Dealmakers Forums

Europe
2026-05-11 08:00 - 2026-05-13 17:00 UTC | London, London, United Kingdom
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2026

Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND | NEW YORK

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About The Event

WHERE CAPITAL, CLAIMS, AND STRATEGY MEET

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum returns to New York in September 2026, bringing together the funders, law firms, investors, corporates and specialist advisors driving the next phase of legal finance. Now in its ninth year, LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is the flagship meeting point for senior decision-makers across legal finance. The 2026 program focuses on the market questions shaping capital formation, deployment, regulation, liquidity, law firm strategy, AI, insurance and the evolving firm-funder relationship. Co-located with LF Dealmakers Mass Torts, the Forum creates a unique platform connecting the full legal finance ecosystem under one roof — from commercial litigation and plaintiff firms to institutional capital and strategic partners. The result is a highly connected environment built around originating relationships, accessing opportunities, and driving real commercial outcomes.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

LF Dealmakers by the numbers

275+

DecisionMakers

160+

AttendingCOMPANIES

300+

one to onemettings

50+

EXPERT SPEAKERS

10+

Hours of dedicated networking

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

Focused sessions

Tackling capital formation, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms shaping the future of legal finance

Dedicated content streams

Tailored tracks for mass torts, litigation funders, and law firms designed to deliver a more personalised and relevant experience across the legal finance ecosystem

Market-leading plenaries and keynotes

Exploring the forces reshaping legal finance, capital deployment, regulation, and law firm strategy

New interactive formats

Including masterclasses, deep dives, Dealmakers’ rundowns, and practical case studies designed for actionable insight

New closed-door boardrooms

Designed for deeper, candid conversations among senior industry leaders and decision-makers

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform

Facilitating targeted introductions, strategic partnerships, and business opportunities

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WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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100percent

ROI rated very good to excellent

100percent

Would highly recommend to a colleague

98percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

"LF Dealmakers is our must attend litigation finance conference in New York each year. The attendees are well-curated, the speakers are experienced and compelling, and the event is impeccably organized."

— Molly Pease | Curiam Capital

"I had been told that LF Dealmakers is the best litigation finance conferences there is. After having spent two days listening to panels of experts and conveniently meeting with folks, I can understand why. I plan to be back next year."

— Marc Carmel | McDonald Hopkins

"LF Dealmakers is a go-to event for litigation finance. Dealmakers Forums runs an excellent program, which is always informative, well-organized, and attracts a good cross-section from the industry and beyond."

— Zachary Krug | NorthWall Capital

"LF Dealmakers is one of the very best conferences dedicated to the litigation finance industry. It is an incredibly well-run event, and brings together a broad range of attendees, including prominent litigation funders, law firms, investors, clients, academics, and media. The content is excellent, and the networking opportunities are second to none."

— Michael Nicolas | Longford Capital

"The Dealmakers team has put together yet another successful, informative, and productive litigation finance conference! LF Dealmakers continues to lead the industry in bringing together top talent and shaping the growth of this market."

— Rebecca Berrebi | Avenue 33, LLC

"As a first time attendee and speaker, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but LF Dealmakers exceeded my expectations. The room was full of relevant and high-level people and the conference was organized to make connections."

— Peter Buckley | Fox Rothschild

EVENT GALLERY

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2026 SPEAKERS

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

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BECOME A SPEAKER

2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg is one of the Nation’s leading experts in alternative dispute resolution. He was the former Court-appointed Mediator in both the Imerys/Cyprus talc bankruptcy in Delaware and the Hess-Honx asbestos bankruptcy in Texas. He previously served as the voluntary Mediator in the Georgia Pacific/Bestwall bankruptcy in North Carolina, was co-Mediator in the successful Owens Illinois/Paddock asbestos bankruptcy proceeding in North Carolina and was formerly the Court-ordered Estimation Expert in the Johnson & Johnson/LTL Management bankruptcy in New Jersey. He has served as the Court-appointed Mediator in the successful resolution of the Purdue and Mallinckrodt opioid bankruptcies in the Southern District of New York and Delaware. Mr. Feinberg has been designated by the Federal Government to serve in a variety of public compensation and related funding programs over the past 40 years. He previously served as Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, the Department of Justice Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the Department of Justice Boeing 737 Max Crash Victim Beneficiaries Compensation Fund, the Department of the Treasury’s TARP Executive Compensation Program and the Treasury’s Private Multiemployer Pension Reform program. He was also appointed by the Obama Administration to oversee compensation of victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to his acting as Mediator and Administrator in a wide variety of federally related compensation programs, Mr. Feinberg has also served as Administrator of 24 Catholic Church Dioceses’ Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Funds designed to compensate the victims of Church sexual abuse. He also served as Administrator of the One Orlando Fund following a terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub, the General Motors Ignition Switch Compensation Program, and the One Fund Boston Compensation Program arising out of the Boston Marathon bombings. He was also the Mediator in the successful effort to return an original Chagall painting from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to its original family owners in Europe. He previously served as the Court-appointed Settlement Master in the Fiat/Chrysler Diesel Emissions class action settlement in San Francisco and is currently the Court-appointed Special Settlement Master in the national federal multi-district mass tort Roundup litigation. Mr. Feinberg has been appointed mediator and arbitrator in thousands of complex disputes over the past 40 years.

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2026 FORUM SPEAKERS

Bryan F. AylstockFounding Partner Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLC

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Bryan F. Aylstock

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FOUNDING PARTNER, AYLSTOCK, WITKIN, KREIS & OVERHOLTZ, PLC Mr. Aylstock founded his firm (Aylstock Witkin) in 2001, which is now comprised of more than 35 attorneys and 400 staff members who have directly handled the claims of more than 100,000 individual clients and class representatives over the past 20+ years. Mr. Aylstock graduated number one in his law school section from the University of Florida College of Law and served as a senior editor of the Florida Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Aylstock clerked for the Honorable Roger Vinson, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He has specialized in multi-district and class action litigation for more than 25 years and has developed substantial experience in handling complex litigation in both MDLs and state court consolidated proceedings. He has been appointed to multiple leadership roles by Courts across the Country on behalf of Plaintiffs.

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Tom BakerWilliam Maul Measey Professor University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

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Tom Baker

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WILLIAM MAUL MEASEY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL Tom Baker is the William Maul Measey Professor at Penn Carey Law School, with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School of Business, and a member of the Board of Directors of the liability insurer, Bowhead Specialty. Tom teaches and writes about legal finance with a special interest in adjacent insurance markets. Tom was the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Liability Insurance. He was awarded the 2024 Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for “empirical scholarship that has contributed most effectively to the advancement of research in law and society” and the 2013 Robert B. McKay to honor his “commitment to the advancement of justice, scholarship and the legal profession, demonstrated by outstanding contributions to the fields of tort and insurance law.”

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Suneal BediAssociate Professor of Business Law and Ethics Indiana University

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Suneal Bedi

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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS LAW AND ETHICS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY Suneal Bedi is an Associate Professor of Business Law & Ethics and the Jerome Bess Faculty Fellow at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. His work focuses on the intersection of law and business strategy. He seeks to analyze how corporate entities can utilize public institutions (e.g. courts, legislatures, social norms) to gain strategic advantages in marketplace transactions. Suneal has written extensively on litigation finance, intellectual property, and marketing ethics. His work has been published in leading law and business journals including Cornell Law Review, Vanderbilt Law Review, Southern California Law Review, and the Journal of Business Ethics, and has been featured in news outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, Washington Post, and US News. He has a PhD in Marketing and Business Ethics from The Wharton School and was formerly a private equity lawyer at Ropes & Gray, LLP.

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Cesar BelloPartner, Director of Litigation Finance Corbin Capital Partners

Debra Bogo-ErnstPartner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice Willkie Farr & Gallagher

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Debra Bogo-Ernst

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PARTNER & CHAIR, NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION PRACTICE, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER With over 25 years of experience, Debra represents a broad range of national and international organizations in class actions, mass arbitrations, and other high-stakes, complex litigation in the areas of autos, financial services, insurance, privacy, retail, products liability, and telecommunications. These cases involve the alphabet soup of statutory claims, privacy, unfair and deceptive trade practices, false advertising, trade secrets, safety and efficacy issues, false claims, government programs, fair housing and discrimination, civil conspiracy, and fraud-related claims. She also handles a variety of government investigations, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, and other state agencies. Debra often assists clients in navigating Consent Orders and other government settlements, including through the use of independent consultants. She also defends companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company risks and business-to-business disputes, and she has significant bench and jury trial experience.

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Mervin BurtonPartner, Head of Research Beatrice Advisors

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Mervin Burton

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PARTNER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, BEATRICE ADVISORS

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Hugh CarlsonCEO Three Crowns

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Hugh Carlson

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CEO, THREE CROWNS Hugh Carlson is the CEO and General Counsel of Three Crowns LLP. Since joining at the firm’s launch in 2014, he has helped build Three Crowns from a start-up boutique into one of the world’s premier dispute resolution practices. A former software engineer, Hugh has made innovation a defining feature of the firm. Under his leadership, Three Crowns has become a recognized leader in legal AI. The Financial Times has repeatedly honored the firm’s AI innovations, including its deployment of Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex to build enterprise-grade software tailored to its practice. Microsoft has called Three Crowns an “AI-powered company … bending the curve on innovation.” With Stanford’s Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), Hugh co-led the development of Atelier, an AI-powered cross-examination training platform that won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award for best training innovation in 2025. Hugh has lectured at Harvard Law School since 2019. He is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, and holds the leading credential in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

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Alfonso ChanPartner Cahill

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ALFONSO CHAN

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PARTNER, CAHILL Alfonso Garcia Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities, research institutes, and technology companies.His matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters, as well as biomaterials and medical devices. Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Europe.Alfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters.

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Brooke CohenFounding and Managing Partner Cohen Hirsch

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Brooke Cohen

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FOUNDING AND MANAGING PARTNER, COHEN HIRSCH Brooke Cohen has practiced law for almost 30 years, devoting most of her careerto representing individuals injured by defective products, dangerous medications, and corporate misconduct. She has handled complex product-liability and mass-tort matters involving transvaginal mesh, Dow breast implants, Essure, and other medical products. Brooke also represents survivors in cases involving sexual assault and abuse.Brooke’s work in mass torts and cases affecting women grew naturally from herbackground in healthcare policy. Before attending law school, she worked as ahealthcare lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where she gained an understanding of theways public policy, medicine, and corporate decision-making can affect patients and consumers.Brooke graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she majored in women’s history. After working in Washington, D.C., she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas.Throughout her nearly three decades of practice, Brooke has remained committed to advocating for people whose lives have been changed by injury, assault, or abuse. She approaches each client with empathy and integrity, guided by the belief that every client deserves to be heard, understood, and treated with dignity, respect, and care.

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Jeff CohenPartner Contingency Capital

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Jeff Cohen

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PARTNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeff Cohen is a Partner and Managing Director of Contingency Capital, which he joined at its inception in 2021. Prior to joining Contingency Capital, Jeff was formerly a Partner and Managing Director at Southpaw Asset Management, a distressed credit opportunity investment firm, which he joined at its inception in 2005. Prior to working at Southpaw, Jeff was a Vice President and Analyst in the distressed securities fund at Ramius Capital Group LLC. Jeff began his professional career as a bankruptcy and restructuring attorney in private practice and served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Bruce I. Fox in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jeff received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University and aJD from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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Megan ColevilleVP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Megan Colville

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VP, CORPORATE COUNSEL – LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Megan Colville is a vice president of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and serves as a member of, and corporate counsel to, the D. E. Shaw group’s Litigation Investing team, which operates within the firm’s Private Credit investment unit. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Ms. Colville was a corporate associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where she focused on leveraged and acquisition finance, private credit, capital markets, and project finance. She received a B.S. in industrial engineering, with highest honors, from Lehigh University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was an articles editor of the Virginia Law Review.

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Melinda R. CoolidgeManaging Partner Hausfeld

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Melinda Coolidge

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MANAGING PARTNER, HAUSFELD Melinda serves as US Managing Partner, responsible for the successful management of the firm’s US offices. She leads by example, embodying the firm’s values of tenacity and pragmatism, and believes success lies in maximizing opportunities for the professional and personal development of every team member, empowering a culture of bold actions, pioneering cases, and unconventional thinking. Deeply committed to the firm’s vision of global civil redress for those harmed by wrongdoing, Melinda also maintains an active legal practice focused on private enforcement of antitrust laws, representing clients ranging from Fortune 200 companies to classes of consumers with a common goal of maximizing recoveries from cartel price-fixing or monopolization. Her clients have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements and a US Supreme Court victory. Melinda works to safeguard free and open markets and is proud to be named one of the Top 100 Women in Antitrust by Global Competition Review.

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David CunninghamChief Innovation Officer ReedSmith

Kelly DaleyPrincipal & Founder Celsia Capital

Matthew DolmanFounding Partner Dolman Law Group

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Matthew Dolman

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FOUNDING PARTNER, DOLMAN LAW GROUP Matthew Dolman is the Founding Partner of Dolman Law Group, where he grew the firm from a local personal injury practice into a national firm focused on complex litigation and mass torts. With more than 20 years of experience, Matt has led litigation against some of the world’s largest corporations, represented survivors in institutional sexual abuse cases, and built mass tort portfolios involving defective medications, dangerous products, environmental exposures, and other catastrophic litigation. Matt also serves as Head of Underwriting for GFO Asset Management, an alternative asset manager providing institutional investors access to litigation finance by evaluating the legal merits of cases alongside financial risk and return. In that role, he evaluates case portfolios, assesses litigation risk, and identifies quality investment opportunities. Through interviews, speaking engagements, and podcasting, Matt regularly speaks on litigation finance, mass tort strategy, law firm growth, and the intersection of law, business, and capital markets.

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Joseph DunnManaging Director Fortress Investment Group

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Joseph Dunn

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CO-CIO LEGAL ASSETS, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP Mr. Dunn is a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group, and Co-CIO of the Fortress Legal Assets business. Mr. Dunn is based in New York and focuses on litigation and legal process related debt and structured equity transactions, including serving on the boards of several legal services companies. Prior to joining Fortress in 2016, Mr. Dunn was a litigator at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig LLP. At both firms, Mr. Dunn represented parties in disputes in U.S. state and federal courts, primarily in securities cases. Mr. Dunn received his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

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Fred FabricantManaging Partner Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos

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Fred Fabricant

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MANAGING PARTNER, FABRICANT RUBINO LAMBRIANAKOS Alfred R. Fabricant (Fred) is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent, copyright, trademark and unfair competition matters. Fred has litigated patent infringement cases in district courts throughout the United States for both patent owners and defendants including cases in the most active courts in Delaware, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida. His cases have involved a large variety of technologies including automotive, semiconductor, audio processing, LED lighting and displays, smartphone handsets, medical devices, electronic ratings systems, copy protection and anti-piracy technology, NFC and radio frequency identification systems, robotic systems, memory and storage devices, software, internet-related method and system patents, universal remote control devices, and optical systems and methods. According to “The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners” published by the IAM1000: “clients say they cannot imagine working with anyone better, hailing (Fabricant’s) outstanding skills of presentation and persuasion in the courtroom.” Fred has represented clients in patent matters before the International Trade Commission. He has also appeared in more than 100 inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Fred has argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal, Second and Fourth Circuits where he has represented both appellants and appellees in a variety of matters. Since 2008. Fred has handled a large number of cases that have been financed, in whole or in part, by litigation funders. He has also represented litigation funds as outside diligence counsel and is frequently recommended by litigation funders to claimants for both lead counsel representation in litigation as well as for IPR work before the PTAB. In addition to his litigation experience, Fred routinely acts as a legal counselor and advisor in the negotiation and drafting of patent, trademark and copyright license agreements, joint venture and funding agreements, and other business contracts. Fred also specializes in IP due diligence, freedom to operate analyses and strategies for the management and monetization of IP portfolios, a topic on which he has lectured extensively over the past decade. He advises clients on portfolio acquisitions and development, licensing and enforcement strategies, and litigation financing options. EducationThe University of Illinois Chicago Law School, J.D. (with highest distinction)The University of Miami (magna cum laude) AdmissionsNew YorkArizona

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Rachel S. FleishmanPartner Reid Collins Tsai

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Rachel S. Fleishman

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PARTNER, REID COLLINS TSAI

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David GialanellaEditor-in-Chief Business of Law and The American Lawyer

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David Gialanella

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS OF LAW AND THE AMERICAN LAWYER David Gialanella is Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer and Business of Law team at Law.com, where he has spent 16 years in various content team roles. He oversees the Am Law 100/200 and other key Law.com content packages, and leads the Law.com Pro and Law.com Pro Mid-Market platforms. He previously wrote for the ABA Journal and Chicago Sun-Times News Group. He holds master’s degrees from Medill School of Journalism and Pritzker Law at Northwestern University.

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Kiley GrombacherFounding Partner Bradley/Grombacher LLP

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Kiley Grombacher

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FOUNDING PARTNER, BRADLEY/GROMBACHER LLP Kiley L. Grombacher is a co-founding partner at Bradley/Grombacher LLP, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation, including consumer and employment class actions, product liability, personal injury, and pharmaceutical mass torts. With a passion for representing vulnerable individuals wronged by corporate negligence, she has secured numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements, with a strong focus on advocating for women and children. She has led high-profile lawsuits against major global corporations, including Amazon, Pfizer, Roblox, and Epic Games to protect employee rights, drug safety, and consumer privacy.Consistently recognized by her peers for legal excellence, Ms. Grombacher has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer. She is the founder of the Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) and maintains active memberships in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

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Paul B. HaskelPartner Crowell & Moring

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Paul B. Haskel

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PARTNER, CROWELL & MORING Paul B. Haskel is co-chair of Crowell’s Financial Services group and a partner in the New York office. Paul is a highly regarded advisor in the area of litigation finance, and a sought after commentator on litigation finance market trends, including in Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, Litigation Finance Journal, andValueWalk. He regularly represents litigation finance leaders in some of the industry’s most significant matters, including complex international deals. Paul advises litigation funders, private equity firms, and multi-strategy hedge fund clients in connection with their investments in funding transactions, including claims monetization and the provision of non-recourse capital to both plaintiffs and law firms. His work includes the diligence, structuring, and papering of these transactions, as well as advice on the management of credit risk, tax efficiency, state common law issues such as champerty and usury, and legal ethics.

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Ellen HollomanPartner Kaplan Martin

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ELLEN HOLLOMAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN MARTIN Ellen Holloman is a partner at litigation boutique Kaplan Martin. She represents financial institutions, corporations and individuals in civil litigation, arbitrations and at trial, in related regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate internal investigations and, where consistent with client goals, mediation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. In addition to her civil litigation and trial practice, Ellen has significant experience with white-collar criminal defense matters, and has represented clients responding to regulatory inquires, requests and enforcement proceedings. Ellen has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation and Lawdragon, among others, and has been selected as a two-time Notable Black Leader and Executive by Crain’s New York.

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William IsaacsonPartner Dunn Isaacson Rhee

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WILLIAM ISAACSON

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PARTNER, DUNN ISAACSON RHEE Bill Isaacson, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee, is widely considered one of the preeminent trial lawyers of his generation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners across three categories, he was named “Litigator of the Year” in 2016 and “Litigator of the Week” three times by The American Lawyer. Bill has tried cases spanning contract, commercial torts, copyright, international arbitration, and antitrust. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in major antitrust litigations and has tried more federal antitrust class actions this century than any other lawyer—each a major victory. Bill has been recognized in the Lawdragon 500 (each of the last 10 years), two Law360 “Competition MVP” titles, Forbes “America’s Top Lawyers,” and Legal 500 “Hall of Fame Lawyer.”

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Samuel IssacharoffBonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law NYU Law

Sarah JohnsonHead of Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Sarah Johnson

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HEAD OF LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Sarah Johnson serves as head of the Litigation Investing team within the D. E. Shaw group’s Private Credit investment unit. The Litigation Investing team provides financing solutions to law firms, plaintiffs, and other parties involved in commercial litigation. Ms. Johnson joined the D. E. Shaw group in 2006 as an analyst primarily working on distressed credit-related investments, including restructurings, opportunities in stressed equities, litigation plays (including monetizing litigation assets), and bankruptcy liquidations. She has led the Litigation Investing team since its formation in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Johnson was an associate in the restructuring and finance group of the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Ms. Johnson graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in economics and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a managing editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and James Kent Scholar.

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Robert KaplanPartner Kaplan Fox

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ROBERT KAPLAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN FOX ROBERT N. KAPLAN is widely recognized as a leading plaintiff’s litigator and has led the prosecution of numerous Antitrust and securities class actions and individual actions, recovering billions of dollars for the victims of corporate wrongdoing. He was recently listed by defense and corporate counsel as one of the top 75 plaintiffs’ attorneys in the United States for all disciplines and has also been ranked as one of the top attorneys in the United States for securities litigation by Legal 500. Mr. Kaplan was recognized as Super Lawyer in the New York Metro Area. Mr. Kaplan sits on the boards of several organizations, including the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, Board of Directors of the Carver Center in Port Chester, N.Y., Member of the Dana Farber Visiting Committee, Thoracic Oncology in Boston, MA, and Member of Board of Trustees for the Rye Historical Society.

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Ankur KapoorPartner Constantine Cannon

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Ankur Kapoor

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PARTNER, CONSTANTINE CANNON Ankur Kapoor is a partner at Constantine Cannon, with 25 years of experience in antitrust litigation. Most recently, Ankur has been co-lead counsel on behalf of a certified class of video-game publishers in In re Valve Antitrust Litigation, pending in Seattle federal court, as well as a member of the team representing over 60 major corporations in their credit- and debit-card swipe-fee antitrust action against Visa and Mastercard.  Ankur was also lead counsel for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) in a class action alleging price fixing of passenger airfares following a resolved Department of Justice investigation. Ankur is ranked in Chambers U.S.A. for “Antitrust-Mostly Plaintiff” and in U.S. News Best Lawyers for Antitrust Law & Litigation. He has also been named to Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders. Ankur currently serves as the Technology Officer of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section.

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Chris KercherFounder Kercher Law

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Chris Kercher

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FOUNDER, KERCHER LAW

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Stephen KimChief Legal Office & General Counsel Avicanna

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Stephen Kim

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CHIEF LEGAL OFFICE & GENERAL COUNSEL, AVICANNA Stephen is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Avicanna USA Inc., and responsible for all legal, regulatory, IP/tech, compliance, and human resources matters for Avicanna and its subsidiaries globally. Avicanna is a publicly traded commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with sales/operations in twenty-three countries. Prior to Avicanna, Stephen held roles of increasing responsibility at various publicly traded pharma/biotech and technology companies and practiced law with leading US and International law firms in New York and Toronto. Stephen graduated with a US law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (JD, 1997) and a Canadian law degree from the University of Windsor (LLB, 1997)

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Jason LevinePartner Foley & Lardner

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Evan Meyerson

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FOLEY & LARDNER Jason Levine is an antitrust and commercial litigation partner at Foley & Lardner LLP in Washington, D.C. He has over 25 years of first-chair experience, representing corporate plaintiffs and defendants in enterprise-risk disputes, including prior roles as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins, and Alston & Bird. From 2022-25, Jason spent nearly four years as an Investment Manager at Omni Bridgeway, one of the world’s largest commercial litigation finance firms. He originated and managed investments involving billion-dollar antitrust and business disputes and directed the company’s U.S. antitrust strategy. Complementing his litigation practice at Foley, Jason also serves as a trusted counselor to parties and funders on funding-related matters, and helps plaintiff-side clients explore potential non-recourse financing for their matters. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Jason clerked for Judge Randall Rader on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Claudia LinaresFounder & CEO Fortalea Advisory

Stephen MedlockPartner Vinson & Elkins

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Stephen Medlock

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PARTNER, VINSON & ELKINS Steve Medlock is an experienced antitrust litigator who brings dedication, intensity, and commercial common sense to his representations of Fortune 500 clients, whether navigating through complex multidistrict class actions or successfully defending clients in grand jury investigations. Clients place their trust in Steve to develop unique and complex antitrust arguments for both defendants and plaintiffs. Steve’s unique mix of plaintiff and defense-side experience allows him to see the issues that exclusive defense-sided practitioners miss in a full range of antitrust matters, including corporate counseling, internal investigations, civil non-merger and criminal cartel investigations, and litigation. In these areas, Steve is known for providing practical advice that business executives can digest. Steve has secured victories for clients in major antitrust class actions and B2B antitrust cases alleging monopolization and attempted monopolization at critical stages, including winning dismissal prior to discovery and prevailing at summary judgment. His depositions and briefs have been quoted in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Politico. Steve is a recognized as a part of the next generation of leadership in the antitrust bar. He currently serves as one of the editors of the forthcoming draft of the tenth edition of Antitrust Law Developments, the preeminent desk reference for antitrust lawyers.

