a wide range of catastrophic injury claims, consistently achieving significant compensation for our clients.
KEYNOTE SPONSOR
Angeion Group stands at the forefront of settlement administration and legal noticing services. Leveraging advanced technology, proven best practices, and expert consulting, Angeion specializes in managing class actions, mass torts, and collective redress administration. Angeion's dedication to efficiency, accountability, and excellence instills confidence in counsel and the court alike. Angeion also engages in exhaustive Collateral Examination for funders to verify the quality, completeness, and sufficiency of underlying case collateral and to help estimate take up and redemption rate as part of due diligence.
CLOSING RECEPTION
Gerchen Capital Partners is a private investment manager dedicated to secondary transactions in legal assets. We provide law firms, companies, and other investment firms with innovative capital solutions related to complex litigation and arbitration. With access to vast resources, and more than a decade of experience investing in legal and regulatory risk, we pride ourselves on our ability to move with calculated speed to structure transactions that suit the needs of our clients.
Trimaxian allows accredited investors and family offices to easily participate in litigation funding globally. Our goal is to greatly increase access to justice for billions of people around the world. Trimaxian specializes in funding mass tort and mass action cases.
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Become a sponsor
main event VENUE
APELLA EVENT SPACE
The 2024 LF Dealmakers | Mass Torts Edition will be held at one of New York City’s finest venues, Apella Event Space. It is located at 450 East 29th Street on the 2nd Floor between 1st Avenue and the East River.
The private circular driveway is accessible from the east side of 1st Avenue at 29th Street. Cars may pull up to the circular drive directly in front of the building for drop off.
For more information on attending this conference in NYC, including transportation and parking details, visit the Apella website at: apella.com.
closing reception venue
Royalton park ave
UPDATE: Discounted rooms are sold out.
We have secured a limited number of discounted rooms for registered attendees at our nearby Opening Reception venue, Royalton Park Ave. Our exclusive rate is $499 + tax per night. Discounted rooms are available on a first come, first served basis until Friday, August 23rd.
lodging options
nearby hotels
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
GENERAL FAQs
The LF Dealmakers | Mass Torts Edition is a one-day conference taking place on September 17, 2024 at Apella Event Space located at 450 E. 29th Street, New York, NY 10016. The closing reception on September 17, 2024 will be held offsite at Royalton Park Avenue.
You can view the detailed event agenda by visiting our agenda page.
The LF Dealmakers | Mass Torts Edition main conference will be held on September 17, 2024 at Apella Event Space located at 450 E. 29th Street, New York, NY 10016. The closing reception on September 17, 2024 will be held offsite at Royalton Park Ave
The main conference venue, Apella Event Space, does not offer lodging, however, there are many hotels in close proximity to the space. For your convenience, we’ve assembled a map of nearby hotels on our venue page. Please note that Dealmakers Forums does not have arrangements with these hotels. All participants are responsible for their own accommodations and must arrange them directly with the hotel.
You may register for the event using our online registration system. Please note that all registrations need to be approved.
No. The LF Dealmakers | Mass Torts Edition is a separate one-day conference taking place on September 17, preceding the 7th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum. You may register for one or both events using our online registration system.
If you’re already registered for LF Dealmakers | Mass Torts and would like to upgrade and add the 7th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum, please contact us at registration (at) dealmakersforums.com.
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 | Mass Torts Edition brings together a select group of leaders in the business community to address critical issues impacting the litigation finance and mass torts sectors. 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 litigation funders, plaintiff’s firms, strategic 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 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.
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.
You may reach out to us at info(at)dealmakersforums.com or +1.914.365.7732. We look forward to hearing from you!