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Brian MeltonPartner Susman Godfrey

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Brian Melton

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PARTNER, SUSMAN GODFREY Brian Melton is a nationally recognized lead trial lawyer who regularly tries and wins bet-the-company cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. He sits on the Executive Committee at Susman Godfrey – the nation’s premier litigation boutique – and the only law firm where he has practiced since graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law School and clerking for Federal District Court Judge Tom Stagg. Melton has secured several momentous wins throughout his career and has established himself as trusted counsel and a sought-out trial lawyer for clients and colleagues alike. In fact, a streak of three trial wins in an 18-month period led the National Law Journal to name him a “Winning Litigator” in 2017. Landmark Wins Melton’s landmark victory for Beats headphone designer, Steven Lamar, in a nationally followed breach of contract lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics over the design of the now iconic beats headphones was covered from coast to coast, with outlets such as New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter, NY Daily News, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict for Lamar in California federal court. Melton later spent time convincing the Judge to double the value of the judgment to $52 million – at which point Apple settled the case for a confidential amount. Law360 featured the story in their “How They Won It” series and The Recorder also ran a feature story on Melton and his significant role in this case. Later that year, Melton won an injunction for pro bono client Team Fuerza, a local Hispanic soccer team, which was being railroaded out of the giant United Premier Soccer League. Melton got the team back in the league and received an apology from the UPSL President. Unique Background Notably, Melton is a West Point graduate, who served as an infantry officer, attaining the rank of captain. While serving his country, Melton commanded two platoons, and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division. Melton graduated as the Honor Graduate of Ranger School, the Army’s elite leadership training course.

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Chandra MetzlerManaging Partner & Co-Founder CM Squared

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Chandra Metzler

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MANAGING PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, CM SQUARED Chandra Reddy Metzler co-founded CM Squared in 2017. She a Managing Partner with responsibility for all aspects of the business. As a family office and an independent sponsor, CM Squared distinguishes itself by structuring creative transactions that encourage optimal outcomes, align incentives and mitigate undesired risks. Litigation funding is a core strategy for the firm. Prior to CM Squared, Ms. Metzler was Head of Strategic Development for QVT Financial, a multi-billion dollar global alternative investment firm. In this role, she had overall responsibility for investor relations, capital raising and product development. She was also a member of the firm’s Risk Committee. Before joining QVT in 2013, Ms. Metzler was president of the financial lines division at AIG for the U.S. and Canada, leading a business with over $2 billion in revenue and over 500 employees. Prior to AIG, Ms. Metzler had various roles of increasing responsibility and revenue generation in capital markets, banking and investment research at Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan. Ms. Metzler earned her bachelor’s degree at Brown University in Economics, with honors, and Development Studies. She has a master’s degree in Economics from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While a graduate student, Ms. Metzler was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

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Evan MeyersonManaging Director Burford Capital

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Evan Meyerson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL Managing Director, Burford CapitalEvan Meyerson is a Managing Director who leads Burford’s US commercial investment team, with responsibility for overseeing the underwriting, origination, and portfolio management functions.Prior to joining Burford, Evan was a litigator at Paul, Weiss and at Sullivan & Cromwell. His practice focused on complex civil litigation in federal and state court, antitrust, white collar defense, bankruptcy litigation, corporate internal investigations, and government investigations into sanctions, anti-money laundering, and accounting issues. Evan began his career as an analyst at Bain Capital, evaluating venture capital investment opportunities.Evan graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Editor of the Harvard National Security Journal. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. He clerked for the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

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Ian MillicanDirector, Investments Contingency Capital

Steven MoloFounding Partner MoloLamken

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Steven Molo

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FOUNDING PARTNER, MOLOLAMKEN Steven Molo, one of the country’s leading courtroom advocates, is a founding partner of the national litigation boutique MoloLamken LLP. He represents corporations, boards, funds, investors, inventors, and individuals in complex business litigation, white collar criminal matters, and IP litigation. His client base is international. Chambers and Partners calls him “fantastic in the courtroom,” “with lots of charisma,” a “fabulous courtroom litigator who lights up the room with his presence,” “very bright, imaginative, and creative in his approach to problems,” and “one of the most talented lawyers in the (New York) city.” Benchmark Litigation – which named him one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in America – calls him “revered,” “an outstanding advocate and fearless in court,” who “delivers the goods.” Legal 500 includes Mr. Molo on its elite list of Leading Trial Lawyers and calls him “a rockstar litigator; a great lawyer,” with “terrific knowledge of the courts and the law,” “a force to be reckoned with” who “really excels in the courtroom.” It says he is “smart, creative, responsive, knowledgeable, and engaging; he has an excellent mix of traits that set him apart from his peers.” For the past thirteen years he has been named to Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Molo began his career as a prosecutor in Chicago, and then practiced with Winston & Strawn, where he was a senior litigator and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He spent five years as a litigation partner with the Wall Street firm Shearman & Sterling before founding MoloLamken in October 2009. He is also a solicitor on the Roll of Attorneys of the Law Society of England and Wales, and an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

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John MorleyAugustus E. Lines Professor of Law Yale Law School

Andrew MutterEVP, Contingent Risk CAC Specialty

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Andrew Mutter

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EXECUTIVE VICE PRSIDENT, CAC SPECIALITY Andrew is an Executive Vice President at CAC Specialty and Leader of its Contingent Risk Insurance Practice, which has placed more than $5 billion in insurance coverage in the contingent risk markets. The team has received various accolades, including most recently the Business Insurance Innovation award for its work developing new products to insure the core value of IP assets to reduce innovative companies’ cost of capital.Andrew’s practice focuses on crafting bespoke solutions for Contingent Risk Insurance, providing strategic certainty around both contingent legal assets and contingent legal liabilities. On the basis of these policies, the Contingent Risk team help clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity, release hundreds of millions of dollars from escrow, and facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of debt restructuring and refinancing.As a lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Andrew gained significant insurance recovery experience successfully litigating over half a billion dollars in D&O and E&O claims on behalf of financial institutions. Andrew has extensive experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, business torts, and healthcare related investigations and business disputes.Andrew earned his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He is also a former Teach For America teacher, with four years of experience in public education.

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Michael NicolasCo-Founder & Managing Director Longford Capital

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Michael Nicolas

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONGFORD CAPITAL Mike is responsible for the portfolio management of Longford Capital, including underwriting, investment selection, and overseeing the efforts of independent attorneys and other professionals as part of Longford Capital’s due diligence process. He is an accomplished attorney with more than 15 years of experience representing a wide array of corporate clients involved in complex litigation throughout the United States, including trial experience in the commercial litigation departments of two prominent national law firms, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP and Gardner, Carton & Douglas, LLP (n/k/a Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP). Mike is a frequent speaker on commercial litigation finance, and has presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He is an honors graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Business and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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Ryan PhairPartner Paul Hastings

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Ryan Phair

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Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings Ryan Phair is co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition practice of Paul Hastings. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate whose practice focuses on complex antitrust litigation and investigations. On behalf of plaintiffs, he has successfully recovered over $1 billion for his antitrust clients. On behalf of defendants, Ryan has an equally remarkable track record of success spanning dozens of complex cases, investigations and enforcement actions.

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Byron ReevesPaul C. Edwards Professor of Communication Stanford University

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Byron Reeves

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PAUL C. EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Elena S. ReyPartner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations Brown Rudnick

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Elena S. Rey

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PARTNER, HEAD OF LITIGATION FUNDING & CO-HEAD OF EUROPEAN SPECIAL SITUATIONS, BROWN RUDNICK Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Ruth RizkallaPartner The Carlson Law Firm

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RUTH RIZKALLA

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PARTNER, THE CARLSON LAW FIRM Ruth’s experience in complex litigation has given her a unique edge in strategizing and litigating cases of systemic minor sex abuse that require significant foresight and familiarity with advanced legal principles. She has leadership background in complex and mass torts litigations and has represented injured victims involving defective products and dangerous drugs and devices. Ruth has spent her over two-decade career representing those injured through severe negligent acts of large corporations. She has served in numerous leadership positions in several coordinated complex and mass tort proceedings, and has spoken and presented at multiple conferences and seminars.

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SHAYNA E. SACKSPartner Napoli Shkolnik

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Shayna E. Sacks

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NAPOLI SHKOLNIK PARTNER, PUBLIC CLIENT GROUP Ms. Sacks provides experienced representation to individuals, communities, local and state governments in multiple mass torts, including healthcare litigation, defective pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, the opioid crisis, and complex environmental & emerging contaminant litigation. She has served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on product liability multi-district litigations.

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Ed ScanlanCEO & Founder Bridge Legal

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Ed Scanlan

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CEO & FOUNDERBRIDGE LEGAL Ed Scanlan is a serial entrepreneur and litigation technology pioneer who transforms plaintiff-side legal portfolios into scalable, high-yield, risk-adjusted investments for capital partners. As Founder & CEO of Bridge Legal, Ed built a proprietary, AI-driven operating system that gives law firms and funders complete transparency from lead inception to filing—integrating case validation, workflow automation, and analytics to deliver 10x productivity gains and faster time-to-liquidity on funded matters. The platform empowers firms to capture market share at scale while enabling funders to deploy capital with unprecedented precision and control. Previously, Ed founded Total Attorneys, scaling it from startup to $30M+ recurring revenue without outside capital, earning spots on the Inc. 500, Crain’s Fast 50, and induction into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Inc.. Ed partners with leading litigation funders to co-create portfolios with exceptional merit profiles, predictable outcomes, and durable returns—aligning capital efficiency with access to justice.

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Jennifer ScullionPartner SeegerWeiss

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Jennifer Scullion

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PARTNER, SEEGERWEISS Jen Scullion is a partner at Seeger Weiss, where she leads or co-leads the firm’s work in antitrust and related consumer matters for classes and for direct action (opt out) plaintiffs. She currently serves as a member of the Direct Action Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the MultiPlan antitrust MDL, co-lead for Seeger Weiss’s work for the Direct Purchasers in the Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation, and Co-Chair of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Provider Track in the Change Healthcare Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, in addition to leading or co-leading the firm’s work in the Copaxone, “Proteins”, Fragrance, and Liquid Aluminum Sulfate antitrust matters. Jen has also co-led the firm’s work in the National Prescription Opioids and Socal Media Adolescent Addiction cases on behalf of local government and school districts. Jen is the co-author of the treatise New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act: Practice and Procedure (2026).

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Jonathan SelbinSenior Partner Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

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Jonathan Selbin

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SENIOR PARTNER, LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN Jonathan D. Selbin is a senior partner in the New York office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where he has practiced for over 30 years, and a long-time member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has led complex consumer protection, defective products, and sex abuse class action lawsuits in courts around the country against many of the world’s largest corporations and institutions. Together, cases in which Jonathan played a lead role have resulted in court-approved class action settlements with a combined total cash payout to class members in excess of $3.5 billion, plus other relief such as extended and enhanced warranties and implementation of best-practices institutional reforms. He has extensive appellate experience, having argued in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, as well as before state supreme and appellate courts. Jonathan is a leader in the firm’s funding of international consumer protection cases on multiple continents.

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Victoria Shannon SahaniProfessor of Law Boston University School of Law

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Victoria Shannon Sahani

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PROFESSOR OF LAW, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Victoria Shannon Sahani is the Associate Provost for Community and Inclusion at Boston University and a Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law. She previously served as Associate Dean of Faculty Development / Special Projects and Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She started her teaching career and was promoted to Associate Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Associate Provost Sahani is an internationally recognized legal scholar in domestic and international arbitration law and third-party litigation funding law. She is an award-winning teacher and serves as an independent arbitrator, consultant, and expert witness. In addition to publishing numerous book chapters, law review articles, and essays, she co-authored the book Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration (Wolters Kluwer, 1st and 2d ed.) (with Lisa Bench Nieuwveld), the first book in the world on this topic. She is the immediate past Chair of the Academic Council for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Chair-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on International Law, a Counsellor of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), an Elected Member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and an American Bar Foundation (ABF) Fellow. Before joining academia, Associate Provost Sahani worked at the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and practiced law at Pillsbury. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard College and is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia.

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Emily SiegelSenior Reporter Bloomberg Law

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Emily Siegel

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SENIOR REPORTER, BLOOMBERG LAW Emily Siegel is a senior reporter with Bloomberg Law. She covers litigation finance and writes about anything affecting or intersecting with the industry. She previously worked for NBC News as an investigative reporter. She earned a master’s degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

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Ryan StephenCo-Founder & Managing Partner Pine Valley Capital Partners

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Ryan Stephen

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, PINE VALLEY CAPITAL PARTNERS Mr. Stephen has led, originated, and managed more than $2.5B in private financing transactions since 2009. Prior to co-founding Pine Valley Capital Partners, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Trinity Environmental Services, an oilfield waste management company operating across Texas and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, he originated, structured, and managed private credit investments in the energy sector with Guggenheim Partners in Houston. Mr. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Abilene Christian University and has extensive experience structuring complex transactions across multiple industries.

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Kelsey StokesSenior Attorney The Lanier Law Firm

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Ryan Stephen

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SENIOR ATTORNEY, THE LANIER LAW FIRM Kelsey Stokes is recognized as a national leader in mass personal injury litigation. Kelsey practices primarily in the areas of mass tort litigation, products liability, and complex commercial litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in multiple Hernia Mesh MDLs (Multi-District Litigation) at the federal level and 3 MCLs (Multi-County Litigation) in New Jersey, the home of Johnson & Johnson, Kelsey has spent countless hours fighting for victims of defective medical devices, ensuring their voices are heard and their suffering acknowledged. Her leadership in the litigation against C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson has not only changed lives but has also set a precedent for women in leadership roles within the legal industry. Kelsey is currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the second largest MDL in the country (MDL No. 2846, In re Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio). Appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in 2018, the MDL has over 23,000 cases consolidated there. Kelsey served as lead trial counsel for the three bellwether cases tried in MDL 2846. In 2024, as Lead Settlement Counsel for the Bard Hernia Mesh MDL, Kelsey Stokes successfully negotiated a path to resolution for over 30,000 plaintiffs. Kelsey currently serves as Administering Counsel for the Bard resolution and spends countless hours guiding plaintiffs’ lawyers across the country. In addition to her leadership roles at the federal level, Kelsey Stokes was appointed to lead three New Jersey state court consolidated actions against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc.: MCL 627, In re Physiomesh Litigation; MCL 630, In Re: Proceed Mesh Litigation; and MCL 633, In re Prolene Hernia System Mesh Litigation. Kelsey was also elected Co‑Chair of the American Association for Justice Hernia Mesh Litigation Group by her peers, where she has served for over seven years. In addition to her responsibilities with the hernia mesh litigation, Kelsey was also appointed to the Phenylephrine Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. She serves as Science & Expert Committee Co-Chair, as well as a Discovery Co-Chair for the litigation. Prior to leading the hernia mesh docket, Attorney Kelsey Stokes played an integral role in litigating transvaginal mesh cases to a successful resolution. Her work in the various transvaginal mesh MDLs gave her a wealth of knowledge overlapping with the knowledge required to successfully litigate hernia mesh cases. Kelsey has regular speaking engagements, sharing the knowledge she has gained managing MDLs as well as studying the science and legal issues applicable to medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. Through the course of her career, Kelsey has taken hundreds of depositions, including depositions of corporate witnesses, expert witnesses, and treating physicians. Kelsey has also defended the leading experts in their fields as well as hundreds of plaintiffs injured by various medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. She regularly argues at hearings throughout the country and coordinates large-scale briefing on behalf of the MDLs she leads. Early in her career, Kelsey managed a large GranuFlo docket from case filing to resolution, successfully navigating clients through the settlement claims process. In addition to the above litigations, Kelsey Stokes performed considerable work on the Wright Hip and Accutane Litigations as well as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), in which she was trial counsel in the first TRT trial in Cook County, Illinois in 2017. Kelsey’s practice also includes complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, and arbitration, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts. Examples include arbitrations where she represented healthcare providers in contractual and payment disputes with insurers; a massive Ponzi scheme; and an off-shore commercial oil dispute. Attorney Kelsey Stokes’s experience also extends to catastrophic aviation accidents. Education & Memberships Kelsey Stokes earned a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she served as Chief Managing Editor of the Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law. Kelsey is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Circuits. She is a member of the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

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Will WeismanDirector – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel Parabellum Capital

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Will Weisman

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DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CORPORATE COUNSEL, PARABELLUM CAPITAL Will Weisman leads Parabellum Capital’s commercial litigation investment strategy. He originates, structures, and manages commercial litigation investments across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. Before joining Parabellum, Will was a senior member of the investment team at litigation financier Therium Capital Management. Earlier in his career, he practiced complex commercial litigation at Proskauer Rose LLP, one of the nation’s premier law firms, and later joined Liberty International Underwriters, a global insurance company. Will frequently writes and speaks on litigation finance, regulatory developments, and other issues affecting the legal industry. He earned a B.A., with honors, from the University of Maryland and a J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as an editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. Will also worked as a law clerk extern for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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Leanne WilsonManaging Director Contingency Capital

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Leanne Wilson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINGENCY CAPITAL 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).

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R. Brent WisnerManaging Partner Wisner Baum

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R. Brent Wisner

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MANAGING PARTNER, WISNER BAUM 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 winning significant verdicts and settlements for his clients. Over the last several years, Brent has served on the plaintiff’s leadership for multiple mass torts, earned jury verdicts worth a combined $2.427 billion, and helped negotiate settlements in excess of $1 billion—all before the age of 40. While success in the courtroom is often measured exclusively by dollars and cents, Brent’s legal work has led to changes in business practices that will protect people and the environment for generations. Hundreds of media publications across the globe have asked for his perspective on a variety of pressing legal issues.

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Thomas WhitePartner Sullivan Cromwell

Hon. Freda L. WolfsonFormer Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Lowenstein Sandler

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Hon. Freda L. Wolfson

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FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, PARTNER & CHAIR, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Honorable Freda L. Wolfson (ret.) rejoined Lowenstein Sandler after a decades long career in the federal judiciary, including as Chief Judge of the U.S.District Court for the District of New Jersey. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, special master appointments in federal and state courts, including multidistrict litigations (MDL), servingas an expert, monitorships, internal investigations, and presiding over mock trials and oral arguments. Judge Wolfson leads the firm’s ADR practice, leveraging her judicial experience managing complex commercial cases to help clients achieve satisfactoryresolutions on a wide variety of civil and regulatory issues. Since joining Lowenstein, Judge Wolfson has frequently served as a special master and mediator infederal and state civil actions, which typically involve high-stakes disputes, including, among others, data breaches, corporate divorces and securities matters;pre-litigation and pre-arbitration matters; and mass consumer mediations. Judge Wolfson also represents and consults pharmaceutical clients in patent-relatedmatters. Additionally, Judge Wolfson has served as a mock judge for parties in high profile cases involving patents and pharmaceutical product liability. Judge Wolfson was nominated to the District Court in 2002, ascending to the Chief Judge post in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as a U.S.Magistrate Judge for over 16 years, one of the few women and one of the youngest members of the district court in the nation. In 2014, she was appointed byU.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to represent the Third Circuit on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the MagistrateJudge System; she then served as Third Circuit District Judge Representative on the Judicial Conference of the United States. During her 36-year judicial tenure, Judge Wolfson authored thousands of opinions on issues such as securities litigations, shareholder derivative lawsuits,products liability, commercial transactions and financial fraud, civil rights, and constitutionality of federal and state statutes. She presided over a multitude ofcivil and criminal trials, including Hatch Waxman ANDA patent infringement cases; one of the largest excessive fees litigations associated with securities andmutual funds; employment discrimination matters; civil rights claims under section 1983; and white collar criminal cases. Judge Wolfson was also appointed by the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Panel to oversee some of the nation’s largest MDLs, including In re Johnson & JohnsonTalcum Powder Prods. Mktg. Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., the second largest MDL in the country. She has extensive experience in complex discoverymatters and has successfully facilitated hundreds of settlements. Frequently recognized as a leader of the bar, Judge Wolfson has received such honors as the 2022 Donald A. Robinson Meritorious Service Award, the 2016Rutgers University Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award and the, 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Rutgers University School of Law, the 2012Inductee of the Associate Alumni of Douglas College–Society of Excellence, the 2013 Women in the Profession Section’s Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Award forDistinguished Service and Excellence, and the 2008 Women’s Initiative & Leaders in Law Platinum Award from New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Additionally, Judge Wolfson was selected as an American Bar Foundation Fellow.Upon her graduation from law school, Judge Wolfson initially practiced litigation at Lowenstein.

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Boris ZiserGlobal Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets McDermott Will & Schulte

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Boris Ziser

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GLOBAL HEAD OF STRUCTURED FINANCE, CLOS AND ALTERNATIVE ASSETS, MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE Boris Ziser is McDermott’s Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He advises clients on asset-backed lending and securitization, warehouse facilities, secured financings, specialty finance lending, and other esoteric finance transactions. With more than 30 years of experience, he works across a wide range of asset classes, including life settlements, litigation funding, equipment leases, structured settlements, lottery receivables, timeshare loans, merchant cash advances, home equity investments (HEI), cell towers, intellectual property, insurance-related cash flows, and others. He also represents investors, lenders, hedge funds, private equity funds and finance companies in acquisitions and dispositions of asset portfolios, as well as financings secured by those portfolios.

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2026 agenda

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BECOME A SPEAKER

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

OPENing day: tuesday, SEPTEMBER 15

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Opening Reception

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

7:30 – 8:45 AM: Registration & Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:30 AM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS - THE PRICE OF JUSTICE: KEN FEINBERG ON FUNDING, FAIRNESS AND RESOLUTION

In this timely conversation, Feinberg will share his perspective on how funding is reshaping pathways to resolution, what information matters in settlement negotiations, and what safeguards are needed to preserve trust as legal finance continues to mature. Kenneth R. Feinberg, Mediator & Arbitrator, Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg In discussion with Emily Siegel, Senior Reporter, Bloomberg Law

9:30 - 10:20 AM: STATE OF THE MARKET - LEGAL FINANCE 2026: THE MARKET SHIFTS DRIVING CAPITAL, STRATEGY AND DECISIONS

The economic, geopolitical, and regulatory forces reshaping legal finance in 2026The changing capital stack—how direct institutional entrants, banks, and new structures are reshaping competition and deploymentHow legal finance could evolve as capital becomes deeper, cheaper, and more specializedSpeakers: David Gialanella, Editor-in-Chief, Business of Law and The American Lawyer (moderator)Evan Meyerson, Managing Director, Burford CapitalMichael Nicolas, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Longford CapitalElena S. Rey, Partner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations, Brown RudnickRyan Stephen, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Pine Valley Capital Partners

10:20 – 10:50 AM: Networking Break

10:50 - 11:20 AM: FEATURED INTERVIEW - INSIDE THE SILICON VALLEY SUPER TRIAL: ELON MUSK V SAM ALTMAN

Steven Molo, Founding Partner, MoloLamken

11:00 - 12:30 PM: BOARDROOM - HOSTED BY TSEG

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

11:20 - 12:10 PM: THE DEALMAKERS’ RUNDOWN - REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS & THE SHIFTING RISK PROFILE

How state-by-state regulation is changing where, with whom, and on what terms legal finance deals can be doneThe impact on structuring, diligence, pricing, disclosure, and capital deployment across the marketHow firms, funders, and advisers can keep transactions moving as regulatory risk becomes a commercial riskSpeakers: Bryan F. Aylstock, Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & OverholtzVictoria Shannon Sahani, Professor of Law, Boston University School of LawHon. Freda L. Wolfson, Former Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lowenstein SandlerBoris Ziser, Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs & Alternative Assets, McDermott, Will, & Schulte

12:10 - 1:00 PM: IN PERSPECTIVE - VIEW FROM THE TOP: LAW FIRM LEADERS ON AI, MSOS & THE NEW BUSINESS OF LAW

How AI is changing law firm operations, decision-making, and client deliveryWhat growing investor interest and MSO models mean for ownership, control, and independenceHow firm leaders are reshaping their business models for the next era of legal practiceSpeakers: Ed Scanlan, CEO & Founder, Bridge Legal (moderator)Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three CrownsMelinda R. Coolidge, U.S. Managing Partner, HausfeldDavid Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer, ReedSmithKiley Grombacher, Founding Partner, Bradley/Grombacher

1:00 – 2:45 PM: Networking Lunch

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS MASS TORTS

IN FOCUS DEALMAKING

2:45 - 3:30 PM: SOLUTION CIRCLES - ABS & MSOs

As law firms explore external investment, ABS and MSO models are becoming one of the most consequential—and contested—developments in the US legal market. These facilitated, peer-to-peer working groups will examine: Regulation & structuring: navigating state-by-state restrictions on ownership, fee-sharing, management rights, and revenue modelsCapital & control: defining the boundary between commercial oversight and professional independenceThe commercial case: assessing whether external capital can deliver sustainable growth, stronger operations, and aligned long-term returnsCo-Facilitators: Matthew Dolman, Founding Partner, Dolman Law GroupShayna E. Sacks, Partner, Napoli ShkolnikR. Brent Wisner, Managing Partner, Wisner Baum

2:45 - 3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - FROM PARTNERS TO PARTING WAYS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEAL?

How firms and funders can manage performance, communication and changing expectations after a deal is completedWhat options are available when the relationship or funding structure no longer works, including refinancing and restructuringHow secondaries and other liquidity solutions can create an exit, transfer exposure or reset the parties’ positionsSpeakers: Kelly Daley, Principal & Founder, Celsia Capital (moderator)Megan Coleville, VP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant Rubino LambrianakosPaul B. Haskel, Partner, Crowell & Moring

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Networking Break

4:00 - 4:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - DEALING WITH FIRMS IN DISTRESS: REFINANCING VS RESTRUCTURING

When refinancing remains viable—and when deeper restructuring is requiredHow firms and funders can stabilise distress as timelines lengthen and assumptions changeWhat happens when recovery is no longer possible—and whether the market needs a formal frameworkSpeakers: Jeff Cohen, Partner and Managing Director, Contingency CapitalRuth Rizkalla, Partner, The Carlson Law Firm

4:00 - 4:45 PM: INSURANCE SPOTLIGHT - THE WIDESPREAD USE OF INSURANCE (AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JPIS…)

Why insurance is becoming integral to legal finance structures—and what capital providers now expect it to protectHow coverage, pricing, and insurer diligence are reshaping underwriting, economics, and capital deploymentWhat happened to JPI—and which products and risk-transfer models could define the market’s next phaseSpeakers: Tom Baker, William Maul Measey Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (moderator)Andrew Mutter, EVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty

4:00 - 5:30 PM: BOARDROOM - CORPORATE LITIGATION LEADERS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

4:45 - 5:30 PM: LAW FIRM PERSPECTIVES - TRANSPARENCY ON TRIAL: DATA, STANDARDS, & THE FUTURE OF MASS TORT REPORTING

What firms should report to capital providers—and which metrics genuinely inform decisionsCreating consistent definitions, validation standards, and accountability across portfoliosHow better reporting can strengthen trust, identify risk earlier, and improve funding relationshipsSpeakers: Samuel Issacharoff, Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU Law (moderator)Brooke Cohen, Founding and Managing Partner, Cohen HirschSteve Faries, Partner, Pulaski KherkherKelsey Stokes, Senior Attorney, The Lanier Law Firm

4:45 - 5:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - HOW TO EVALUATE AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAPITAL PARTNER

What separates a source of capital from a genuine strategic partnerHow to assess track record, flexibility, alignment, and execution—not just pricingWhere brokers and advisers add value in finding, diligencing, and negotiating with the right funderSpeakers: John Morley, Augustus E. Lines Professor of Law, Yale Law School (moderator)Cesar Bello, Partner, Director of Litigation Finance, Corbin Capital PartnersAlfonso Chan, Partner, CahillJonathan Selbin, Senior Partner, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein

9:00 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.

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Networking Reception & Close of Day One

DAY TWO: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

8:30 - 9:00 AM: Registration & Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Recap

9:15 - 9:45 AM: DATA DEEP DIVE - WHAT THE DATA TELLS US: LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO INVEST

Where investments made between 2017 and 2021 underperformed, and what investors learned from themWhich deal characteristics have been most closely associated with successful outcomesHow those lessons are changing underwriting, portfolio construction and capital deployment todaySpeakers: Joseph Dunn, Managing Director, Legal Assets Co-Chief Investment Officer, Fortress Investment GroupWill Weisman, Director – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel, Parabellum Capital

9:45 - 11:00 AM: PANEL DISCUSSION - UNLOCKING VALUE: THE RISE OF AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION

How law firms and corporations are identifying and pursuing affirmative litigation opportunitiesWhy potentially valuable claims are often overlooked, deprioritized or left undevelopedHow affirmative litigation can shift the legal function from managing exposure to creating strategic and financial valueSpeakers: William Isaacson, Partner, Dunn Isaacson Rhee (moderator)Ellen Holloman, Partner, Kaplan MartinStephen Kim, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Avicannaa

11:00 - 11:30 AM: Networking Break

11:30 AM – 3:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS LITIGATION FUNDERS

IN FOCUS LAW FIRMS

CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS

11:30 – 12:15 PM: MASTERCLASS - AI IN PRACTICE: FINDING AND FUNDING BETTER CASES

How AI is being used to identify potential claims, surface overlooked opportunities and build stronger case pipelinesWhere AI can improve early-stage assessment, diligence and underwriting—and which decisions still require experienced human judgmentWhat funders and firms need to get right on data quality, validation and implementation before AI can produce better investment outcomesSpeakers: Byron Reeves, Paul C. Edwards Professor of Communication, Stanford University (moderator)Chris Kercher, Founder, Kercher Law

11:30 – 12:15 PM: CASE STUDY - BUILDING A PLAINTIFF-SIDE PRACTICE

The strategic and commercial case behind Vinson & Elkins’ move into plaintiff-side litigationHow the firm built the practice: selecting opportunities, assembling the team and integrating contingency work into the wider businessWhat the firm has learned about economics, risk, culture and scaling—and what others should consider before following the same pathSpeakers: Stephen Medlock, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

11:30 - 1:00 PM: BOARDROOM - INSTITUTIONAL ALLOCATORS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

12:15 - 2:00 PM: Networking Lunch

2:00 - 2:45 PM: THE INVESTOR LENS - WHAT FUNDERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL IN A TIGHTER MARKET

Why institutional investors allocate capital to some litigation fund managers—and reject othersWhat allocators are really testing when they assess strategy, team, track record, pipeline and riskWhat can turn investor interest into a commitment—or cause an allocation to fall awaySpeakers: Chandra Metzler, Partner & Co-Founder, CM Squared (moderator)Mervin Burton, Partner, Head of Research, Beatrice Advisors

2:00 - 2:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - WHY GOOD CASES DON’T GET FUNDED

What funders are seeing in the market today, and how appetite, capacity and return expectations are shaping investment decisionsWhy apparently strong cases still fail to secure funding, from weak economics and incomplete diligence to poor strategic fitHow firms can present opportunities more effectively, with the evidence, analysis and commercial clarity funders need to reach a decisionSpeakers: Ankur Kapoor, Partner, Constantine Cannon (moderator)Debra Bogo-Ernst, Partner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice, Willkie Farr & GallagherSarah Johnson, Head of Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Ryan Phair, Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings

2:45 -3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - WHEN THE CASE TURNS: MANAGING APPEAL, ENFORCEMENT AND OUTCOME RISK

Why a major judgment may still be far from a realizable recovery—and the appellate, foreign-law, sovereign and enforcement risks that remain after trialHow claimant counsel, defence counsel and funders assess and stress-test those risks at different stages of a caseWhat happens when the legal or commercial assumptions underpinning a matter change—and how the parties can reset strategy, expectations and next steps without relying on hindsightSpeakers: Claudia Linares, Founder & CEO,Fortalea Advisory (moderator) Jason Levine, Partner, Foley & LardnerJennifer Scullion, Partner, SeegerWeissThomas White, Partner, Sullivan Cromwell

2:45 - 3:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - SKIN IN THE GAME: WHEN TO SELF-FUND, CO-FUND OR SHARE THE RISK

How to determine which matters to finance and when to bring in external capitalHow case economics, portfolio exposure, cash flow and risk appetite shape the choice between self-funding, co-funding and full risk transferLessons learned from funding structures that underperformed, became misaligned or failed to deliver the expected outcomeSpeakers: Suneal Bedi, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University (moderator)Robert Kaplan, Partner, Kaplan FoxBrian D. Melton, Partner, Susman Godfrey

9:00 AM – 3:30 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.

3:30 - 5:00 PM: Closing Reception

THANK YOU TO OUR

2026 SPONSORS & PARTNERS

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BECOME A SPONSOR

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SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION

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2026 SPONSORS

Gold sponsorS

CAC is now part of The Baldwin Group. Together, we deliver greater specialization, expanded
capabilities, and deeper expertise to help clients navigate today’s evolving risk landscape. By
combining CAC’s industry and product expertise with Baldwin’s national platform and distribution
network, we provide seamless access to a full suite of risk management solutions. Our unified
team serves clients across retail, specialty, reinsurance (including London and Bermuda), and
MGA platforms.

Fabricant LLP is a dynamic IP litigation boutique with unparalleled success enforcing or defending patent infringement claims involving the most important and cutting-edge technologies. We are experts representing plaintiffs and defendants in all high-tech industries including, audio processing, smartphone, semiconductor, automotive, payments, computer hardware and software, LED displays and lights, GPS location services among many others. Fabricant LLP is regularly ranked among the most active U.S. law firms representing patent owners in the courts and before the PTAB where it has achieved win rates for defeating validity challenges far above the national average.

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.

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.

silver sponsorS

Brown Rudnick is a leading international law firm that provides exceptional, client-driven service in global litigation, crisis management, brand and reputation management, life sciences, technology, intellectual property, and litigation funding. Our lawyers have extensive experience leading high-profile cross-border matters and are recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Law360 for excellence.

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world.

Cathedral CPAs & Advisors helps litigation finance firms build the financial infrastructure needed to grow with confidence. We provide fractional CFO and controller services, back office solutions, strategic advisory, and comprehensive tax support, including preparation, structuring, and strategy. Our team works with leadership to improve reporting, strengthen controls, manage complexity, and support informed decision making. Clients gain experienced financial leadership, practical insight, and scalable support without the expense of building a full internal finance department.

Contingency Capital is a global asset management business focused on credit oriented legal assets. Contingency Capital was founded in November 2020 by Brandon Baer. We invest in legal assets where the primary driver of value is a legal, tax or regulatory process.

Our investment team is comprised of credit and distressed investors who are also former transactional attorneys and litigators. Collectively we have decades of multifaceted experience investing in legal assets.

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, and its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

The D. E. Shaw group is a global investment and technology development firm with more than $90 billion in investment and committed capital as of June 1, 2026, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Since our founding in 1988, we have earned an international reputation for successful investing based on innovation, careful risk management, and the quality and depth of our staff.

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.

MoloLamken is a law firm focused exclusively on representing clients in complex disputes. It handles civil, criminal, and regulatory matters, as well as appeals, across the United States. The firm’s clients span the globe. MoloLamken is involved in some of the most significant disputes of the day.

MoloLamken provides experienced advocacy – for claimants as well as defendants – before judges, juries, arbitral forums, and courts of appeals, including the Supreme Court of the United States. The firm also represents clients in regulatory and criminal investigations and conducts internal investigations.

Parabellum Capital is a leading financier of commercial and intellectual property litigation. Founded in 2012, its principals pioneered the commercial litigation funding market in the United States and remain on the forefront of shaping the asset class as the industry evolves. Parabellum’s team has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the commercial litigation arena, with a focus on structuring aligned transactions with claimholders and counsel.

BRONZE SPONSORs

Curiam Capital LLC is a private investment firm that provides financing for law firms and high-value litigation. Curiam invests in most types of commercial litigation in areas such as commercial business disputes, securities, antitrust, intellectual property, international arbitration, and bankruptcy and insolvency. Curiam’s team has decades of experience evaluating litigation claims and takes pride in making quick but well-informed investment decisions. Curiam funds both individual cases and portfolios of cases.

Eve Legal is the AI operating system that plaintiff law firms use across the entire case lifecycle to handle more cases, reduce time on desk, and increase settlement values. Over 1200 firms choose EveOS to grow faster and deliver stronger client outcomes.

One platform. Every partner relationship.

Lexamica is a full-service referral platform connecting lawyers across the country. Expand your network, strengthen relationships, and scale referral revenue with Lexamica.

Saul Ewing is a full-service, law firm with specialized practices in IP and Litigation Finance. Our attorneys advise litigation funders, investors, insurers and other clients by underwriting and analyzing litigation risks surrounding potential litigation claims, jury verdicts, case merits, and appeals of intellectual property, patent, trade secret, and commercial cases.

Media Partner

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. Through separate publications, we also cover the UK, Canadian and Australian insolvency markets (Insolvency Insider UK / Insolvency Insider Canada / Insolvency Insider Australia).

supporting organization

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

sponsorship opportunities

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Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is where the legal finance market comes together to do business. Bringing together senior leaders from law firms, funders, investors, corporates, insurers, and the wider disputes ecosystem, the Forum is designed to drive the relationships, partnerships, and commercial conversations that move deals forward. As the market matures and capital becomes more selective, LF Dealmakers goes beyond theory to focus on how capital is actually being deployed, partnerships structured, and opportunities executed in practice. Our value lies in convening the full legal finance ecosystem in one place — connecting those originating claims, deploying capital, structuring opportunities, and driving disputes forward. The result is a highly focused environment for meaningful conversations, strategic alignment, and real dealmaking.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with relevant participants

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for real conversations

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

21+ focused sessions tackling capital deployment, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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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 portfoliosUnderstand how funders assess risk, structure deals, and price opportunities in a more selective marketBenchmark your funding and growth strategy against leading claimant firms across EuropeExplore alternative fee arrangements, portfolio models, and firm-level financing strategiesAccess investors and advisors to support expansion, case development, and balance sheet managementStay ahead of how capital is reshaping litigation strategy, firm economics, and competitive positioning

Funders

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 typesBenchmark your underwriting, portfolio construction, and deployment strategies against leading fundersUnderstand how law firms are structuring, packaging, and presenting opportunities in today’s marketAccess origination partners, co-investment opportunities, and new distribution channelsExplore emerging asset classes, including ESG, securities, and cross-border collective actionsStay ahead of regulatory developments, capital flows, and structural shifts impacting returns

Investors

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 strategiesAccess funders, law firms, and platforms originating and managing opportunitiesEvaluate risk, return profiles, and structuring approaches across jurisdictions and asset typesExplore entry points into legal finance, including co-investment, private credit, and secondary marketsBenchmark allocation strategies against other institutional investorsStay ahead of how capital is flowing into and shaping the legal finance market

Insurers

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 disputesExplore opportunities to partner with funders and law firms on risk transfer and capital solutionsBenchmark underwriting approaches, pricing models, and emerging insurance productsAccess key stakeholders originating and structuring large-scale claims and portfoliosExplore how insurance can enhance capital efficiency, mitigate downside, and support deal structuresStay ahead of trends in claims, portfolios, and structured risk across jurisdictions

Claimants & Corporations

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 exposureExplore strategies for pursuing complex, cross-border, and high-value disputesAccess funders, law firms, and advisors to structure and execute claims effectivelyBenchmark your approach against leading corporates and claimant groups across EuropeUnderstand how funding impacts control, governance, and outcomesStay ahead of how disputes are being originated, financed, and executed in today’s market

Secure Your Seat

REGISTER TODAY

Companies Attending Include:

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

VENUE & Accommodations

eventi & second

Experience the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers in Manhattan’s Chelsea district. This year, the forum returns to the sophisticated Kimpton Hotel Eventi (851 6th Avenue) and the adjoining SECOND event space (849 6th Avenue), together occupying an entire NYC city block. With sleek modern design, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, both venues offer breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline — the perfect setting for high-level networking, dealmaking, and strategic discussion. A limited number of premium rooms at Kimpton Hotel Eventi are available at a special rate of $649++ 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 registrant.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

Where will the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum be held?

The 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be held on September 15-17, 2025 at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND event space. This event is colocated with our 3rd LF Mass Torts event. You may find additional information regarding the venue on our Venue page.

How do I register for the event?

Registration for the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be open soon.

What's included with my registration?

All registered attendees will have access to the following: Admission to main conferenceNetworking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptionsOnline event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messagingRecorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

Why does my registration need to be approved?

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.

What criteria do you look for when reviewing 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.

How long will it take to review my registration?

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

Why was my registration declined or waitlisted?

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.

How do I pay my registration fees?

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.

How do I sponsor or get involved in the event?

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.

How do I submit a speaking proposal?

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.

How do you select topics and speakers?

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.

How do I schedule my 1:1 meetings?

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.

Who can schedule 1:1 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.

What is your refund policy if I need to cancel my registration?

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.

Can I send my colleague if I cannot make it?

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.

Who can I contact regarding a question or concern?

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

Europe
2026-05-11 08:00 - 2026-05-13 17:00 | London, London, United Kingdom
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2026

Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND | NEW YORK

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Event Home

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About The Event

WHERE CAPITAL, CLAIMS, AND STRATEGY MEET

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum returns to New York in September 2026, bringing together the funders, law firms, investors, corporates and specialist advisors driving the next phase of legal finance. Now in its ninth year, LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is the flagship meeting point for senior decision-makers across legal finance. The 2026 program focuses on the market questions shaping capital formation, deployment, regulation, liquidity, law firm strategy, AI, insurance and the evolving firm-funder relationship. Co-located with LF Dealmakers Mass Torts, the Forum creates a unique platform connecting the full legal finance ecosystem under one roof — from commercial litigation and plaintiff firms to institutional capital and strategic partners. The result is a highly connected environment built around originating relationships, accessing opportunities, and driving real commercial outcomes.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

LF Dealmakers by the numbers

275+

DecisionMakers

160+

AttendingCOMPANIES

300+

one to onemettings

50+

EXPERT SPEAKERS

10+

Hours of dedicated networking

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

Focused sessions

Tackling capital formation, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms shaping the future of legal finance

Dedicated content streams

Tailored tracks for mass torts, litigation funders, and law firms designed to deliver a more personalised and relevant experience across the legal finance ecosystem

Market-leading plenaries and keynotes

Exploring the forces reshaping legal finance, capital deployment, regulation, and law firm strategy

New interactive formats

Including masterclasses, deep dives, Dealmakers’ rundowns, and practical case studies designed for actionable insight

New closed-door boardrooms

Designed for deeper, candid conversations among senior industry leaders and decision-makers

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform

Facilitating targeted introductions, strategic partnerships, and business opportunities

view full Agenda

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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100percent

ROI rated very good to excellent

100percent

Would highly recommend to a colleague

98percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

"LF Dealmakers is our must attend litigation finance conference in New York each year. The attendees are well-curated, the speakers are experienced and compelling, and the event is impeccably organized."

— Molly Pease | Curiam Capital

"I had been told that LF Dealmakers is the best litigation finance conferences there is. After having spent two days listening to panels of experts and conveniently meeting with folks, I can understand why. I plan to be back next year."

— Marc Carmel | McDonald Hopkins

"LF Dealmakers is a go-to event for litigation finance. Dealmakers Forums runs an excellent program, which is always informative, well-organized, and attracts a good cross-section from the industry and beyond."

— Zachary Krug | NorthWall Capital

"LF Dealmakers is one of the very best conferences dedicated to the litigation finance industry. It is an incredibly well-run event, and brings together a broad range of attendees, including prominent litigation funders, law firms, investors, clients, academics, and media. The content is excellent, and the networking opportunities are second to none."

— Michael Nicolas | Longford Capital

"The Dealmakers team has put together yet another successful, informative, and productive litigation finance conference! LF Dealmakers continues to lead the industry in bringing together top talent and shaping the growth of this market."

— Rebecca Berrebi | Avenue 33, LLC

"As a first time attendee and speaker, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but LF Dealmakers exceeded my expectations. The room was full of relevant and high-level people and the conference was organized to make connections."

— Peter Buckley | Fox Rothschild

EVENT GALLERY

DealmakERS in action

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2026 SPEAKERS

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

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BECOME A SPEAKER

2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg is one of the Nation’s leading experts in alternative dispute resolution. He was the former Court-appointed Mediator in both the Imerys/Cyprus talc bankruptcy in Delaware and the Hess-Honx asbestos bankruptcy in Texas. He previously served as the voluntary Mediator in the Georgia Pacific/Bestwall bankruptcy in North Carolina, was co-Mediator in the successful Owens Illinois/Paddock asbestos bankruptcy proceeding in North Carolina and was formerly the Court-ordered Estimation Expert in the Johnson & Johnson/LTL Management bankruptcy in New Jersey. He has served as the Court-appointed Mediator in the successful resolution of the Purdue and Mallinckrodt opioid bankruptcies in the Southern District of New York and Delaware. Mr. Feinberg has been designated by the Federal Government to serve in a variety of public compensation and related funding programs over the past 40 years. He previously served as Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, the Department of Justice Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the Department of Justice Boeing 737 Max Crash Victim Beneficiaries Compensation Fund, the Department of the Treasury’s TARP Executive Compensation Program and the Treasury’s Private Multiemployer Pension Reform program. He was also appointed by the Obama Administration to oversee compensation of victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to his acting as Mediator and Administrator in a wide variety of federally related compensation programs, Mr. Feinberg has also served as Administrator of 24 Catholic Church Dioceses’ Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Funds designed to compensate the victims of Church sexual abuse. He also served as Administrator of the One Orlando Fund following a terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub, the General Motors Ignition Switch Compensation Program, and the One Fund Boston Compensation Program arising out of the Boston Marathon bombings. He was also the Mediator in the successful effort to return an original Chagall painting from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to its original family owners in Europe. He previously served as the Court-appointed Settlement Master in the Fiat/Chrysler Diesel Emissions class action settlement in San Francisco and is currently the Court-appointed Special Settlement Master in the national federal multi-district mass tort Roundup litigation. Mr. Feinberg has been appointed mediator and arbitrator in thousands of complex disputes over the past 40 years.

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2026 FORUM SPEAKERS

Bryan F. AylstockFounding Partner Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLC

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Bryan F. Aylstock

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FOUNDING PARTNER, AYLSTOCK, WITKIN, KREIS & OVERHOLTZ, PLC Mr. Aylstock founded his firm (Aylstock Witkin) in 2001, which is now comprised of more than 35 attorneys and 400 staff members who have directly handled the claims of more than 100,000 individual clients and class representatives over the past 20+ years. Mr. Aylstock graduated number one in his law school section from the University of Florida College of Law and served as a senior editor of the Florida Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Aylstock clerked for the Honorable Roger Vinson, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He has specialized in multi-district and class action litigation for more than 25 years and has developed substantial experience in handling complex litigation in both MDLs and state court consolidated proceedings. He has been appointed to multiple leadership roles by Courts across the Country on behalf of Plaintiffs.

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Tom BakerWilliam Maul Measey Professor University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

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Tom Baker

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WILLIAM MAUL MEASEY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL Tom Baker is the William Maul Measey Professor at Penn Carey Law School, with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School of Business, and a member of the Board of Directors of the liability insurer, Bowhead Specialty. Tom teaches and writes about legal finance with a special interest in adjacent insurance markets. Tom was the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Liability Insurance. He was awarded the 2024 Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for “empirical scholarship that has contributed most effectively to the advancement of research in law and society” and the 2013 Robert B. McKay to honor his “commitment to the advancement of justice, scholarship and the legal profession, demonstrated by outstanding contributions to the fields of tort and insurance law.”

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Suneal BediAssociate Professor of Business Law and Ethics Indiana University

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Suneal Bedi

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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS LAW AND ETHICS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY Suneal Bedi is an Associate Professor of Business Law & Ethics and the Jerome Bess Faculty Fellow at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. His work focuses on the intersection of law and business strategy. He seeks to analyze how corporate entities can utilize public institutions (e.g. courts, legislatures, social norms) to gain strategic advantages in marketplace transactions. Suneal has written extensively on litigation finance, intellectual property, and marketing ethics. His work has been published in leading law and business journals including Cornell Law Review, Vanderbilt Law Review, Southern California Law Review, and the Journal of Business Ethics, and has been featured in news outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, Washington Post, and US News. He has a PhD in Marketing and Business Ethics from The Wharton School and was formerly a private equity lawyer at Ropes & Gray, LLP.

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Cesar BelloPartner, Director of Litigation Finance Corbin Capital Partners

Debra Bogo-ErnstPartner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice Willkie Farr & Gallagher

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Debra Bogo-Ernst

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PARTNER & CHAIR, NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION PRACTICE, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER With over 25 years of experience, Debra represents a broad range of national and international organizations in class actions, mass arbitrations, and other high-stakes, complex litigation in the areas of autos, financial services, insurance, privacy, retail, products liability, and telecommunications. These cases involve the alphabet soup of statutory claims, privacy, unfair and deceptive trade practices, false advertising, trade secrets, safety and efficacy issues, false claims, government programs, fair housing and discrimination, civil conspiracy, and fraud-related claims. She also handles a variety of government investigations, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, and other state agencies. Debra often assists clients in navigating Consent Orders and other government settlements, including through the use of independent consultants. She also defends companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company risks and business-to-business disputes, and she has significant bench and jury trial experience.

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Mervin BurtonPartner, Head of Research Beatrice Advisors

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Mervin Burton

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PARTNER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, BEATRICE ADVISORS

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Hugh CarlsonCEO Three Crowns

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Hugh Carlson

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CEO, THREE CROWNS Hugh Carlson is the CEO and General Counsel of Three Crowns LLP. Since joining at the firm’s launch in 2014, he has helped build Three Crowns from a start-up boutique into one of the world’s premier dispute resolution practices. A former software engineer, Hugh has made innovation a defining feature of the firm. Under his leadership, Three Crowns has become a recognized leader in legal AI. The Financial Times has repeatedly honored the firm’s AI innovations, including its deployment of Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex to build enterprise-grade software tailored to its practice. Microsoft has called Three Crowns an “AI-powered company … bending the curve on innovation.” With Stanford’s Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), Hugh co-led the development of Atelier, an AI-powered cross-examination training platform that won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award for best training innovation in 2025. Hugh has lectured at Harvard Law School since 2019. He is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, and holds the leading credential in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

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Alfonso ChanPartner Cahill

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ALFONSO CHAN

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PARTNER, CAHILL Alfonso Garcia Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities, research institutes, and technology companies.His matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters, as well as biomaterials and medical devices. Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Europe.Alfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters.

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Brooke CohenFounding and Managing Partner Cohen Hirsch

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Brooke Cohen

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FOUNDING AND MANAGING PARTNER, COHEN HIRSCH Brooke Cohen has practiced law for almost 30 years, devoting most of her careerto representing individuals injured by defective products, dangerous medications, and corporate misconduct. She has handled complex product-liability and mass-tort matters involving transvaginal mesh, Dow breast implants, Essure, and other medical products. Brooke also represents survivors in cases involving sexual assault and abuse.Brooke’s work in mass torts and cases affecting women grew naturally from herbackground in healthcare policy. Before attending law school, she worked as ahealthcare lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where she gained an understanding of theways public policy, medicine, and corporate decision-making can affect patients and consumers.Brooke graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she majored in women’s history. After working in Washington, D.C., she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas.Throughout her nearly three decades of practice, Brooke has remained committed to advocating for people whose lives have been changed by injury, assault, or abuse. She approaches each client with empathy and integrity, guided by the belief that every client deserves to be heard, understood, and treated with dignity, respect, and care.

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Jeff CohenPartner Contingency Capital

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Jeff Cohen

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PARTNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeff Cohen is a Partner and Managing Director of Contingency Capital, which he joined at its inception in 2021. Prior to joining Contingency Capital, Jeff was formerly a Partner and Managing Director at Southpaw Asset Management, a distressed credit opportunity investment firm, which he joined at its inception in 2005. Prior to working at Southpaw, Jeff was a Vice President and Analyst in the distressed securities fund at Ramius Capital Group LLC. Jeff began his professional career as a bankruptcy and restructuring attorney in private practice and served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Bruce I. Fox in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jeff received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University and aJD from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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Megan ColevilleVP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Megan Colville

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VP, CORPORATE COUNSEL – LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Megan Colville is a vice president of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and serves as a member of, and corporate counsel to, the D. E. Shaw group’s Litigation Investing team, which operates within the firm’s Private Credit investment unit. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Ms. Colville was a corporate associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where she focused on leveraged and acquisition finance, private credit, capital markets, and project finance. She received a B.S. in industrial engineering, with highest honors, from Lehigh University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was an articles editor of the Virginia Law Review.

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Melinda R. CoolidgeManaging Partner Hausfeld

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Melinda Coolidge

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MANAGING PARTNER, HAUSFELD Melinda serves as US Managing Partner, responsible for the successful management of the firm’s US offices. She leads by example, embodying the firm’s values of tenacity and pragmatism, and believes success lies in maximizing opportunities for the professional and personal development of every team member, empowering a culture of bold actions, pioneering cases, and unconventional thinking. Deeply committed to the firm’s vision of global civil redress for those harmed by wrongdoing, Melinda also maintains an active legal practice focused on private enforcement of antitrust laws, representing clients ranging from Fortune 200 companies to classes of consumers with a common goal of maximizing recoveries from cartel price-fixing or monopolization. Her clients have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements and a US Supreme Court victory. Melinda works to safeguard free and open markets and is proud to be named one of the Top 100 Women in Antitrust by Global Competition Review.

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David CunninghamChief Innovation Officer ReedSmith

Kelly DaleyPrincipal & Founder Celsia Capital

Matthew DolmanFounding Partner Dolman Law Group

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Matthew Dolman

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FOUNDING PARTNER, DOLMAN LAW GROUP Matthew Dolman is the Founding Partner of Dolman Law Group, where he grew the firm from a local personal injury practice into a national firm focused on complex litigation and mass torts. With more than 20 years of experience, Matt has led litigation against some of the world’s largest corporations, represented survivors in institutional sexual abuse cases, and built mass tort portfolios involving defective medications, dangerous products, environmental exposures, and other catastrophic litigation. Matt also serves as Head of Underwriting for GFO Asset Management, an alternative asset manager providing institutional investors access to litigation finance by evaluating the legal merits of cases alongside financial risk and return. In that role, he evaluates case portfolios, assesses litigation risk, and identifies quality investment opportunities. Through interviews, speaking engagements, and podcasting, Matt regularly speaks on litigation finance, mass tort strategy, law firm growth, and the intersection of law, business, and capital markets.

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Joseph DunnManaging Director Fortress Investment Group

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Joseph Dunn

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CO-CIO LEGAL ASSETS, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP Mr. Dunn is a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group, and Co-CIO of the Fortress Legal Assets business. Mr. Dunn is based in New York and focuses on litigation and legal process related debt and structured equity transactions, including serving on the boards of several legal services companies. Prior to joining Fortress in 2016, Mr. Dunn was a litigator at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig LLP. At both firms, Mr. Dunn represented parties in disputes in U.S. state and federal courts, primarily in securities cases. Mr. Dunn received his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

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Fred FabricantManaging Partner Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos

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Fred Fabricant

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MANAGING PARTNER, FABRICANT RUBINO LAMBRIANAKOS Alfred R. Fabricant (Fred) is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent, copyright, trademark and unfair competition matters. Fred has litigated patent infringement cases in district courts throughout the United States for both patent owners and defendants including cases in the most active courts in Delaware, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida. His cases have involved a large variety of technologies including automotive, semiconductor, audio processing, LED lighting and displays, smartphone handsets, medical devices, electronic ratings systems, copy protection and anti-piracy technology, NFC and radio frequency identification systems, robotic systems, memory and storage devices, software, internet-related method and system patents, universal remote control devices, and optical systems and methods. According to “The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners” published by the IAM1000: “clients say they cannot imagine working with anyone better, hailing (Fabricant’s) outstanding skills of presentation and persuasion in the courtroom.” Fred has represented clients in patent matters before the International Trade Commission. He has also appeared in more than 100 inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Fred has argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal, Second and Fourth Circuits where he has represented both appellants and appellees in a variety of matters. Since 2008. Fred has handled a large number of cases that have been financed, in whole or in part, by litigation funders. He has also represented litigation funds as outside diligence counsel and is frequently recommended by litigation funders to claimants for both lead counsel representation in litigation as well as for IPR work before the PTAB. In addition to his litigation experience, Fred routinely acts as a legal counselor and advisor in the negotiation and drafting of patent, trademark and copyright license agreements, joint venture and funding agreements, and other business contracts. Fred also specializes in IP due diligence, freedom to operate analyses and strategies for the management and monetization of IP portfolios, a topic on which he has lectured extensively over the past decade. He advises clients on portfolio acquisitions and development, licensing and enforcement strategies, and litigation financing options. EducationThe University of Illinois Chicago Law School, J.D. (with highest distinction)The University of Miami (magna cum laude) AdmissionsNew YorkArizona

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Rachel S. FleishmanPartner Reid Collins Tsai

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Rachel S. Fleishman

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PARTNER, REID COLLINS TSAI

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David GialanellaEditor-in-Chief Business of Law and The American Lawyer

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David Gialanella

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS OF LAW AND THE AMERICAN LAWYER David Gialanella is Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer and Business of Law team at Law.com, where he has spent 16 years in various content team roles. He oversees the Am Law 100/200 and other key Law.com content packages, and leads the Law.com Pro and Law.com Pro Mid-Market platforms. He previously wrote for the ABA Journal and Chicago Sun-Times News Group. He holds master’s degrees from Medill School of Journalism and Pritzker Law at Northwestern University.

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Kiley GrombacherFounding Partner Bradley/Grombacher LLP

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Kiley Grombacher

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FOUNDING PARTNER, BRADLEY/GROMBACHER LLP Kiley L. Grombacher is a co-founding partner at Bradley/Grombacher LLP, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation, including consumer and employment class actions, product liability, personal injury, and pharmaceutical mass torts. With a passion for representing vulnerable individuals wronged by corporate negligence, she has secured numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements, with a strong focus on advocating for women and children. She has led high-profile lawsuits against major global corporations, including Amazon, Pfizer, Roblox, and Epic Games to protect employee rights, drug safety, and consumer privacy.Consistently recognized by her peers for legal excellence, Ms. Grombacher has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer. She is the founder of the Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) and maintains active memberships in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

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Paul B. HaskelPartner Crowell & Moring

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Paul B. Haskel

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PARTNER, CROWELL & MORING Paul B. Haskel is co-chair of Crowell’s Financial Services group and a partner in the New York office. Paul is a highly regarded advisor in the area of litigation finance, and a sought after commentator on litigation finance market trends, including in Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, Litigation Finance Journal, andValueWalk. He regularly represents litigation finance leaders in some of the industry’s most significant matters, including complex international deals. Paul advises litigation funders, private equity firms, and multi-strategy hedge fund clients in connection with their investments in funding transactions, including claims monetization and the provision of non-recourse capital to both plaintiffs and law firms. His work includes the diligence, structuring, and papering of these transactions, as well as advice on the management of credit risk, tax efficiency, state common law issues such as champerty and usury, and legal ethics.

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Ellen HollomanPartner Kaplan Martin

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ELLEN HOLLOMAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN MARTIN Ellen Holloman is a partner at litigation boutique Kaplan Martin. She represents financial institutions, corporations and individuals in civil litigation, arbitrations and at trial, in related regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate internal investigations and, where consistent with client goals, mediation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. In addition to her civil litigation and trial practice, Ellen has significant experience with white-collar criminal defense matters, and has represented clients responding to regulatory inquires, requests and enforcement proceedings. Ellen has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation and Lawdragon, among others, and has been selected as a two-time Notable Black Leader and Executive by Crain’s New York.

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William IsaacsonPartner Dunn Isaacson Rhee

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WILLIAM ISAACSON

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PARTNER, DUNN ISAACSON RHEE Bill Isaacson, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee, is widely considered one of the preeminent trial lawyers of his generation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners across three categories, he was named “Litigator of the Year” in 2016 and “Litigator of the Week” three times by The American Lawyer. Bill has tried cases spanning contract, commercial torts, copyright, international arbitration, and antitrust. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in major antitrust litigations and has tried more federal antitrust class actions this century than any other lawyer—each a major victory. Bill has been recognized in the Lawdragon 500 (each of the last 10 years), two Law360 “Competition MVP” titles, Forbes “America’s Top Lawyers,” and Legal 500 “Hall of Fame Lawyer.”

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Samuel IssacharoffBonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law NYU Law

Sarah JohnsonHead of Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Sarah Johnson

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HEAD OF LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Sarah Johnson serves as head of the Litigation Investing team within the D. E. Shaw group’s Private Credit investment unit. The Litigation Investing team provides financing solutions to law firms, plaintiffs, and other parties involved in commercial litigation. Ms. Johnson joined the D. E. Shaw group in 2006 as an analyst primarily working on distressed credit-related investments, including restructurings, opportunities in stressed equities, litigation plays (including monetizing litigation assets), and bankruptcy liquidations. She has led the Litigation Investing team since its formation in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Johnson was an associate in the restructuring and finance group of the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Ms. Johnson graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in economics and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a managing editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and James Kent Scholar.

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Robert KaplanPartner Kaplan Fox

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ROBERT KAPLAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN FOX ROBERT N. KAPLAN is widely recognized as a leading plaintiff’s litigator and has led the prosecution of numerous Antitrust and securities class actions and individual actions, recovering billions of dollars for the victims of corporate wrongdoing. He was recently listed by defense and corporate counsel as one of the top 75 plaintiffs’ attorneys in the United States for all disciplines and has also been ranked as one of the top attorneys in the United States for securities litigation by Legal 500. Mr. Kaplan was recognized as Super Lawyer in the New York Metro Area. Mr. Kaplan sits on the boards of several organizations, including the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, Board of Directors of the Carver Center in Port Chester, N.Y., Member of the Dana Farber Visiting Committee, Thoracic Oncology in Boston, MA, and Member of Board of Trustees for the Rye Historical Society.

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Ankur KapoorPartner Constantine Cannon

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Ankur Kapoor

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PARTNER, CONSTANTINE CANNON Ankur Kapoor is a partner at Constantine Cannon, with 25 years of experience in antitrust litigation. Most recently, Ankur has been co-lead counsel on behalf of a certified class of video-game publishers in In re Valve Antitrust Litigation, pending in Seattle federal court, as well as a member of the team representing over 60 major corporations in their credit- and debit-card swipe-fee antitrust action against Visa and Mastercard.  Ankur was also lead counsel for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) in a class action alleging price fixing of passenger airfares following a resolved Department of Justice investigation. Ankur is ranked in Chambers U.S.A. for “Antitrust-Mostly Plaintiff” and in U.S. News Best Lawyers for Antitrust Law & Litigation. He has also been named to Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders. Ankur currently serves as the Technology Officer of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section.

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Chris KercherFounder Kercher Law

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Chris Kercher

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FOUNDER, KERCHER LAW

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Stephen KimChief Legal Office & General Counsel Avicanna

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Stephen Kim

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CHIEF LEGAL OFFICE & GENERAL COUNSEL, AVICANNA Stephen is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Avicanna USA Inc., and responsible for all legal, regulatory, IP/tech, compliance, and human resources matters for Avicanna and its subsidiaries globally. Avicanna is a publicly traded commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with sales/operations in twenty-three countries. Prior to Avicanna, Stephen held roles of increasing responsibility at various publicly traded pharma/biotech and technology companies and practiced law with leading US and International law firms in New York and Toronto. Stephen graduated with a US law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (JD, 1997) and a Canadian law degree from the University of Windsor (LLB, 1997)

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Jason LevinePartner Foley & Lardner

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Evan Meyerson

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FOLEY & LARDNER Jason Levine is an antitrust and commercial litigation partner at Foley & Lardner LLP in Washington, D.C. He has over 25 years of first-chair experience, representing corporate plaintiffs and defendants in enterprise-risk disputes, including prior roles as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins, and Alston & Bird. From 2022-25, Jason spent nearly four years as an Investment Manager at Omni Bridgeway, one of the world’s largest commercial litigation finance firms. He originated and managed investments involving billion-dollar antitrust and business disputes and directed the company’s U.S. antitrust strategy. Complementing his litigation practice at Foley, Jason also serves as a trusted counselor to parties and funders on funding-related matters, and helps plaintiff-side clients explore potential non-recourse financing for their matters. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Jason clerked for Judge Randall Rader on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Claudia LinaresFounder & CEO Fortalea Advisory

Stephen MedlockPartner Vinson & Elkins

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Stephen Medlock

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PARTNER, VINSON & ELKINS Steve Medlock is an experienced antitrust litigator who brings dedication, intensity, and commercial common sense to his representations of Fortune 500 clients, whether navigating through complex multidistrict class actions or successfully defending clients in grand jury investigations. Clients place their trust in Steve to develop unique and complex antitrust arguments for both defendants and plaintiffs. Steve’s unique mix of plaintiff and defense-side experience allows him to see the issues that exclusive defense-sided practitioners miss in a full range of antitrust matters, including corporate counseling, internal investigations, civil non-merger and criminal cartel investigations, and litigation. In these areas, Steve is known for providing practical advice that business executives can digest. Steve has secured victories for clients in major antitrust class actions and B2B antitrust cases alleging monopolization and attempted monopolization at critical stages, including winning dismissal prior to discovery and prevailing at summary judgment. His depositions and briefs have been quoted in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Politico. Steve is a recognized as a part of the next generation of leadership in the antitrust bar. He currently serves as one of the editors of the forthcoming draft of the tenth edition of Antitrust Law Developments, the preeminent desk reference for antitrust lawyers.

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Brian MeltonPartner Susman Godfrey

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Brian Melton

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PARTNER, SUSMAN GODFREY Brian Melton is a nationally recognized lead trial lawyer who regularly tries and wins bet-the-company cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. He sits on the Executive Committee at Susman Godfrey – the nation’s premier litigation boutique – and the only law firm where he has practiced since graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law School and clerking for Federal District Court Judge Tom Stagg. Melton has secured several momentous wins throughout his career and has established himself as trusted counsel and a sought-out trial lawyer for clients and colleagues alike. In fact, a streak of three trial wins in an 18-month period led the National Law Journal to name him a “Winning Litigator” in 2017. Landmark Wins Melton’s landmark victory for Beats headphone designer, Steven Lamar, in a nationally followed breach of contract lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics over the design of the now iconic beats headphones was covered from coast to coast, with outlets such as New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter, NY Daily News, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict for Lamar in California federal court. Melton later spent time convincing the Judge to double the value of the judgment to $52 million – at which point Apple settled the case for a confidential amount. Law360 featured the story in their “How They Won It” series and The Recorder also ran a feature story on Melton and his significant role in this case. Later that year, Melton won an injunction for pro bono client Team Fuerza, a local Hispanic soccer team, which was being railroaded out of the giant United Premier Soccer League. Melton got the team back in the league and received an apology from the UPSL President. Unique Background Notably, Melton is a West Point graduate, who served as an infantry officer, attaining the rank of captain. While serving his country, Melton commanded two platoons, and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division. Melton graduated as the Honor Graduate of Ranger School, the Army’s elite leadership training course.

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Chandra MetzlerManaging Partner & Co-Founder CM Squared

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Chandra Metzler

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MANAGING PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, CM SQUARED Chandra Reddy Metzler co-founded CM Squared in 2017. She a Managing Partner with responsibility for all aspects of the business. As a family office and an independent sponsor, CM Squared distinguishes itself by structuring creative transactions that encourage optimal outcomes, align incentives and mitigate undesired risks. Litigation funding is a core strategy for the firm. Prior to CM Squared, Ms. Metzler was Head of Strategic Development for QVT Financial, a multi-billion dollar global alternative investment firm. In this role, she had overall responsibility for investor relations, capital raising and product development. She was also a member of the firm’s Risk Committee. Before joining QVT in 2013, Ms. Metzler was president of the financial lines division at AIG for the U.S. and Canada, leading a business with over $2 billion in revenue and over 500 employees. Prior to AIG, Ms. Metzler had various roles of increasing responsibility and revenue generation in capital markets, banking and investment research at Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan. Ms. Metzler earned her bachelor’s degree at Brown University in Economics, with honors, and Development Studies. She has a master’s degree in Economics from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While a graduate student, Ms. Metzler was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

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Evan MeyersonManaging Director Burford Capital

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Evan Meyerson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL Managing Director, Burford CapitalEvan Meyerson is a Managing Director who leads Burford’s US commercial investment team, with responsibility for overseeing the underwriting, origination, and portfolio management functions.Prior to joining Burford, Evan was a litigator at Paul, Weiss and at Sullivan & Cromwell. His practice focused on complex civil litigation in federal and state court, antitrust, white collar defense, bankruptcy litigation, corporate internal investigations, and government investigations into sanctions, anti-money laundering, and accounting issues. Evan began his career as an analyst at Bain Capital, evaluating venture capital investment opportunities.Evan graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Editor of the Harvard National Security Journal. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. He clerked for the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

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Ian MillicanDirector, Investments Contingency Capital

Steven MoloFounding Partner MoloLamken

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Steven Molo

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FOUNDING PARTNER, MOLOLAMKEN Steven Molo, one of the country’s leading courtroom advocates, is a founding partner of the national litigation boutique MoloLamken LLP. He represents corporations, boards, funds, investors, inventors, and individuals in complex business litigation, white collar criminal matters, and IP litigation. His client base is international. Chambers and Partners calls him “fantastic in the courtroom,” “with lots of charisma,” a “fabulous courtroom litigator who lights up the room with his presence,” “very bright, imaginative, and creative in his approach to problems,” and “one of the most talented lawyers in the (New York) city.” Benchmark Litigation – which named him one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in America – calls him “revered,” “an outstanding advocate and fearless in court,” who “delivers the goods.” Legal 500 includes Mr. Molo on its elite list of Leading Trial Lawyers and calls him “a rockstar litigator; a great lawyer,” with “terrific knowledge of the courts and the law,” “a force to be reckoned with” who “really excels in the courtroom.” It says he is “smart, creative, responsive, knowledgeable, and engaging; he has an excellent mix of traits that set him apart from his peers.” For the past thirteen years he has been named to Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Molo began his career as a prosecutor in Chicago, and then practiced with Winston & Strawn, where he was a senior litigator and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He spent five years as a litigation partner with the Wall Street firm Shearman & Sterling before founding MoloLamken in October 2009. He is also a solicitor on the Roll of Attorneys of the Law Society of England and Wales, and an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

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John MorleyAugustus E. Lines Professor of Law Yale Law School

Andrew MutterEVP, Contingent Risk CAC Specialty

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Andrew Mutter

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EXECUTIVE VICE PRSIDENT, CAC SPECIALITY Andrew is an Executive Vice President at CAC Specialty and Leader of its Contingent Risk Insurance Practice, which has placed more than $5 billion in insurance coverage in the contingent risk markets. The team has received various accolades, including most recently the Business Insurance Innovation award for its work developing new products to insure the core value of IP assets to reduce innovative companies’ cost of capital.Andrew’s practice focuses on crafting bespoke solutions for Contingent Risk Insurance, providing strategic certainty around both contingent legal assets and contingent legal liabilities. On the basis of these policies, the Contingent Risk team help clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity, release hundreds of millions of dollars from escrow, and facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of debt restructuring and refinancing.As a lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Andrew gained significant insurance recovery experience successfully litigating over half a billion dollars in D&O and E&O claims on behalf of financial institutions. Andrew has extensive experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, business torts, and healthcare related investigations and business disputes.Andrew earned his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He is also a former Teach For America teacher, with four years of experience in public education.

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Michael NicolasCo-Founder & Managing Director Longford Capital

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Michael Nicolas

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONGFORD CAPITAL Mike is responsible for the portfolio management of Longford Capital, including underwriting, investment selection, and overseeing the efforts of independent attorneys and other professionals as part of Longford Capital’s due diligence process. He is an accomplished attorney with more than 15 years of experience representing a wide array of corporate clients involved in complex litigation throughout the United States, including trial experience in the commercial litigation departments of two prominent national law firms, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP and Gardner, Carton & Douglas, LLP (n/k/a Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP). Mike is a frequent speaker on commercial litigation finance, and has presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He is an honors graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Business and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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Ryan PhairPartner Paul Hastings

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Ryan Phair

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Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings Ryan Phair is co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition practice of Paul Hastings. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate whose practice focuses on complex antitrust litigation and investigations. On behalf of plaintiffs, he has successfully recovered over $1 billion for his antitrust clients. On behalf of defendants, Ryan has an equally remarkable track record of success spanning dozens of complex cases, investigations and enforcement actions.

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Byron ReevesPaul C. Edwards Professor of Communication Stanford University

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Byron Reeves

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PAUL C. EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Elena S. ReyPartner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations Brown Rudnick

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Elena S. Rey

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PARTNER, HEAD OF LITIGATION FUNDING & CO-HEAD OF EUROPEAN SPECIAL SITUATIONS, BROWN RUDNICK Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Ruth RizkallaPartner The Carlson Law Firm

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RUTH RIZKALLA

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PARTNER, THE CARLSON LAW FIRM Ruth’s experience in complex litigation has given her a unique edge in strategizing and litigating cases of systemic minor sex abuse that require significant foresight and familiarity with advanced legal principles. She has leadership background in complex and mass torts litigations and has represented injured victims involving defective products and dangerous drugs and devices. Ruth has spent her over two-decade career representing those injured through severe negligent acts of large corporations. She has served in numerous leadership positions in several coordinated complex and mass tort proceedings, and has spoken and presented at multiple conferences and seminars.

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SHAYNA E. SACKSPartner Napoli Shkolnik

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Shayna E. Sacks

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NAPOLI SHKOLNIK PARTNER, PUBLIC CLIENT GROUP Ms. Sacks provides experienced representation to individuals, communities, local and state governments in multiple mass torts, including healthcare litigation, defective pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, the opioid crisis, and complex environmental & emerging contaminant litigation. She has served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on product liability multi-district litigations.

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Ed ScanlanCEO & Founder Bridge Legal

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Ed Scanlan

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CEO & FOUNDERBRIDGE LEGAL Ed Scanlan is a serial entrepreneur and litigation technology pioneer who transforms plaintiff-side legal portfolios into scalable, high-yield, risk-adjusted investments for capital partners. As Founder & CEO of Bridge Legal, Ed built a proprietary, AI-driven operating system that gives law firms and funders complete transparency from lead inception to filing—integrating case validation, workflow automation, and analytics to deliver 10x productivity gains and faster time-to-liquidity on funded matters. The platform empowers firms to capture market share at scale while enabling funders to deploy capital with unprecedented precision and control. Previously, Ed founded Total Attorneys, scaling it from startup to $30M+ recurring revenue without outside capital, earning spots on the Inc. 500, Crain’s Fast 50, and induction into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Inc.. Ed partners with leading litigation funders to co-create portfolios with exceptional merit profiles, predictable outcomes, and durable returns—aligning capital efficiency with access to justice.

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Jennifer ScullionPartner SeegerWeiss

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Jennifer Scullion

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PARTNER, SEEGERWEISS Jen Scullion is a partner at Seeger Weiss, where she leads or co-leads the firm’s work in antitrust and related consumer matters for classes and for direct action (opt out) plaintiffs. She currently serves as a member of the Direct Action Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the MultiPlan antitrust MDL, co-lead for Seeger Weiss’s work for the Direct Purchasers in the Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation, and Co-Chair of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Provider Track in the Change Healthcare Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, in addition to leading or co-leading the firm’s work in the Copaxone, “Proteins”, Fragrance, and Liquid Aluminum Sulfate antitrust matters. Jen has also co-led the firm’s work in the National Prescription Opioids and Socal Media Adolescent Addiction cases on behalf of local government and school districts. Jen is the co-author of the treatise New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act: Practice and Procedure (2026).

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Jonathan SelbinSenior Partner Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

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Jonathan Selbin

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SENIOR PARTNER, LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN Jonathan D. Selbin is a senior partner in the New York office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where he has practiced for over 30 years, and a long-time member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has led complex consumer protection, defective products, and sex abuse class action lawsuits in courts around the country against many of the world’s largest corporations and institutions. Together, cases in which Jonathan played a lead role have resulted in court-approved class action settlements with a combined total cash payout to class members in excess of $3.5 billion, plus other relief such as extended and enhanced warranties and implementation of best-practices institutional reforms. He has extensive appellate experience, having argued in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, as well as before state supreme and appellate courts. Jonathan is a leader in the firm’s funding of international consumer protection cases on multiple continents.

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Victoria Shannon SahaniProfessor of Law Boston University School of Law

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Victoria Shannon Sahani

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PROFESSOR OF LAW, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Victoria Shannon Sahani is the Associate Provost for Community and Inclusion at Boston University and a Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law. She previously served as Associate Dean of Faculty Development / Special Projects and Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She started her teaching career and was promoted to Associate Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Associate Provost Sahani is an internationally recognized legal scholar in domestic and international arbitration law and third-party litigation funding law. She is an award-winning teacher and serves as an independent arbitrator, consultant, and expert witness. In addition to publishing numerous book chapters, law review articles, and essays, she co-authored the book Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration (Wolters Kluwer, 1st and 2d ed.) (with Lisa Bench Nieuwveld), the first book in the world on this topic. She is the immediate past Chair of the Academic Council for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Chair-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on International Law, a Counsellor of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), an Elected Member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and an American Bar Foundation (ABF) Fellow. Before joining academia, Associate Provost Sahani worked at the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and practiced law at Pillsbury. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard College and is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia.

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Emily SiegelSenior Reporter Bloomberg Law

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Emily Siegel

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SENIOR REPORTER, BLOOMBERG LAW Emily Siegel is a senior reporter with Bloomberg Law. She covers litigation finance and writes about anything affecting or intersecting with the industry. She previously worked for NBC News as an investigative reporter. She earned a master’s degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

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Ryan StephenCo-Founder & Managing Partner Pine Valley Capital Partners

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Ryan Stephen

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, PINE VALLEY CAPITAL PARTNERS Mr. Stephen has led, originated, and managed more than $2.5B in private financing transactions since 2009. Prior to co-founding Pine Valley Capital Partners, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Trinity Environmental Services, an oilfield waste management company operating across Texas and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, he originated, structured, and managed private credit investments in the energy sector with Guggenheim Partners in Houston. Mr. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Abilene Christian University and has extensive experience structuring complex transactions across multiple industries.

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Kelsey StokesSenior Attorney The Lanier Law Firm

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Ryan Stephen

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SENIOR ATTORNEY, THE LANIER LAW FIRM Kelsey Stokes is recognized as a national leader in mass personal injury litigation. Kelsey practices primarily in the areas of mass tort litigation, products liability, and complex commercial litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in multiple Hernia Mesh MDLs (Multi-District Litigation) at the federal level and 3 MCLs (Multi-County Litigation) in New Jersey, the home of Johnson & Johnson, Kelsey has spent countless hours fighting for victims of defective medical devices, ensuring their voices are heard and their suffering acknowledged. Her leadership in the litigation against C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson has not only changed lives but has also set a precedent for women in leadership roles within the legal industry. Kelsey is currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the second largest MDL in the country (MDL No. 2846, In re Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio). Appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in 2018, the MDL has over 23,000 cases consolidated there. Kelsey served as lead trial counsel for the three bellwether cases tried in MDL 2846. In 2024, as Lead Settlement Counsel for the Bard Hernia Mesh MDL, Kelsey Stokes successfully negotiated a path to resolution for over 30,000 plaintiffs. Kelsey currently serves as Administering Counsel for the Bard resolution and spends countless hours guiding plaintiffs’ lawyers across the country. In addition to her leadership roles at the federal level, Kelsey Stokes was appointed to lead three New Jersey state court consolidated actions against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc.: MCL 627, In re Physiomesh Litigation; MCL 630, In Re: Proceed Mesh Litigation; and MCL 633, In re Prolene Hernia System Mesh Litigation. Kelsey was also elected Co‑Chair of the American Association for Justice Hernia Mesh Litigation Group by her peers, where she has served for over seven years. In addition to her responsibilities with the hernia mesh litigation, Kelsey was also appointed to the Phenylephrine Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. She serves as Science & Expert Committee Co-Chair, as well as a Discovery Co-Chair for the litigation. Prior to leading the hernia mesh docket, Attorney Kelsey Stokes played an integral role in litigating transvaginal mesh cases to a successful resolution. Her work in the various transvaginal mesh MDLs gave her a wealth of knowledge overlapping with the knowledge required to successfully litigate hernia mesh cases. Kelsey has regular speaking engagements, sharing the knowledge she has gained managing MDLs as well as studying the science and legal issues applicable to medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. Through the course of her career, Kelsey has taken hundreds of depositions, including depositions of corporate witnesses, expert witnesses, and treating physicians. Kelsey has also defended the leading experts in their fields as well as hundreds of plaintiffs injured by various medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. She regularly argues at hearings throughout the country and coordinates large-scale briefing on behalf of the MDLs she leads. Early in her career, Kelsey managed a large GranuFlo docket from case filing to resolution, successfully navigating clients through the settlement claims process. In addition to the above litigations, Kelsey Stokes performed considerable work on the Wright Hip and Accutane Litigations as well as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), in which she was trial counsel in the first TRT trial in Cook County, Illinois in 2017. Kelsey’s practice also includes complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, and arbitration, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts. Examples include arbitrations where she represented healthcare providers in contractual and payment disputes with insurers; a massive Ponzi scheme; and an off-shore commercial oil dispute. Attorney Kelsey Stokes’s experience also extends to catastrophic aviation accidents. Education & Memberships Kelsey Stokes earned a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she served as Chief Managing Editor of the Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law. Kelsey is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Circuits. She is a member of the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

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Will WeismanDirector – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel Parabellum Capital

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Will Weisman

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DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CORPORATE COUNSEL, PARABELLUM CAPITAL Will Weisman leads Parabellum Capital’s commercial litigation investment strategy. He originates, structures, and manages commercial litigation investments across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. Before joining Parabellum, Will was a senior member of the investment team at litigation financier Therium Capital Management. Earlier in his career, he practiced complex commercial litigation at Proskauer Rose LLP, one of the nation’s premier law firms, and later joined Liberty International Underwriters, a global insurance company. Will frequently writes and speaks on litigation finance, regulatory developments, and other issues affecting the legal industry. He earned a B.A., with honors, from the University of Maryland and a J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as an editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. Will also worked as a law clerk extern for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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Leanne WilsonManaging Director Contingency Capital

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Leanne Wilson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINGENCY CAPITAL 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).

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R. Brent WisnerManaging Partner Wisner Baum

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R. Brent Wisner

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MANAGING PARTNER, WISNER BAUM 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 winning significant verdicts and settlements for his clients. Over the last several years, Brent has served on the plaintiff’s leadership for multiple mass torts, earned jury verdicts worth a combined $2.427 billion, and helped negotiate settlements in excess of $1 billion—all before the age of 40. While success in the courtroom is often measured exclusively by dollars and cents, Brent’s legal work has led to changes in business practices that will protect people and the environment for generations. Hundreds of media publications across the globe have asked for his perspective on a variety of pressing legal issues.

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Thomas WhitePartner Sullivan Cromwell

Hon. Freda L. WolfsonFormer Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Lowenstein Sandler

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Hon. Freda L. Wolfson

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FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, PARTNER & CHAIR, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Honorable Freda L. Wolfson (ret.) rejoined Lowenstein Sandler after a decades long career in the federal judiciary, including as Chief Judge of the U.S.District Court for the District of New Jersey. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, special master appointments in federal and state courts, including multidistrict litigations (MDL), servingas an expert, monitorships, internal investigations, and presiding over mock trials and oral arguments. Judge Wolfson leads the firm’s ADR practice, leveraging her judicial experience managing complex commercial cases to help clients achieve satisfactoryresolutions on a wide variety of civil and regulatory issues. Since joining Lowenstein, Judge Wolfson has frequently served as a special master and mediator infederal and state civil actions, which typically involve high-stakes disputes, including, among others, data breaches, corporate divorces and securities matters;pre-litigation and pre-arbitration matters; and mass consumer mediations. Judge Wolfson also represents and consults pharmaceutical clients in patent-relatedmatters. Additionally, Judge Wolfson has served as a mock judge for parties in high profile cases involving patents and pharmaceutical product liability. Judge Wolfson was nominated to the District Court in 2002, ascending to the Chief Judge post in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as a U.S.Magistrate Judge for over 16 years, one of the few women and one of the youngest members of the district court in the nation. In 2014, she was appointed byU.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to represent the Third Circuit on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the MagistrateJudge System; she then served as Third Circuit District Judge Representative on the Judicial Conference of the United States. During her 36-year judicial tenure, Judge Wolfson authored thousands of opinions on issues such as securities litigations, shareholder derivative lawsuits,products liability, commercial transactions and financial fraud, civil rights, and constitutionality of federal and state statutes. She presided over a multitude ofcivil and criminal trials, including Hatch Waxman ANDA patent infringement cases; one of the largest excessive fees litigations associated with securities andmutual funds; employment discrimination matters; civil rights claims under section 1983; and white collar criminal cases. Judge Wolfson was also appointed by the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Panel to oversee some of the nation’s largest MDLs, including In re Johnson & JohnsonTalcum Powder Prods. Mktg. Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., the second largest MDL in the country. She has extensive experience in complex discoverymatters and has successfully facilitated hundreds of settlements. Frequently recognized as a leader of the bar, Judge Wolfson has received such honors as the 2022 Donald A. Robinson Meritorious Service Award, the 2016Rutgers University Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award and the, 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Rutgers University School of Law, the 2012Inductee of the Associate Alumni of Douglas College–Society of Excellence, the 2013 Women in the Profession Section’s Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Award forDistinguished Service and Excellence, and the 2008 Women’s Initiative & Leaders in Law Platinum Award from New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Additionally, Judge Wolfson was selected as an American Bar Foundation Fellow.Upon her graduation from law school, Judge Wolfson initially practiced litigation at Lowenstein.

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Boris ZiserGlobal Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets McDermott Will & Schulte

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Boris Ziser

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GLOBAL HEAD OF STRUCTURED FINANCE, CLOS AND ALTERNATIVE ASSETS, MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE Boris Ziser is McDermott’s Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He advises clients on asset-backed lending and securitization, warehouse facilities, secured financings, specialty finance lending, and other esoteric finance transactions. With more than 30 years of experience, he works across a wide range of asset classes, including life settlements, litigation funding, equipment leases, structured settlements, lottery receivables, timeshare loans, merchant cash advances, home equity investments (HEI), cell towers, intellectual property, insurance-related cash flows, and others. He also represents investors, lenders, hedge funds, private equity funds and finance companies in acquisitions and dispositions of asset portfolios, as well as financings secured by those portfolios.

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2026 agenda

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BECOME A SPEAKER

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

OPENing day: tuesday, SEPTEMBER 15

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Opening Reception

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

7:30 – 8:45 AM: Registration & Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:30 AM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS - THE PRICE OF JUSTICE: KEN FEINBERG ON FUNDING, FAIRNESS AND RESOLUTION

In this timely conversation, Feinberg will share his perspective on how funding is reshaping pathways to resolution, what information matters in settlement negotiations, and what safeguards are needed to preserve trust as legal finance continues to mature. Kenneth R. Feinberg, Mediator & Arbitrator, Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg In discussion with Emily Siegel, Senior Reporter, Bloomberg Law

9:30 - 10:20 AM: STATE OF THE MARKET - LEGAL FINANCE 2026: THE MARKET SHIFTS DRIVING CAPITAL, STRATEGY AND DECISIONS

The economic, geopolitical, and regulatory forces reshaping legal finance in 2026The changing capital stack—how direct institutional entrants, banks, and new structures are reshaping competition and deploymentHow legal finance could evolve as capital becomes deeper, cheaper, and more specializedSpeakers: David Gialanella, Editor-in-Chief, Business of Law and The American Lawyer (moderator)Evan Meyerson, Managing Director, Burford CapitalMichael Nicolas, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Longford CapitalElena S. Rey, Partner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations, Brown RudnickRyan Stephen, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Pine Valley Capital Partners

10:20 – 10:50 AM: Networking Break

10:50 - 11:20 AM: FEATURED INTERVIEW - INSIDE THE SILICON VALLEY SUPER TRIAL: ELON MUSK V SAM ALTMAN

Steven Molo, Founding Partner, MoloLamken

11:00 - 12:30 PM: BOARDROOM - HOSTED BY TSEG

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

11:20 - 12:10 PM: THE DEALMAKERS’ RUNDOWN - REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS & THE SHIFTING RISK PROFILE

How state-by-state regulation is changing where, with whom, and on what terms legal finance deals can be doneThe impact on structuring, diligence, pricing, disclosure, and capital deployment across the marketHow firms, funders, and advisers can keep transactions moving as regulatory risk becomes a commercial riskSpeakers: Bryan F. Aylstock, Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & OverholtzVictoria Shannon Sahani, Professor of Law, Boston University School of LawHon. Freda L. Wolfson, Former Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lowenstein SandlerBoris Ziser, Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs & Alternative Assets, McDermott, Will, & Schulte

12:10 - 1:00 PM: IN PERSPECTIVE - VIEW FROM THE TOP: LAW FIRM LEADERS ON AI, MSOS & THE NEW BUSINESS OF LAW

How AI is changing law firm operations, decision-making, and client deliveryWhat growing investor interest and MSO models mean for ownership, control, and independenceHow firm leaders are reshaping their business models for the next era of legal practiceSpeakers: Ed Scanlan, CEO & Founder, Bridge Legal (moderator)Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three CrownsMelinda R. Coolidge, U.S. Managing Partner, HausfeldDavid Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer, ReedSmithKiley Grombacher, Founding Partner, Bradley/Grombacher

1:00 – 2:45 PM: Networking Lunch

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS MASS TORTS

IN FOCUS DEALMAKING

2:45 - 3:30 PM: SOLUTION CIRCLES - ABS & MSOs

As law firms explore external investment, ABS and MSO models are becoming one of the most consequential—and contested—developments in the US legal market. These facilitated, peer-to-peer working groups will examine: Regulation & structuring: navigating state-by-state restrictions on ownership, fee-sharing, management rights, and revenue modelsCapital & control: defining the boundary between commercial oversight and professional independenceThe commercial case: assessing whether external capital can deliver sustainable growth, stronger operations, and aligned long-term returnsCo-Facilitators: Matthew Dolman, Founding Partner, Dolman Law GroupShayna E. Sacks, Partner, Napoli ShkolnikR. Brent Wisner, Managing Partner, Wisner Baum

2:45 - 3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - FROM PARTNERS TO PARTING WAYS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEAL?

How firms and funders can manage performance, communication and changing expectations after a deal is completedWhat options are available when the relationship or funding structure no longer works, including refinancing and restructuringHow secondaries and other liquidity solutions can create an exit, transfer exposure or reset the parties’ positionsSpeakers: Kelly Daley, Principal & Founder, Celsia Capital (moderator)Megan Coleville, VP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant Rubino LambrianakosPaul B. Haskel, Partner, Crowell & Moring

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Networking Break

4:00 - 4:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - DEALING WITH FIRMS IN DISTRESS: REFINANCING VS RESTRUCTURING

When refinancing remains viable—and when deeper restructuring is requiredHow firms and funders can stabilise distress as timelines lengthen and assumptions changeWhat happens when recovery is no longer possible—and whether the market needs a formal frameworkSpeakers: Jeff Cohen, Partner and Managing Director, Contingency CapitalRuth Rizkalla, Partner, The Carlson Law Firm

4:00 - 4:45 PM: INSURANCE SPOTLIGHT - THE WIDESPREAD USE OF INSURANCE (AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JPIS…)

Why insurance is becoming integral to legal finance structures—and what capital providers now expect it to protectHow coverage, pricing, and insurer diligence are reshaping underwriting, economics, and capital deploymentWhat happened to JPI—and which products and risk-transfer models could define the market’s next phaseSpeakers: Tom Baker, William Maul Measey Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (moderator)Andrew Mutter, EVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty

4:00 - 5:30 PM: BOARDROOM - CORPORATE LITIGATION LEADERS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

4:45 - 5:30 PM: LAW FIRM PERSPECTIVES - TRANSPARENCY ON TRIAL: DATA, STANDARDS, & THE FUTURE OF MASS TORT REPORTING

What firms should report to capital providers—and which metrics genuinely inform decisionsCreating consistent definitions, validation standards, and accountability across portfoliosHow better reporting can strengthen trust, identify risk earlier, and improve funding relationshipsSpeakers: Samuel Issacharoff, Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU Law (moderator)Brooke Cohen, Founding and Managing Partner, Cohen HirschSteve Faries, Partner, Pulaski KherkherKelsey Stokes, Senior Attorney, The Lanier Law Firm

4:45 - 5:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - HOW TO EVALUATE AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAPITAL PARTNER

What separates a source of capital from a genuine strategic partnerHow to assess track record, flexibility, alignment, and execution—not just pricingWhere brokers and advisers add value in finding, diligencing, and negotiating with the right funderSpeakers: John Morley, Augustus E. Lines Professor of Law, Yale Law School (moderator)Cesar Bello, Partner, Director of Litigation Finance, Corbin Capital PartnersAlfonso Chan, Partner, CahillJonathan Selbin, Senior Partner, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein

9:00 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.

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Networking Reception & Close of Day One

DAY TWO: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

8:30 - 9:00 AM: Registration & Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Recap

9:15 - 9:45 AM: DATA DEEP DIVE - WHAT THE DATA TELLS US: LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO INVEST

Where investments made between 2017 and 2021 underperformed, and what investors learned from themWhich deal characteristics have been most closely associated with successful outcomesHow those lessons are changing underwriting, portfolio construction and capital deployment todaySpeakers: Joseph Dunn, Managing Director, Legal Assets Co-Chief Investment Officer, Fortress Investment GroupWill Weisman, Director – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel, Parabellum Capital

9:45 - 11:00 AM: PANEL DISCUSSION - UNLOCKING VALUE: THE RISE OF AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION

How law firms and corporations are identifying and pursuing affirmative litigation opportunitiesWhy potentially valuable claims are often overlooked, deprioritized or left undevelopedHow affirmative litigation can shift the legal function from managing exposure to creating strategic and financial valueSpeakers: William Isaacson, Partner, Dunn Isaacson Rhee (moderator)Ellen Holloman, Partner, Kaplan MartinStephen Kim, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Avicannaa

11:00 - 11:30 AM: Networking Break

11:30 AM – 3:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS LITIGATION FUNDERS

IN FOCUS LAW FIRMS

CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS

11:30 – 12:15 PM: MASTERCLASS - AI IN PRACTICE: FINDING AND FUNDING BETTER CASES

How AI is being used to identify potential claims, surface overlooked opportunities and build stronger case pipelinesWhere AI can improve early-stage assessment, diligence and underwriting—and which decisions still require experienced human judgmentWhat funders and firms need to get right on data quality, validation and implementation before AI can produce better investment outcomesSpeakers: Byron Reeves, Paul C. Edwards Professor of Communication, Stanford University (moderator)Chris Kercher, Founder, Kercher Law

11:30 – 12:15 PM: CASE STUDY - BUILDING A PLAINTIFF-SIDE PRACTICE

The strategic and commercial case behind Vinson & Elkins’ move into plaintiff-side litigationHow the firm built the practice: selecting opportunities, assembling the team and integrating contingency work into the wider businessWhat the firm has learned about economics, risk, culture and scaling—and what others should consider before following the same pathSpeakers: Stephen Medlock, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

11:30 - 1:00 PM: BOARDROOM - INSTITUTIONAL ALLOCATORS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

12:15 - 2:00 PM: Networking Lunch

2:00 - 2:45 PM: THE INVESTOR LENS - WHAT FUNDERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL IN A TIGHTER MARKET

Why institutional investors allocate capital to some litigation fund managers—and reject othersWhat allocators are really testing when they assess strategy, team, track record, pipeline and riskWhat can turn investor interest into a commitment—or cause an allocation to fall awaySpeakers: Chandra Metzler, Partner & Co-Founder, CM Squared (moderator)Mervin Burton, Partner, Head of Research, Beatrice Advisors

2:00 - 2:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - WHY GOOD CASES DON’T GET FUNDED

What funders are seeing in the market today, and how appetite, capacity and return expectations are shaping investment decisionsWhy apparently strong cases still fail to secure funding, from weak economics and incomplete diligence to poor strategic fitHow firms can present opportunities more effectively, with the evidence, analysis and commercial clarity funders need to reach a decisionSpeakers: Ankur Kapoor, Partner, Constantine Cannon (moderator)Debra Bogo-Ernst, Partner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice, Willkie Farr & GallagherSarah Johnson, Head of Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Ryan Phair, Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings

2:45 -3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - WHEN THE CASE TURNS: MANAGING APPEAL, ENFORCEMENT AND OUTCOME RISK

Why a major judgment may still be far from a realizable recovery—and the appellate, foreign-law, sovereign and enforcement risks that remain after trialHow claimant counsel, defence counsel and funders assess and stress-test those risks at different stages of a caseWhat happens when the legal or commercial assumptions underpinning a matter change—and how the parties can reset strategy, expectations and next steps without relying on hindsightSpeakers: Claudia Linares, Founder & CEO,Fortalea Advisory (moderator) Jason Levine, Partner, Foley & LardnerJennifer Scullion, Partner, SeegerWeissThomas White, Partner, Sullivan Cromwell

2:45 - 3:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - SKIN IN THE GAME: WHEN TO SELF-FUND, CO-FUND OR SHARE THE RISK

How to determine which matters to finance and when to bring in external capitalHow case economics, portfolio exposure, cash flow and risk appetite shape the choice between self-funding, co-funding and full risk transferLessons learned from funding structures that underperformed, became misaligned or failed to deliver the expected outcomeSpeakers: Suneal Bedi, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University (moderator)Robert Kaplan, Partner, Kaplan FoxBrian D. Melton, Partner, Susman Godfrey

9:00 AM – 3:30 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.

3:30 - 5:00 PM: Closing Reception

THANK YOU TO OUR

2026 SPONSORS & PARTNERS

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

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BECOME A SPONSOR

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SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION

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2026 SPONSORS

Gold sponsorS

CAC is now part of The Baldwin Group. Together, we deliver greater specialization, expanded
capabilities, and deeper expertise to help clients navigate today’s evolving risk landscape. By
combining CAC’s industry and product expertise with Baldwin’s national platform and distribution
network, we provide seamless access to a full suite of risk management solutions. Our unified
team serves clients across retail, specialty, reinsurance (including London and Bermuda), and
MGA platforms.

Fabricant LLP is a dynamic IP litigation boutique with unparalleled success enforcing or defending patent infringement claims involving the most important and cutting-edge technologies. We are experts representing plaintiffs and defendants in all high-tech industries including, audio processing, smartphone, semiconductor, automotive, payments, computer hardware and software, LED displays and lights, GPS location services among many others. Fabricant LLP is regularly ranked among the most active U.S. law firms representing patent owners in the courts and before the PTAB where it has achieved win rates for defeating validity challenges far above the national average.

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.

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.

silver sponsorS

Brown Rudnick is a leading international law firm that provides exceptional, client-driven service in global litigation, crisis management, brand and reputation management, life sciences, technology, intellectual property, and litigation funding. Our lawyers have extensive experience leading high-profile cross-border matters and are recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Law360 for excellence.

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world.

Cathedral CPAs & Advisors helps litigation finance firms build the financial infrastructure needed to grow with confidence. We provide fractional CFO and controller services, back office solutions, strategic advisory, and comprehensive tax support, including preparation, structuring, and strategy. Our team works with leadership to improve reporting, strengthen controls, manage complexity, and support informed decision making. Clients gain experienced financial leadership, practical insight, and scalable support without the expense of building a full internal finance department.

Contingency Capital is a global asset management business focused on credit oriented legal assets. Contingency Capital was founded in November 2020 by Brandon Baer. We invest in legal assets where the primary driver of value is a legal, tax or regulatory process.

Our investment team is comprised of credit and distressed investors who are also former transactional attorneys and litigators. Collectively we have decades of multifaceted experience investing in legal assets.

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, and its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

The D. E. Shaw group is a global investment and technology development firm with more than $90 billion in investment and committed capital as of June 1, 2026, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Since our founding in 1988, we have earned an international reputation for successful investing based on innovation, careful risk management, and the quality and depth of our staff.

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.

MoloLamken is a law firm focused exclusively on representing clients in complex disputes. It handles civil, criminal, and regulatory matters, as well as appeals, across the United States. The firm’s clients span the globe. MoloLamken is involved in some of the most significant disputes of the day.

MoloLamken provides experienced advocacy – for claimants as well as defendants – before judges, juries, arbitral forums, and courts of appeals, including the Supreme Court of the United States. The firm also represents clients in regulatory and criminal investigations and conducts internal investigations.

Parabellum Capital is a leading financier of commercial and intellectual property litigation. Founded in 2012, its principals pioneered the commercial litigation funding market in the United States and remain on the forefront of shaping the asset class as the industry evolves. Parabellum’s team has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the commercial litigation arena, with a focus on structuring aligned transactions with claimholders and counsel.

BRONZE SPONSORs

Curiam Capital LLC is a private investment firm that provides financing for law firms and high-value litigation. Curiam invests in most types of commercial litigation in areas such as commercial business disputes, securities, antitrust, intellectual property, international arbitration, and bankruptcy and insolvency. Curiam’s team has decades of experience evaluating litigation claims and takes pride in making quick but well-informed investment decisions. Curiam funds both individual cases and portfolios of cases.

Eve Legal is the AI operating system that plaintiff law firms use across the entire case lifecycle to handle more cases, reduce time on desk, and increase settlement values. Over 1200 firms choose EveOS to grow faster and deliver stronger client outcomes.

One platform. Every partner relationship.

Lexamica is a full-service referral platform connecting lawyers across the country. Expand your network, strengthen relationships, and scale referral revenue with Lexamica.

Saul Ewing is a full-service, law firm with specialized practices in IP and Litigation Finance. Our attorneys advise litigation funders, investors, insurers and other clients by underwriting and analyzing litigation risks surrounding potential litigation claims, jury verdicts, case merits, and appeals of intellectual property, patent, trade secret, and commercial cases.

Media Partner

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. Through separate publications, we also cover the UK, Canadian and Australian insolvency markets (Insolvency Insider UK / Insolvency Insider Canada / Insolvency Insider Australia).

supporting organization

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

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Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is where the legal finance market comes together to do business. Bringing together senior leaders from law firms, funders, investors, corporates, insurers, and the wider disputes ecosystem, the Forum is designed to drive the relationships, partnerships, and commercial conversations that move deals forward. As the market matures and capital becomes more selective, LF Dealmakers goes beyond theory to focus on how capital is actually being deployed, partnerships structured, and opportunities executed in practice. Our value lies in convening the full legal finance ecosystem in one place — connecting those originating claims, deploying capital, structuring opportunities, and driving disputes forward. The result is a highly focused environment for meaningful conversations, strategic alignment, and real dealmaking.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with relevant participants

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for real conversations

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

21+ focused sessions tackling capital deployment, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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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 portfoliosUnderstand how funders assess risk, structure deals, and price opportunities in a more selective marketBenchmark your funding and growth strategy against leading claimant firms across EuropeExplore alternative fee arrangements, portfolio models, and firm-level financing strategiesAccess investors and advisors to support expansion, case development, and balance sheet managementStay ahead of how capital is reshaping litigation strategy, firm economics, and competitive positioning

Funders

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 typesBenchmark your underwriting, portfolio construction, and deployment strategies against leading fundersUnderstand how law firms are structuring, packaging, and presenting opportunities in today’s marketAccess origination partners, co-investment opportunities, and new distribution channelsExplore emerging asset classes, including ESG, securities, and cross-border collective actionsStay ahead of regulatory developments, capital flows, and structural shifts impacting returns

Investors

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 strategiesAccess funders, law firms, and platforms originating and managing opportunitiesEvaluate risk, return profiles, and structuring approaches across jurisdictions and asset typesExplore entry points into legal finance, including co-investment, private credit, and secondary marketsBenchmark allocation strategies against other institutional investorsStay ahead of how capital is flowing into and shaping the legal finance market

Insurers

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 disputesExplore opportunities to partner with funders and law firms on risk transfer and capital solutionsBenchmark underwriting approaches, pricing models, and emerging insurance productsAccess key stakeholders originating and structuring large-scale claims and portfoliosExplore how insurance can enhance capital efficiency, mitigate downside, and support deal structuresStay ahead of trends in claims, portfolios, and structured risk across jurisdictions

Claimants & Corporations

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 exposureExplore strategies for pursuing complex, cross-border, and high-value disputesAccess funders, law firms, and advisors to structure and execute claims effectivelyBenchmark your approach against leading corporates and claimant groups across EuropeUnderstand how funding impacts control, governance, and outcomesStay ahead of how disputes are being originated, financed, and executed in today’s market

Secure Your Seat

REGISTER TODAY

Companies Attending Include:

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

VENUE & Accommodations

eventi & second

Experience the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers in Manhattan’s Chelsea district. This year, the forum returns to the sophisticated Kimpton Hotel Eventi (851 6th Avenue) and the adjoining SECOND event space (849 6th Avenue), together occupying an entire NYC city block. With sleek modern design, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, both venues offer breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline — the perfect setting for high-level networking, dealmaking, and strategic discussion. A limited number of premium rooms at Kimpton Hotel Eventi are available at a special rate of $649++ 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 registrant.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

Where will the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum be held?

The 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be held on September 15-17, 2025 at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND event space. This event is colocated with our 3rd LF Mass Torts event. You may find additional information regarding the venue on our Venue page.

How do I register for the event?

Registration for the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be open soon.

What's included with my registration?

All registered attendees will have access to the following: Admission to main conferenceNetworking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptionsOnline event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messagingRecorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

Why does my registration need to be approved?

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.

What criteria do you look for when reviewing 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.

How long will it take to review my registration?

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

Why was my registration declined or waitlisted?

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.

How do I pay my registration fees?

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.

How do I sponsor or get involved in the event?

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.

How do I submit a speaking proposal?

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.

How do you select topics and speakers?

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.

How do I schedule my 1:1 meetings?

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.

Who can schedule 1:1 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.

What is your refund policy if I need to cancel my registration?

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.

Can I send my colleague if I cannot make it?

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.

Who can I contact regarding a question or concern?

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

Mass Torts
2026-09-15 - 2026-09-16 | New York City, New York City, Texas, United States
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2026

Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND | NEW YORK

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Event Home

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About The Event

WHERE CAPITAL, CLAIMS, AND STRATEGY MEET

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum returns to New York in September 2026, bringing together the funders, law firms, investors, corporates and specialist advisors driving the next phase of legal finance. Now in its ninth year, LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is the flagship meeting point for senior decision-makers across legal finance. The 2026 program focuses on the market questions shaping capital formation, deployment, regulation, liquidity, law firm strategy, AI, insurance and the evolving firm-funder relationship. Co-located with LF Dealmakers Mass Torts, the Forum creates a unique platform connecting the full legal finance ecosystem under one roof — from commercial litigation and plaintiff firms to institutional capital and strategic partners. The result is a highly connected environment built around originating relationships, accessing opportunities, and driving real commercial outcomes.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

LF Dealmakers by the numbers

275+

DecisionMakers

160+

AttendingCOMPANIES

300+

one to onemettings

50+

EXPERT SPEAKERS

10+

Hours of dedicated networking

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

Focused sessions

Tackling capital formation, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms shaping the future of legal finance

Dedicated content streams

Tailored tracks for mass torts, litigation funders, and law firms designed to deliver a more personalised and relevant experience across the legal finance ecosystem

Market-leading plenaries and keynotes

Exploring the forces reshaping legal finance, capital deployment, regulation, and law firm strategy

New interactive formats

Including masterclasses, deep dives, Dealmakers’ rundowns, and practical case studies designed for actionable insight

New closed-door boardrooms

Designed for deeper, candid conversations among senior industry leaders and decision-makers

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform

Facilitating targeted introductions, strategic partnerships, and business opportunities

view full Agenda

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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100percent

ROI rated very good to excellent

100percent

Would highly recommend to a colleague

98percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

"LF Dealmakers is our must attend litigation finance conference in New York each year. The attendees are well-curated, the speakers are experienced and compelling, and the event is impeccably organized."

— Molly Pease | Curiam Capital

"I had been told that LF Dealmakers is the best litigation finance conferences there is. After having spent two days listening to panels of experts and conveniently meeting with folks, I can understand why. I plan to be back next year."

— Marc Carmel | McDonald Hopkins

"LF Dealmakers is a go-to event for litigation finance. Dealmakers Forums runs an excellent program, which is always informative, well-organized, and attracts a good cross-section from the industry and beyond."

— Zachary Krug | NorthWall Capital

"LF Dealmakers is one of the very best conferences dedicated to the litigation finance industry. It is an incredibly well-run event, and brings together a broad range of attendees, including prominent litigation funders, law firms, investors, clients, academics, and media. The content is excellent, and the networking opportunities are second to none."

— Michael Nicolas | Longford Capital

"The Dealmakers team has put together yet another successful, informative, and productive litigation finance conference! LF Dealmakers continues to lead the industry in bringing together top talent and shaping the growth of this market."

— Rebecca Berrebi | Avenue 33, LLC

"As a first time attendee and speaker, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but LF Dealmakers exceeded my expectations. The room was full of relevant and high-level people and the conference was organized to make connections."

— Peter Buckley | Fox Rothschild

EVENT GALLERY

DealmakERS in action

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2026 SPEAKERS

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

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BECOME A SPEAKER

2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg is one of the Nation’s leading experts in alternative dispute resolution. He was the former Court-appointed Mediator in both the Imerys/Cyprus talc bankruptcy in Delaware and the Hess-Honx asbestos bankruptcy in Texas. He previously served as the voluntary Mediator in the Georgia Pacific/Bestwall bankruptcy in North Carolina, was co-Mediator in the successful Owens Illinois/Paddock asbestos bankruptcy proceeding in North Carolina and was formerly the Court-ordered Estimation Expert in the Johnson & Johnson/LTL Management bankruptcy in New Jersey. He has served as the Court-appointed Mediator in the successful resolution of the Purdue and Mallinckrodt opioid bankruptcies in the Southern District of New York and Delaware. Mr. Feinberg has been designated by the Federal Government to serve in a variety of public compensation and related funding programs over the past 40 years. He previously served as Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, the Department of Justice Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the Department of Justice Boeing 737 Max Crash Victim Beneficiaries Compensation Fund, the Department of the Treasury’s TARP Executive Compensation Program and the Treasury’s Private Multiemployer Pension Reform program. He was also appointed by the Obama Administration to oversee compensation of victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to his acting as Mediator and Administrator in a wide variety of federally related compensation programs, Mr. Feinberg has also served as Administrator of 24 Catholic Church Dioceses’ Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Funds designed to compensate the victims of Church sexual abuse. He also served as Administrator of the One Orlando Fund following a terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub, the General Motors Ignition Switch Compensation Program, and the One Fund Boston Compensation Program arising out of the Boston Marathon bombings. He was also the Mediator in the successful effort to return an original Chagall painting from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to its original family owners in Europe. He previously served as the Court-appointed Settlement Master in the Fiat/Chrysler Diesel Emissions class action settlement in San Francisco and is currently the Court-appointed Special Settlement Master in the national federal multi-district mass tort Roundup litigation. Mr. Feinberg has been appointed mediator and arbitrator in thousands of complex disputes over the past 40 years.

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2026 FORUM SPEAKERS

Bryan F. AylstockFounding Partner Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLC

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Bryan F. Aylstock

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FOUNDING PARTNER, AYLSTOCK, WITKIN, KREIS & OVERHOLTZ, PLC Mr. Aylstock founded his firm (Aylstock Witkin) in 2001, which is now comprised of more than 35 attorneys and 400 staff members who have directly handled the claims of more than 100,000 individual clients and class representatives over the past 20+ years. Mr. Aylstock graduated number one in his law school section from the University of Florida College of Law and served as a senior editor of the Florida Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Aylstock clerked for the Honorable Roger Vinson, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He has specialized in multi-district and class action litigation for more than 25 years and has developed substantial experience in handling complex litigation in both MDLs and state court consolidated proceedings. He has been appointed to multiple leadership roles by Courts across the Country on behalf of Plaintiffs.

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Tom BakerWilliam Maul Measey Professor University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

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Tom Baker

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WILLIAM MAUL MEASEY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL Tom Baker is the William Maul Measey Professor at Penn Carey Law School, with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School of Business, and a member of the Board of Directors of the liability insurer, Bowhead Specialty. Tom teaches and writes about legal finance with a special interest in adjacent insurance markets. Tom was the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Liability Insurance. He was awarded the 2024 Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for “empirical scholarship that has contributed most effectively to the advancement of research in law and society” and the 2013 Robert B. McKay to honor his “commitment to the advancement of justice, scholarship and the legal profession, demonstrated by outstanding contributions to the fields of tort and insurance law.”

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Suneal BediAssociate Professor of Business Law and Ethics Indiana University

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Suneal Bedi

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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS LAW AND ETHICS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY Suneal Bedi is an Associate Professor of Business Law & Ethics and the Jerome Bess Faculty Fellow at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. His work focuses on the intersection of law and business strategy. He seeks to analyze how corporate entities can utilize public institutions (e.g. courts, legislatures, social norms) to gain strategic advantages in marketplace transactions. Suneal has written extensively on litigation finance, intellectual property, and marketing ethics. His work has been published in leading law and business journals including Cornell Law Review, Vanderbilt Law Review, Southern California Law Review, and the Journal of Business Ethics, and has been featured in news outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, Washington Post, and US News. He has a PhD in Marketing and Business Ethics from The Wharton School and was formerly a private equity lawyer at Ropes & Gray, LLP.

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Cesar BelloPartner, Director of Litigation Finance Corbin Capital Partners

Debra Bogo-ErnstPartner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice Willkie Farr & Gallagher

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Debra Bogo-Ernst

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PARTNER & CHAIR, NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION PRACTICE, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER With over 25 years of experience, Debra represents a broad range of national and international organizations in class actions, mass arbitrations, and other high-stakes, complex litigation in the areas of autos, financial services, insurance, privacy, retail, products liability, and telecommunications. These cases involve the alphabet soup of statutory claims, privacy, unfair and deceptive trade practices, false advertising, trade secrets, safety and efficacy issues, false claims, government programs, fair housing and discrimination, civil conspiracy, and fraud-related claims. She also handles a variety of government investigations, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, and other state agencies. Debra often assists clients in navigating Consent Orders and other government settlements, including through the use of independent consultants. She also defends companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company risks and business-to-business disputes, and she has significant bench and jury trial experience.

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Mervin BurtonPartner, Head of Research Beatrice Advisors

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Mervin Burton

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PARTNER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, BEATRICE ADVISORS

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Hugh CarlsonCEO Three Crowns

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Hugh Carlson

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CEO, THREE CROWNS Hugh Carlson is the CEO and General Counsel of Three Crowns LLP. Since joining at the firm’s launch in 2014, he has helped build Three Crowns from a start-up boutique into one of the world’s premier dispute resolution practices. A former software engineer, Hugh has made innovation a defining feature of the firm. Under his leadership, Three Crowns has become a recognized leader in legal AI. The Financial Times has repeatedly honored the firm’s AI innovations, including its deployment of Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex to build enterprise-grade software tailored to its practice. Microsoft has called Three Crowns an “AI-powered company … bending the curve on innovation.” With Stanford’s Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), Hugh co-led the development of Atelier, an AI-powered cross-examination training platform that won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award for best training innovation in 2025. Hugh has lectured at Harvard Law School since 2019. He is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, and holds the leading credential in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

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Alfonso ChanPartner Cahill

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ALFONSO CHAN

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PARTNER, CAHILL Alfonso Garcia Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities, research institutes, and technology companies.His matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters, as well as biomaterials and medical devices. Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Europe.Alfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters.

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Brooke CohenFounding and Managing Partner Cohen Hirsch

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Brooke Cohen

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FOUNDING AND MANAGING PARTNER, COHEN HIRSCH Brooke Cohen has practiced law for almost 30 years, devoting most of her careerto representing individuals injured by defective products, dangerous medications, and corporate misconduct. She has handled complex product-liability and mass-tort matters involving transvaginal mesh, Dow breast implants, Essure, and other medical products. Brooke also represents survivors in cases involving sexual assault and abuse.Brooke’s work in mass torts and cases affecting women grew naturally from herbackground in healthcare policy. Before attending law school, she worked as ahealthcare lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where she gained an understanding of theways public policy, medicine, and corporate decision-making can affect patients and consumers.Brooke graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she majored in women’s history. After working in Washington, D.C., she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas.Throughout her nearly three decades of practice, Brooke has remained committed to advocating for people whose lives have been changed by injury, assault, or abuse. She approaches each client with empathy and integrity, guided by the belief that every client deserves to be heard, understood, and treated with dignity, respect, and care.

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Jeff CohenPartner Contingency Capital

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Jeff Cohen

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PARTNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeff Cohen is a Partner and Managing Director of Contingency Capital, which he joined at its inception in 2021. Prior to joining Contingency Capital, Jeff was formerly a Partner and Managing Director at Southpaw Asset Management, a distressed credit opportunity investment firm, which he joined at its inception in 2005. Prior to working at Southpaw, Jeff was a Vice President and Analyst in the distressed securities fund at Ramius Capital Group LLC. Jeff began his professional career as a bankruptcy and restructuring attorney in private practice and served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Bruce I. Fox in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jeff received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University and aJD from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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Megan ColevilleVP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Megan Colville

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VP, CORPORATE COUNSEL – LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Megan Colville is a vice president of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and serves as a member of, and corporate counsel to, the D. E. Shaw group’s Litigation Investing team, which operates within the firm’s Private Credit investment unit. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Ms. Colville was a corporate associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where she focused on leveraged and acquisition finance, private credit, capital markets, and project finance. She received a B.S. in industrial engineering, with highest honors, from Lehigh University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was an articles editor of the Virginia Law Review.

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Melinda R. CoolidgeManaging Partner Hausfeld

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Melinda Coolidge

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MANAGING PARTNER, HAUSFELD Melinda serves as US Managing Partner, responsible for the successful management of the firm’s US offices. She leads by example, embodying the firm’s values of tenacity and pragmatism, and believes success lies in maximizing opportunities for the professional and personal development of every team member, empowering a culture of bold actions, pioneering cases, and unconventional thinking. Deeply committed to the firm’s vision of global civil redress for those harmed by wrongdoing, Melinda also maintains an active legal practice focused on private enforcement of antitrust laws, representing clients ranging from Fortune 200 companies to classes of consumers with a common goal of maximizing recoveries from cartel price-fixing or monopolization. Her clients have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements and a US Supreme Court victory. Melinda works to safeguard free and open markets and is proud to be named one of the Top 100 Women in Antitrust by Global Competition Review.

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David CunninghamChief Innovation Officer ReedSmith

Kelly DaleyPrincipal & Founder Celsia Capital

Matthew DolmanFounding Partner Dolman Law Group

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Matthew Dolman

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FOUNDING PARTNER, DOLMAN LAW GROUP Matthew Dolman is the Founding Partner of Dolman Law Group, where he grew the firm from a local personal injury practice into a national firm focused on complex litigation and mass torts. With more than 20 years of experience, Matt has led litigation against some of the world’s largest corporations, represented survivors in institutional sexual abuse cases, and built mass tort portfolios involving defective medications, dangerous products, environmental exposures, and other catastrophic litigation. Matt also serves as Head of Underwriting for GFO Asset Management, an alternative asset manager providing institutional investors access to litigation finance by evaluating the legal merits of cases alongside financial risk and return. In that role, he evaluates case portfolios, assesses litigation risk, and identifies quality investment opportunities. Through interviews, speaking engagements, and podcasting, Matt regularly speaks on litigation finance, mass tort strategy, law firm growth, and the intersection of law, business, and capital markets.

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Joseph DunnManaging Director Fortress Investment Group

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Joseph Dunn

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CO-CIO LEGAL ASSETS, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP Mr. Dunn is a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group, and Co-CIO of the Fortress Legal Assets business. Mr. Dunn is based in New York and focuses on litigation and legal process related debt and structured equity transactions, including serving on the boards of several legal services companies. Prior to joining Fortress in 2016, Mr. Dunn was a litigator at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig LLP. At both firms, Mr. Dunn represented parties in disputes in U.S. state and federal courts, primarily in securities cases. Mr. Dunn received his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

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Fred FabricantManaging Partner Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos

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Fred Fabricant

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MANAGING PARTNER, FABRICANT RUBINO LAMBRIANAKOS Alfred R. Fabricant (Fred) is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent, copyright, trademark and unfair competition matters. Fred has litigated patent infringement cases in district courts throughout the United States for both patent owners and defendants including cases in the most active courts in Delaware, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida. His cases have involved a large variety of technologies including automotive, semiconductor, audio processing, LED lighting and displays, smartphone handsets, medical devices, electronic ratings systems, copy protection and anti-piracy technology, NFC and radio frequency identification systems, robotic systems, memory and storage devices, software, internet-related method and system patents, universal remote control devices, and optical systems and methods. According to “The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners” published by the IAM1000: “clients say they cannot imagine working with anyone better, hailing (Fabricant’s) outstanding skills of presentation and persuasion in the courtroom.” Fred has represented clients in patent matters before the International Trade Commission. He has also appeared in more than 100 inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Fred has argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal, Second and Fourth Circuits where he has represented both appellants and appellees in a variety of matters. Since 2008. Fred has handled a large number of cases that have been financed, in whole or in part, by litigation funders. He has also represented litigation funds as outside diligence counsel and is frequently recommended by litigation funders to claimants for both lead counsel representation in litigation as well as for IPR work before the PTAB. In addition to his litigation experience, Fred routinely acts as a legal counselor and advisor in the negotiation and drafting of patent, trademark and copyright license agreements, joint venture and funding agreements, and other business contracts. Fred also specializes in IP due diligence, freedom to operate analyses and strategies for the management and monetization of IP portfolios, a topic on which he has lectured extensively over the past decade. He advises clients on portfolio acquisitions and development, licensing and enforcement strategies, and litigation financing options. EducationThe University of Illinois Chicago Law School, J.D. (with highest distinction)The University of Miami (magna cum laude) AdmissionsNew YorkArizona

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Rachel S. FleishmanPartner Reid Collins Tsai

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Rachel S. Fleishman

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PARTNER, REID COLLINS TSAI

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David GialanellaEditor-in-Chief Business of Law and The American Lawyer

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David Gialanella

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS OF LAW AND THE AMERICAN LAWYER David Gialanella is Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer and Business of Law team at Law.com, where he has spent 16 years in various content team roles. He oversees the Am Law 100/200 and other key Law.com content packages, and leads the Law.com Pro and Law.com Pro Mid-Market platforms. He previously wrote for the ABA Journal and Chicago Sun-Times News Group. He holds master’s degrees from Medill School of Journalism and Pritzker Law at Northwestern University.

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Kiley GrombacherFounding Partner Bradley/Grombacher LLP

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Kiley Grombacher

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FOUNDING PARTNER, BRADLEY/GROMBACHER LLP Kiley L. Grombacher is a co-founding partner at Bradley/Grombacher LLP, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation, including consumer and employment class actions, product liability, personal injury, and pharmaceutical mass torts. With a passion for representing vulnerable individuals wronged by corporate negligence, she has secured numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements, with a strong focus on advocating for women and children. She has led high-profile lawsuits against major global corporations, including Amazon, Pfizer, Roblox, and Epic Games to protect employee rights, drug safety, and consumer privacy.Consistently recognized by her peers for legal excellence, Ms. Grombacher has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer. She is the founder of the Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) and maintains active memberships in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

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Paul B. HaskelPartner Crowell & Moring

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Paul B. Haskel

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PARTNER, CROWELL & MORING Paul B. Haskel is co-chair of Crowell’s Financial Services group and a partner in the New York office. Paul is a highly regarded advisor in the area of litigation finance, and a sought after commentator on litigation finance market trends, including in Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, Litigation Finance Journal, andValueWalk. He regularly represents litigation finance leaders in some of the industry’s most significant matters, including complex international deals. Paul advises litigation funders, private equity firms, and multi-strategy hedge fund clients in connection with their investments in funding transactions, including claims monetization and the provision of non-recourse capital to both plaintiffs and law firms. His work includes the diligence, structuring, and papering of these transactions, as well as advice on the management of credit risk, tax efficiency, state common law issues such as champerty and usury, and legal ethics.

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Ellen HollomanPartner Kaplan Martin

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ELLEN HOLLOMAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN MARTIN Ellen Holloman is a partner at litigation boutique Kaplan Martin. She represents financial institutions, corporations and individuals in civil litigation, arbitrations and at trial, in related regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate internal investigations and, where consistent with client goals, mediation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. In addition to her civil litigation and trial practice, Ellen has significant experience with white-collar criminal defense matters, and has represented clients responding to regulatory inquires, requests and enforcement proceedings. Ellen has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation and Lawdragon, among others, and has been selected as a two-time Notable Black Leader and Executive by Crain’s New York.

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William IsaacsonPartner Dunn Isaacson Rhee

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WILLIAM ISAACSON

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PARTNER, DUNN ISAACSON RHEE Bill Isaacson, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee, is widely considered one of the preeminent trial lawyers of his generation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners across three categories, he was named “Litigator of the Year” in 2016 and “Litigator of the Week” three times by The American Lawyer. Bill has tried cases spanning contract, commercial torts, copyright, international arbitration, and antitrust. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in major antitrust litigations and has tried more federal antitrust class actions this century than any other lawyer—each a major victory. Bill has been recognized in the Lawdragon 500 (each of the last 10 years), two Law360 “Competition MVP” titles, Forbes “America’s Top Lawyers,” and Legal 500 “Hall of Fame Lawyer.”

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Samuel IssacharoffBonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law NYU Law

Sarah JohnsonHead of Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Sarah Johnson

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HEAD OF LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Sarah Johnson serves as head of the Litigation Investing team within the D. E. Shaw group’s Private Credit investment unit. The Litigation Investing team provides financing solutions to law firms, plaintiffs, and other parties involved in commercial litigation. Ms. Johnson joined the D. E. Shaw group in 2006 as an analyst primarily working on distressed credit-related investments, including restructurings, opportunities in stressed equities, litigation plays (including monetizing litigation assets), and bankruptcy liquidations. She has led the Litigation Investing team since its formation in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Johnson was an associate in the restructuring and finance group of the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Ms. Johnson graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in economics and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a managing editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and James Kent Scholar.

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Robert KaplanPartner Kaplan Fox

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ROBERT KAPLAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN FOX ROBERT N. KAPLAN is widely recognized as a leading plaintiff’s litigator and has led the prosecution of numerous Antitrust and securities class actions and individual actions, recovering billions of dollars for the victims of corporate wrongdoing. He was recently listed by defense and corporate counsel as one of the top 75 plaintiffs’ attorneys in the United States for all disciplines and has also been ranked as one of the top attorneys in the United States for securities litigation by Legal 500. Mr. Kaplan was recognized as Super Lawyer in the New York Metro Area. Mr. Kaplan sits on the boards of several organizations, including the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, Board of Directors of the Carver Center in Port Chester, N.Y., Member of the Dana Farber Visiting Committee, Thoracic Oncology in Boston, MA, and Member of Board of Trustees for the Rye Historical Society.

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Ankur KapoorPartner Constantine Cannon

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Ankur Kapoor

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PARTNER, CONSTANTINE CANNON Ankur Kapoor is a partner at Constantine Cannon, with 25 years of experience in antitrust litigation. Most recently, Ankur has been co-lead counsel on behalf of a certified class of video-game publishers in In re Valve Antitrust Litigation, pending in Seattle federal court, as well as a member of the team representing over 60 major corporations in their credit- and debit-card swipe-fee antitrust action against Visa and Mastercard.  Ankur was also lead counsel for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) in a class action alleging price fixing of passenger airfares following a resolved Department of Justice investigation. Ankur is ranked in Chambers U.S.A. for “Antitrust-Mostly Plaintiff” and in U.S. News Best Lawyers for Antitrust Law & Litigation. He has also been named to Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders. Ankur currently serves as the Technology Officer of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section.

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Chris KercherFounder Kercher Law

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Chris Kercher

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FOUNDER, KERCHER LAW

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Stephen KimChief Legal Office & General Counsel Avicanna

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Stephen Kim

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CHIEF LEGAL OFFICE & GENERAL COUNSEL, AVICANNA Stephen is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Avicanna USA Inc., and responsible for all legal, regulatory, IP/tech, compliance, and human resources matters for Avicanna and its subsidiaries globally. Avicanna is a publicly traded commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with sales/operations in twenty-three countries. Prior to Avicanna, Stephen held roles of increasing responsibility at various publicly traded pharma/biotech and technology companies and practiced law with leading US and International law firms in New York and Toronto. Stephen graduated with a US law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (JD, 1997) and a Canadian law degree from the University of Windsor (LLB, 1997)

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Jason LevinePartner Foley & Lardner

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Evan Meyerson

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FOLEY & LARDNER Jason Levine is an antitrust and commercial litigation partner at Foley & Lardner LLP in Washington, D.C. He has over 25 years of first-chair experience, representing corporate plaintiffs and defendants in enterprise-risk disputes, including prior roles as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins, and Alston & Bird. From 2022-25, Jason spent nearly four years as an Investment Manager at Omni Bridgeway, one of the world’s largest commercial litigation finance firms. He originated and managed investments involving billion-dollar antitrust and business disputes and directed the company’s U.S. antitrust strategy. Complementing his litigation practice at Foley, Jason also serves as a trusted counselor to parties and funders on funding-related matters, and helps plaintiff-side clients explore potential non-recourse financing for their matters. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Jason clerked for Judge Randall Rader on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Claudia LinaresFounder & CEO Fortalea Advisory

Stephen MedlockPartner Vinson & Elkins

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Stephen Medlock

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PARTNER, VINSON & ELKINS Steve Medlock is an experienced antitrust litigator who brings dedication, intensity, and commercial common sense to his representations of Fortune 500 clients, whether navigating through complex multidistrict class actions or successfully defending clients in grand jury investigations. Clients place their trust in Steve to develop unique and complex antitrust arguments for both defendants and plaintiffs. Steve’s unique mix of plaintiff and defense-side experience allows him to see the issues that exclusive defense-sided practitioners miss in a full range of antitrust matters, including corporate counseling, internal investigations, civil non-merger and criminal cartel investigations, and litigation. In these areas, Steve is known for providing practical advice that business executives can digest. Steve has secured victories for clients in major antitrust class actions and B2B antitrust cases alleging monopolization and attempted monopolization at critical stages, including winning dismissal prior to discovery and prevailing at summary judgment. His depositions and briefs have been quoted in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Politico. Steve is a recognized as a part of the next generation of leadership in the antitrust bar. He currently serves as one of the editors of the forthcoming draft of the tenth edition of Antitrust Law Developments, the preeminent desk reference for antitrust lawyers.

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Brian MeltonPartner Susman Godfrey

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Brian Melton

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PARTNER, SUSMAN GODFREY Brian Melton is a nationally recognized lead trial lawyer who regularly tries and wins bet-the-company cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. He sits on the Executive Committee at Susman Godfrey – the nation’s premier litigation boutique – and the only law firm where he has practiced since graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law School and clerking for Federal District Court Judge Tom Stagg. Melton has secured several momentous wins throughout his career and has established himself as trusted counsel and a sought-out trial lawyer for clients and colleagues alike. In fact, a streak of three trial wins in an 18-month period led the National Law Journal to name him a “Winning Litigator” in 2017. Landmark Wins Melton’s landmark victory for Beats headphone designer, Steven Lamar, in a nationally followed breach of contract lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics over the design of the now iconic beats headphones was covered from coast to coast, with outlets such as New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter, NY Daily News, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict for Lamar in California federal court. Melton later spent time convincing the Judge to double the value of the judgment to $52 million – at which point Apple settled the case for a confidential amount. Law360 featured the story in their “How They Won It” series and The Recorder also ran a feature story on Melton and his significant role in this case. Later that year, Melton won an injunction for pro bono client Team Fuerza, a local Hispanic soccer team, which was being railroaded out of the giant United Premier Soccer League. Melton got the team back in the league and received an apology from the UPSL President. Unique Background Notably, Melton is a West Point graduate, who served as an infantry officer, attaining the rank of captain. While serving his country, Melton commanded two platoons, and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division. Melton graduated as the Honor Graduate of Ranger School, the Army’s elite leadership training course.

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Chandra MetzlerManaging Partner & Co-Founder CM Squared

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Chandra Metzler

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MANAGING PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, CM SQUARED Chandra Reddy Metzler co-founded CM Squared in 2017. She a Managing Partner with responsibility for all aspects of the business. As a family office and an independent sponsor, CM Squared distinguishes itself by structuring creative transactions that encourage optimal outcomes, align incentives and mitigate undesired risks. Litigation funding is a core strategy for the firm. Prior to CM Squared, Ms. Metzler was Head of Strategic Development for QVT Financial, a multi-billion dollar global alternative investment firm. In this role, she had overall responsibility for investor relations, capital raising and product development. She was also a member of the firm’s Risk Committee. Before joining QVT in 2013, Ms. Metzler was president of the financial lines division at AIG for the U.S. and Canada, leading a business with over $2 billion in revenue and over 500 employees. Prior to AIG, Ms. Metzler had various roles of increasing responsibility and revenue generation in capital markets, banking and investment research at Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan. Ms. Metzler earned her bachelor’s degree at Brown University in Economics, with honors, and Development Studies. She has a master’s degree in Economics from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While a graduate student, Ms. Metzler was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

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Evan MeyersonManaging Director Burford Capital

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Evan Meyerson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL Managing Director, Burford CapitalEvan Meyerson is a Managing Director who leads Burford’s US commercial investment team, with responsibility for overseeing the underwriting, origination, and portfolio management functions.Prior to joining Burford, Evan was a litigator at Paul, Weiss and at Sullivan & Cromwell. His practice focused on complex civil litigation in federal and state court, antitrust, white collar defense, bankruptcy litigation, corporate internal investigations, and government investigations into sanctions, anti-money laundering, and accounting issues. Evan began his career as an analyst at Bain Capital, evaluating venture capital investment opportunities.Evan graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Editor of the Harvard National Security Journal. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. He clerked for the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

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Ian MillicanDirector, Investments Contingency Capital

Steven MoloFounding Partner MoloLamken

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Steven Molo

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FOUNDING PARTNER, MOLOLAMKEN Steven Molo, one of the country’s leading courtroom advocates, is a founding partner of the national litigation boutique MoloLamken LLP. He represents corporations, boards, funds, investors, inventors, and individuals in complex business litigation, white collar criminal matters, and IP litigation. His client base is international. Chambers and Partners calls him “fantastic in the courtroom,” “with lots of charisma,” a “fabulous courtroom litigator who lights up the room with his presence,” “very bright, imaginative, and creative in his approach to problems,” and “one of the most talented lawyers in the (New York) city.” Benchmark Litigation – which named him one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in America – calls him “revered,” “an outstanding advocate and fearless in court,” who “delivers the goods.” Legal 500 includes Mr. Molo on its elite list of Leading Trial Lawyers and calls him “a rockstar litigator; a great lawyer,” with “terrific knowledge of the courts and the law,” “a force to be reckoned with” who “really excels in the courtroom.” It says he is “smart, creative, responsive, knowledgeable, and engaging; he has an excellent mix of traits that set him apart from his peers.” For the past thirteen years he has been named to Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Molo began his career as a prosecutor in Chicago, and then practiced with Winston & Strawn, where he was a senior litigator and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He spent five years as a litigation partner with the Wall Street firm Shearman & Sterling before founding MoloLamken in October 2009. He is also a solicitor on the Roll of Attorneys of the Law Society of England and Wales, and an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

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John MorleyAugustus E. Lines Professor of Law Yale Law School

Andrew MutterEVP, Contingent Risk CAC Specialty

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Andrew Mutter

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EXECUTIVE VICE PRSIDENT, CAC SPECIALITY Andrew is an Executive Vice President at CAC Specialty and Leader of its Contingent Risk Insurance Practice, which has placed more than $5 billion in insurance coverage in the contingent risk markets. The team has received various accolades, including most recently the Business Insurance Innovation award for its work developing new products to insure the core value of IP assets to reduce innovative companies’ cost of capital.Andrew’s practice focuses on crafting bespoke solutions for Contingent Risk Insurance, providing strategic certainty around both contingent legal assets and contingent legal liabilities. On the basis of these policies, the Contingent Risk team help clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity, release hundreds of millions of dollars from escrow, and facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of debt restructuring and refinancing.As a lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Andrew gained significant insurance recovery experience successfully litigating over half a billion dollars in D&O and E&O claims on behalf of financial institutions. Andrew has extensive experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, business torts, and healthcare related investigations and business disputes.Andrew earned his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He is also a former Teach For America teacher, with four years of experience in public education.

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Michael NicolasCo-Founder & Managing Director Longford Capital

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Michael Nicolas

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONGFORD CAPITAL Mike is responsible for the portfolio management of Longford Capital, including underwriting, investment selection, and overseeing the efforts of independent attorneys and other professionals as part of Longford Capital’s due diligence process. He is an accomplished attorney with more than 15 years of experience representing a wide array of corporate clients involved in complex litigation throughout the United States, including trial experience in the commercial litigation departments of two prominent national law firms, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP and Gardner, Carton & Douglas, LLP (n/k/a Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP). Mike is a frequent speaker on commercial litigation finance, and has presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He is an honors graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Business and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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Ryan PhairPartner Paul Hastings

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Ryan Phair

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Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings Ryan Phair is co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition practice of Paul Hastings. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate whose practice focuses on complex antitrust litigation and investigations. On behalf of plaintiffs, he has successfully recovered over $1 billion for his antitrust clients. On behalf of defendants, Ryan has an equally remarkable track record of success spanning dozens of complex cases, investigations and enforcement actions.

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Byron ReevesPaul C. Edwards Professor of Communication Stanford University

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Byron Reeves

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PAUL C. EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Elena S. ReyPartner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations Brown Rudnick

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Elena S. Rey

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PARTNER, HEAD OF LITIGATION FUNDING & CO-HEAD OF EUROPEAN SPECIAL SITUATIONS, BROWN RUDNICK Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Ruth RizkallaPartner The Carlson Law Firm

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RUTH RIZKALLA

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PARTNER, THE CARLSON LAW FIRM Ruth’s experience in complex litigation has given her a unique edge in strategizing and litigating cases of systemic minor sex abuse that require significant foresight and familiarity with advanced legal principles. She has leadership background in complex and mass torts litigations and has represented injured victims involving defective products and dangerous drugs and devices. Ruth has spent her over two-decade career representing those injured through severe negligent acts of large corporations. She has served in numerous leadership positions in several coordinated complex and mass tort proceedings, and has spoken and presented at multiple conferences and seminars.

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SHAYNA E. SACKSPartner Napoli Shkolnik

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Shayna E. Sacks

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NAPOLI SHKOLNIK PARTNER, PUBLIC CLIENT GROUP Ms. Sacks provides experienced representation to individuals, communities, local and state governments in multiple mass torts, including healthcare litigation, defective pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, the opioid crisis, and complex environmental & emerging contaminant litigation. She has served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on product liability multi-district litigations.

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Ed ScanlanCEO & Founder Bridge Legal

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Ed Scanlan

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CEO & FOUNDERBRIDGE LEGAL Ed Scanlan is a serial entrepreneur and litigation technology pioneer who transforms plaintiff-side legal portfolios into scalable, high-yield, risk-adjusted investments for capital partners. As Founder & CEO of Bridge Legal, Ed built a proprietary, AI-driven operating system that gives law firms and funders complete transparency from lead inception to filing—integrating case validation, workflow automation, and analytics to deliver 10x productivity gains and faster time-to-liquidity on funded matters. The platform empowers firms to capture market share at scale while enabling funders to deploy capital with unprecedented precision and control. Previously, Ed founded Total Attorneys, scaling it from startup to $30M+ recurring revenue without outside capital, earning spots on the Inc. 500, Crain’s Fast 50, and induction into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Inc.. Ed partners with leading litigation funders to co-create portfolios with exceptional merit profiles, predictable outcomes, and durable returns—aligning capital efficiency with access to justice.

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Jennifer ScullionPartner SeegerWeiss

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Jennifer Scullion

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PARTNER, SEEGERWEISS Jen Scullion is a partner at Seeger Weiss, where she leads or co-leads the firm’s work in antitrust and related consumer matters for classes and for direct action (opt out) plaintiffs. She currently serves as a member of the Direct Action Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the MultiPlan antitrust MDL, co-lead for Seeger Weiss’s work for the Direct Purchasers in the Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation, and Co-Chair of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Provider Track in the Change Healthcare Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, in addition to leading or co-leading the firm’s work in the Copaxone, “Proteins”, Fragrance, and Liquid Aluminum Sulfate antitrust matters. Jen has also co-led the firm’s work in the National Prescription Opioids and Socal Media Adolescent Addiction cases on behalf of local government and school districts. Jen is the co-author of the treatise New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act: Practice and Procedure (2026).

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Jonathan SelbinSenior Partner Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

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Jonathan Selbin

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SENIOR PARTNER, LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN Jonathan D. Selbin is a senior partner in the New York office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where he has practiced for over 30 years, and a long-time member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has led complex consumer protection, defective products, and sex abuse class action lawsuits in courts around the country against many of the world’s largest corporations and institutions. Together, cases in which Jonathan played a lead role have resulted in court-approved class action settlements with a combined total cash payout to class members in excess of $3.5 billion, plus other relief such as extended and enhanced warranties and implementation of best-practices institutional reforms. He has extensive appellate experience, having argued in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, as well as before state supreme and appellate courts. Jonathan is a leader in the firm’s funding of international consumer protection cases on multiple continents.

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Victoria Shannon SahaniProfessor of Law Boston University School of Law

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Victoria Shannon Sahani

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PROFESSOR OF LAW, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Victoria Shannon Sahani is the Associate Provost for Community and Inclusion at Boston University and a Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law. She previously served as Associate Dean of Faculty Development / Special Projects and Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She started her teaching career and was promoted to Associate Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Associate Provost Sahani is an internationally recognized legal scholar in domestic and international arbitration law and third-party litigation funding law. She is an award-winning teacher and serves as an independent arbitrator, consultant, and expert witness. In addition to publishing numerous book chapters, law review articles, and essays, she co-authored the book Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration (Wolters Kluwer, 1st and 2d ed.) (with Lisa Bench Nieuwveld), the first book in the world on this topic. She is the immediate past Chair of the Academic Council for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Chair-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on International Law, a Counsellor of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), an Elected Member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and an American Bar Foundation (ABF) Fellow. Before joining academia, Associate Provost Sahani worked at the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and practiced law at Pillsbury. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard College and is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia.

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Emily SiegelSenior Reporter Bloomberg Law

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Emily Siegel

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SENIOR REPORTER, BLOOMBERG LAW Emily Siegel is a senior reporter with Bloomberg Law. She covers litigation finance and writes about anything affecting or intersecting with the industry. She previously worked for NBC News as an investigative reporter. She earned a master’s degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

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Ryan StephenCo-Founder & Managing Partner Pine Valley Capital Partners

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Ryan Stephen

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, PINE VALLEY CAPITAL PARTNERS Mr. Stephen has led, originated, and managed more than $2.5B in private financing transactions since 2009. Prior to co-founding Pine Valley Capital Partners, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Trinity Environmental Services, an oilfield waste management company operating across Texas and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, he originated, structured, and managed private credit investments in the energy sector with Guggenheim Partners in Houston. Mr. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Abilene Christian University and has extensive experience structuring complex transactions across multiple industries.

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Kelsey StokesSenior Attorney The Lanier Law Firm

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Ryan Stephen

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SENIOR ATTORNEY, THE LANIER LAW FIRM Kelsey Stokes is recognized as a national leader in mass personal injury litigation. Kelsey practices primarily in the areas of mass tort litigation, products liability, and complex commercial litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in multiple Hernia Mesh MDLs (Multi-District Litigation) at the federal level and 3 MCLs (Multi-County Litigation) in New Jersey, the home of Johnson & Johnson, Kelsey has spent countless hours fighting for victims of defective medical devices, ensuring their voices are heard and their suffering acknowledged. Her leadership in the litigation against C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson has not only changed lives but has also set a precedent for women in leadership roles within the legal industry. Kelsey is currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the second largest MDL in the country (MDL No. 2846, In re Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio). Appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in 2018, the MDL has over 23,000 cases consolidated there. Kelsey served as lead trial counsel for the three bellwether cases tried in MDL 2846. In 2024, as Lead Settlement Counsel for the Bard Hernia Mesh MDL, Kelsey Stokes successfully negotiated a path to resolution for over 30,000 plaintiffs. Kelsey currently serves as Administering Counsel for the Bard resolution and spends countless hours guiding plaintiffs’ lawyers across the country. In addition to her leadership roles at the federal level, Kelsey Stokes was appointed to lead three New Jersey state court consolidated actions against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc.: MCL 627, In re Physiomesh Litigation; MCL 630, In Re: Proceed Mesh Litigation; and MCL 633, In re Prolene Hernia System Mesh Litigation. Kelsey was also elected Co‑Chair of the American Association for Justice Hernia Mesh Litigation Group by her peers, where she has served for over seven years. In addition to her responsibilities with the hernia mesh litigation, Kelsey was also appointed to the Phenylephrine Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. She serves as Science & Expert Committee Co-Chair, as well as a Discovery Co-Chair for the litigation. Prior to leading the hernia mesh docket, Attorney Kelsey Stokes played an integral role in litigating transvaginal mesh cases to a successful resolution. Her work in the various transvaginal mesh MDLs gave her a wealth of knowledge overlapping with the knowledge required to successfully litigate hernia mesh cases. Kelsey has regular speaking engagements, sharing the knowledge she has gained managing MDLs as well as studying the science and legal issues applicable to medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. Through the course of her career, Kelsey has taken hundreds of depositions, including depositions of corporate witnesses, expert witnesses, and treating physicians. Kelsey has also defended the leading experts in their fields as well as hundreds of plaintiffs injured by various medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. She regularly argues at hearings throughout the country and coordinates large-scale briefing on behalf of the MDLs she leads. Early in her career, Kelsey managed a large GranuFlo docket from case filing to resolution, successfully navigating clients through the settlement claims process. In addition to the above litigations, Kelsey Stokes performed considerable work on the Wright Hip and Accutane Litigations as well as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), in which she was trial counsel in the first TRT trial in Cook County, Illinois in 2017. Kelsey’s practice also includes complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, and arbitration, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts. Examples include arbitrations where she represented healthcare providers in contractual and payment disputes with insurers; a massive Ponzi scheme; and an off-shore commercial oil dispute. Attorney Kelsey Stokes’s experience also extends to catastrophic aviation accidents. Education & Memberships Kelsey Stokes earned a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she served as Chief Managing Editor of the Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law. Kelsey is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Circuits. She is a member of the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

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Will WeismanDirector – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel Parabellum Capital

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Will Weisman

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DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CORPORATE COUNSEL, PARABELLUM CAPITAL Will Weisman leads Parabellum Capital’s commercial litigation investment strategy. He originates, structures, and manages commercial litigation investments across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. Before joining Parabellum, Will was a senior member of the investment team at litigation financier Therium Capital Management. Earlier in his career, he practiced complex commercial litigation at Proskauer Rose LLP, one of the nation’s premier law firms, and later joined Liberty International Underwriters, a global insurance company. Will frequently writes and speaks on litigation finance, regulatory developments, and other issues affecting the legal industry. He earned a B.A., with honors, from the University of Maryland and a J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as an editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. Will also worked as a law clerk extern for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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Leanne WilsonManaging Director Contingency Capital

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Leanne Wilson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINGENCY CAPITAL 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).

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R. Brent WisnerManaging Partner Wisner Baum

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R. Brent Wisner

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MANAGING PARTNER, WISNER BAUM 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 winning significant verdicts and settlements for his clients. Over the last several years, Brent has served on the plaintiff’s leadership for multiple mass torts, earned jury verdicts worth a combined $2.427 billion, and helped negotiate settlements in excess of $1 billion—all before the age of 40. While success in the courtroom is often measured exclusively by dollars and cents, Brent’s legal work has led to changes in business practices that will protect people and the environment for generations. Hundreds of media publications across the globe have asked for his perspective on a variety of pressing legal issues.

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Thomas WhitePartner Sullivan Cromwell

Hon. Freda L. WolfsonFormer Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Lowenstein Sandler

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Hon. Freda L. Wolfson

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FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, PARTNER & CHAIR, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Honorable Freda L. Wolfson (ret.) rejoined Lowenstein Sandler after a decades long career in the federal judiciary, including as Chief Judge of the U.S.District Court for the District of New Jersey. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, special master appointments in federal and state courts, including multidistrict litigations (MDL), servingas an expert, monitorships, internal investigations, and presiding over mock trials and oral arguments. Judge Wolfson leads the firm’s ADR practice, leveraging her judicial experience managing complex commercial cases to help clients achieve satisfactoryresolutions on a wide variety of civil and regulatory issues. Since joining Lowenstein, Judge Wolfson has frequently served as a special master and mediator infederal and state civil actions, which typically involve high-stakes disputes, including, among others, data breaches, corporate divorces and securities matters;pre-litigation and pre-arbitration matters; and mass consumer mediations. Judge Wolfson also represents and consults pharmaceutical clients in patent-relatedmatters. Additionally, Judge Wolfson has served as a mock judge for parties in high profile cases involving patents and pharmaceutical product liability. Judge Wolfson was nominated to the District Court in 2002, ascending to the Chief Judge post in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as a U.S.Magistrate Judge for over 16 years, one of the few women and one of the youngest members of the district court in the nation. In 2014, she was appointed byU.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to represent the Third Circuit on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the MagistrateJudge System; she then served as Third Circuit District Judge Representative on the Judicial Conference of the United States. During her 36-year judicial tenure, Judge Wolfson authored thousands of opinions on issues such as securities litigations, shareholder derivative lawsuits,products liability, commercial transactions and financial fraud, civil rights, and constitutionality of federal and state statutes. She presided over a multitude ofcivil and criminal trials, including Hatch Waxman ANDA patent infringement cases; one of the largest excessive fees litigations associated with securities andmutual funds; employment discrimination matters; civil rights claims under section 1983; and white collar criminal cases. Judge Wolfson was also appointed by the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Panel to oversee some of the nation’s largest MDLs, including In re Johnson & JohnsonTalcum Powder Prods. Mktg. Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., the second largest MDL in the country. She has extensive experience in complex discoverymatters and has successfully facilitated hundreds of settlements. Frequently recognized as a leader of the bar, Judge Wolfson has received such honors as the 2022 Donald A. Robinson Meritorious Service Award, the 2016Rutgers University Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award and the, 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Rutgers University School of Law, the 2012Inductee of the Associate Alumni of Douglas College–Society of Excellence, the 2013 Women in the Profession Section’s Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Award forDistinguished Service and Excellence, and the 2008 Women’s Initiative & Leaders in Law Platinum Award from New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Additionally, Judge Wolfson was selected as an American Bar Foundation Fellow.Upon her graduation from law school, Judge Wolfson initially practiced litigation at Lowenstein.

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Boris ZiserGlobal Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets McDermott Will & Schulte

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Boris Ziser

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GLOBAL HEAD OF STRUCTURED FINANCE, CLOS AND ALTERNATIVE ASSETS, MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE Boris Ziser is McDermott’s Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He advises clients on asset-backed lending and securitization, warehouse facilities, secured financings, specialty finance lending, and other esoteric finance transactions. With more than 30 years of experience, he works across a wide range of asset classes, including life settlements, litigation funding, equipment leases, structured settlements, lottery receivables, timeshare loans, merchant cash advances, home equity investments (HEI), cell towers, intellectual property, insurance-related cash flows, and others. He also represents investors, lenders, hedge funds, private equity funds and finance companies in acquisitions and dispositions of asset portfolios, as well as financings secured by those portfolios.

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2026 agenda

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BECOME A SPEAKER

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

OPENing day: tuesday, SEPTEMBER 15

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Opening Reception

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

7:30 – 8:45 AM: Registration & Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:30 AM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS - THE PRICE OF JUSTICE: KEN FEINBERG ON FUNDING, FAIRNESS AND RESOLUTION

In this timely conversation, Feinberg will share his perspective on how funding is reshaping pathways to resolution, what information matters in settlement negotiations, and what safeguards are needed to preserve trust as legal finance continues to mature. Kenneth R. Feinberg, Mediator & Arbitrator, Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg In discussion with Emily Siegel, Senior Reporter, Bloomberg Law

9:30 - 10:20 AM: STATE OF THE MARKET - LEGAL FINANCE 2026: THE MARKET SHIFTS DRIVING CAPITAL, STRATEGY AND DECISIONS

The economic, geopolitical, and regulatory forces reshaping legal finance in 2026The changing capital stack—how direct institutional entrants, banks, and new structures are reshaping competition and deploymentHow legal finance could evolve as capital becomes deeper, cheaper, and more specializedSpeakers: David Gialanella, Editor-in-Chief, Business of Law and The American Lawyer (moderator)Evan Meyerson, Managing Director, Burford CapitalMichael Nicolas, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Longford CapitalElena S. Rey, Partner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations, Brown RudnickRyan Stephen, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Pine Valley Capital Partners

10:20 – 10:50 AM: Networking Break

10:50 - 11:20 AM: FEATURED INTERVIEW - INSIDE THE SILICON VALLEY SUPER TRIAL: ELON MUSK V SAM ALTMAN

Steven Molo, Founding Partner, MoloLamken

11:00 - 12:30 PM: BOARDROOM - HOSTED BY TSEG

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

11:20 - 12:10 PM: THE DEALMAKERS’ RUNDOWN - REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS & THE SHIFTING RISK PROFILE

How state-by-state regulation is changing where, with whom, and on what terms legal finance deals can be doneThe impact on structuring, diligence, pricing, disclosure, and capital deployment across the marketHow firms, funders, and advisers can keep transactions moving as regulatory risk becomes a commercial riskSpeakers: Bryan F. Aylstock, Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & OverholtzVictoria Shannon Sahani, Professor of Law, Boston University School of LawHon. Freda L. Wolfson, Former Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lowenstein SandlerBoris Ziser, Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs & Alternative Assets, McDermott, Will, & Schulte

12:10 - 1:00 PM: IN PERSPECTIVE - VIEW FROM THE TOP: LAW FIRM LEADERS ON AI, MSOS & THE NEW BUSINESS OF LAW

How AI is changing law firm operations, decision-making, and client deliveryWhat growing investor interest and MSO models mean for ownership, control, and independenceHow firm leaders are reshaping their business models for the next era of legal practiceSpeakers: Ed Scanlan, CEO & Founder, Bridge Legal (moderator)Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three CrownsMelinda R. Coolidge, U.S. Managing Partner, HausfeldDavid Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer, ReedSmithKiley Grombacher, Founding Partner, Bradley/Grombacher

1:00 – 2:45 PM: Networking Lunch

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS MASS TORTS

IN FOCUS DEALMAKING

2:45 - 3:30 PM: SOLUTION CIRCLES - ABS & MSOs

As law firms explore external investment, ABS and MSO models are becoming one of the most consequential—and contested—developments in the US legal market. These facilitated, peer-to-peer working groups will examine: Regulation & structuring: navigating state-by-state restrictions on ownership, fee-sharing, management rights, and revenue modelsCapital & control: defining the boundary between commercial oversight and professional independenceThe commercial case: assessing whether external capital can deliver sustainable growth, stronger operations, and aligned long-term returnsCo-Facilitators: Matthew Dolman, Founding Partner, Dolman Law GroupShayna E. Sacks, Partner, Napoli ShkolnikR. Brent Wisner, Managing Partner, Wisner Baum

2:45 - 3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - FROM PARTNERS TO PARTING WAYS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEAL?

How firms and funders can manage performance, communication and changing expectations after a deal is completedWhat options are available when the relationship or funding structure no longer works, including refinancing and restructuringHow secondaries and other liquidity solutions can create an exit, transfer exposure or reset the parties’ positionsSpeakers: Kelly Daley, Principal & Founder, Celsia Capital (moderator)Megan Coleville, VP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant Rubino LambrianakosPaul B. Haskel, Partner, Crowell & Moring

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Networking Break

4:00 - 4:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - DEALING WITH FIRMS IN DISTRESS: REFINANCING VS RESTRUCTURING

When refinancing remains viable—and when deeper restructuring is requiredHow firms and funders can stabilise distress as timelines lengthen and assumptions changeWhat happens when recovery is no longer possible—and whether the market needs a formal frameworkSpeakers: Jeff Cohen, Partner and Managing Director, Contingency CapitalRuth Rizkalla, Partner, The Carlson Law Firm

4:00 - 4:45 PM: INSURANCE SPOTLIGHT - THE WIDESPREAD USE OF INSURANCE (AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JPIS…)

Why insurance is becoming integral to legal finance structures—and what capital providers now expect it to protectHow coverage, pricing, and insurer diligence are reshaping underwriting, economics, and capital deploymentWhat happened to JPI—and which products and risk-transfer models could define the market’s next phaseSpeakers: Tom Baker, William Maul Measey Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (moderator)Andrew Mutter, EVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty

4:00 - 5:30 PM: BOARDROOM - CORPORATE LITIGATION LEADERS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

4:45 - 5:30 PM: LAW FIRM PERSPECTIVES - TRANSPARENCY ON TRIAL: DATA, STANDARDS, & THE FUTURE OF MASS TORT REPORTING

What firms should report to capital providers—and which metrics genuinely inform decisionsCreating consistent definitions, validation standards, and accountability across portfoliosHow better reporting can strengthen trust, identify risk earlier, and improve funding relationshipsSpeakers: Samuel Issacharoff, Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU Law (moderator)Brooke Cohen, Founding and Managing Partner, Cohen HirschSteve Faries, Partner, Pulaski KherkherKelsey Stokes, Senior Attorney, The Lanier Law Firm

4:45 - 5:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - HOW TO EVALUATE AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAPITAL PARTNER

What separates a source of capital from a genuine strategic partnerHow to assess track record, flexibility, alignment, and execution—not just pricingWhere brokers and advisers add value in finding, diligencing, and negotiating with the right funderSpeakers: John Morley, Augustus E. Lines Professor of Law, Yale Law School (moderator)Cesar Bello, Partner, Director of Litigation Finance, Corbin Capital PartnersAlfonso Chan, Partner, CahillJonathan Selbin, Senior Partner, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein

9:00 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.

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Networking Reception & Close of Day One

DAY TWO: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

8:30 - 9:00 AM: Registration & Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Recap

9:15 - 9:45 AM: DATA DEEP DIVE - WHAT THE DATA TELLS US: LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO INVEST

Where investments made between 2017 and 2021 underperformed, and what investors learned from themWhich deal characteristics have been most closely associated with successful outcomesHow those lessons are changing underwriting, portfolio construction and capital deployment todaySpeakers: Joseph Dunn, Managing Director, Legal Assets Co-Chief Investment Officer, Fortress Investment GroupWill Weisman, Director – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel, Parabellum Capital

9:45 - 11:00 AM: PANEL DISCUSSION - UNLOCKING VALUE: THE RISE OF AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION

How law firms and corporations are identifying and pursuing affirmative litigation opportunitiesWhy potentially valuable claims are often overlooked, deprioritized or left undevelopedHow affirmative litigation can shift the legal function from managing exposure to creating strategic and financial valueSpeakers: William Isaacson, Partner, Dunn Isaacson Rhee (moderator)Ellen Holloman, Partner, Kaplan MartinStephen Kim, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Avicannaa

11:00 - 11:30 AM: Networking Break

11:30 AM – 3:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS LITIGATION FUNDERS

IN FOCUS LAW FIRMS

CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS

11:30 – 12:15 PM: MASTERCLASS - AI IN PRACTICE: FINDING AND FUNDING BETTER CASES

How AI is being used to identify potential claims, surface overlooked opportunities and build stronger case pipelinesWhere AI can improve early-stage assessment, diligence and underwriting—and which decisions still require experienced human judgmentWhat funders and firms need to get right on data quality, validation and implementation before AI can produce better investment outcomesSpeakers: Byron Reeves, Paul C. Edwards Professor of Communication, Stanford University (moderator)Chris Kercher, Founder, Kercher Law

11:30 – 12:15 PM: CASE STUDY - BUILDING A PLAINTIFF-SIDE PRACTICE

The strategic and commercial case behind Vinson & Elkins’ move into plaintiff-side litigationHow the firm built the practice: selecting opportunities, assembling the team and integrating contingency work into the wider businessWhat the firm has learned about economics, risk, culture and scaling—and what others should consider before following the same pathSpeakers: Stephen Medlock, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

11:30 - 1:00 PM: BOARDROOM - INSTITUTIONAL ALLOCATORS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

12:15 - 2:00 PM: Networking Lunch

2:00 - 2:45 PM: THE INVESTOR LENS - WHAT FUNDERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL IN A TIGHTER MARKET

Why institutional investors allocate capital to some litigation fund managers—and reject othersWhat allocators are really testing when they assess strategy, team, track record, pipeline and riskWhat can turn investor interest into a commitment—or cause an allocation to fall awaySpeakers: Chandra Metzler, Partner & Co-Founder, CM Squared (moderator)Mervin Burton, Partner, Head of Research, Beatrice Advisors

2:00 - 2:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - WHY GOOD CASES DON’T GET FUNDED

What funders are seeing in the market today, and how appetite, capacity and return expectations are shaping investment decisionsWhy apparently strong cases still fail to secure funding, from weak economics and incomplete diligence to poor strategic fitHow firms can present opportunities more effectively, with the evidence, analysis and commercial clarity funders need to reach a decisionSpeakers: Ankur Kapoor, Partner, Constantine Cannon (moderator)Debra Bogo-Ernst, Partner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice, Willkie Farr & GallagherSarah Johnson, Head of Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Ryan Phair, Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings

2:45 -3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - WHEN THE CASE TURNS: MANAGING APPEAL, ENFORCEMENT AND OUTCOME RISK

Why a major judgment may still be far from a realizable recovery—and the appellate, foreign-law, sovereign and enforcement risks that remain after trialHow claimant counsel, defence counsel and funders assess and stress-test those risks at different stages of a caseWhat happens when the legal or commercial assumptions underpinning a matter change—and how the parties can reset strategy, expectations and next steps without relying on hindsightSpeakers: Claudia Linares, Founder & CEO,Fortalea Advisory (moderator) Jason Levine, Partner, Foley & LardnerJennifer Scullion, Partner, SeegerWeissThomas White, Partner, Sullivan Cromwell

2:45 - 3:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - SKIN IN THE GAME: WHEN TO SELF-FUND, CO-FUND OR SHARE THE RISK

How to determine which matters to finance and when to bring in external capitalHow case economics, portfolio exposure, cash flow and risk appetite shape the choice between self-funding, co-funding and full risk transferLessons learned from funding structures that underperformed, became misaligned or failed to deliver the expected outcomeSpeakers: Suneal Bedi, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University (moderator)Robert Kaplan, Partner, Kaplan FoxBrian D. Melton, Partner, Susman Godfrey

9:00 AM – 3:30 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.

3:30 - 5:00 PM: Closing Reception

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CAC is now part of The Baldwin Group. Together, we deliver greater specialization, expanded
capabilities, and deeper expertise to help clients navigate today’s evolving risk landscape. By
combining CAC’s industry and product expertise with Baldwin’s national platform and distribution
network, we provide seamless access to a full suite of risk management solutions. Our unified
team serves clients across retail, specialty, reinsurance (including London and Bermuda), and
MGA platforms.

Fabricant LLP is a dynamic IP litigation boutique with unparalleled success enforcing or defending patent infringement claims involving the most important and cutting-edge technologies. We are experts representing plaintiffs and defendants in all high-tech industries including, audio processing, smartphone, semiconductor, automotive, payments, computer hardware and software, LED displays and lights, GPS location services among many others. Fabricant LLP is regularly ranked among the most active U.S. law firms representing patent owners in the courts and before the PTAB where it has achieved win rates for defeating validity challenges far above the national average.

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.

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.

silver sponsorS

Brown Rudnick is a leading international law firm that provides exceptional, client-driven service in global litigation, crisis management, brand and reputation management, life sciences, technology, intellectual property, and litigation funding. Our lawyers have extensive experience leading high-profile cross-border matters and are recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Law360 for excellence.

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world.

Cathedral CPAs & Advisors helps litigation finance firms build the financial infrastructure needed to grow with confidence. We provide fractional CFO and controller services, back office solutions, strategic advisory, and comprehensive tax support, including preparation, structuring, and strategy. Our team works with leadership to improve reporting, strengthen controls, manage complexity, and support informed decision making. Clients gain experienced financial leadership, practical insight, and scalable support without the expense of building a full internal finance department.

Contingency Capital is a global asset management business focused on credit oriented legal assets. Contingency Capital was founded in November 2020 by Brandon Baer. We invest in legal assets where the primary driver of value is a legal, tax or regulatory process.

Our investment team is comprised of credit and distressed investors who are also former transactional attorneys and litigators. Collectively we have decades of multifaceted experience investing in legal assets.

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, and its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

The D. E. Shaw group is a global investment and technology development firm with more than $90 billion in investment and committed capital as of June 1, 2026, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Since our founding in 1988, we have earned an international reputation for successful investing based on innovation, careful risk management, and the quality and depth of our staff.

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.

MoloLamken is a law firm focused exclusively on representing clients in complex disputes. It handles civil, criminal, and regulatory matters, as well as appeals, across the United States. The firm’s clients span the globe. MoloLamken is involved in some of the most significant disputes of the day.

MoloLamken provides experienced advocacy – for claimants as well as defendants – before judges, juries, arbitral forums, and courts of appeals, including the Supreme Court of the United States. The firm also represents clients in regulatory and criminal investigations and conducts internal investigations.

Parabellum Capital is a leading financier of commercial and intellectual property litigation. Founded in 2012, its principals pioneered the commercial litigation funding market in the United States and remain on the forefront of shaping the asset class as the industry evolves. Parabellum’s team has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the commercial litigation arena, with a focus on structuring aligned transactions with claimholders and counsel.

BRONZE SPONSORs

Curiam Capital LLC is a private investment firm that provides financing for law firms and high-value litigation. Curiam invests in most types of commercial litigation in areas such as commercial business disputes, securities, antitrust, intellectual property, international arbitration, and bankruptcy and insolvency. Curiam’s team has decades of experience evaluating litigation claims and takes pride in making quick but well-informed investment decisions. Curiam funds both individual cases and portfolios of cases.

Eve Legal is the AI operating system that plaintiff law firms use across the entire case lifecycle to handle more cases, reduce time on desk, and increase settlement values. Over 1200 firms choose EveOS to grow faster and deliver stronger client outcomes.

One platform. Every partner relationship.

Lexamica is a full-service referral platform connecting lawyers across the country. Expand your network, strengthen relationships, and scale referral revenue with Lexamica.

Saul Ewing is a full-service, law firm with specialized practices in IP and Litigation Finance. Our attorneys advise litigation funders, investors, insurers and other clients by underwriting and analyzing litigation risks surrounding potential litigation claims, jury verdicts, case merits, and appeals of intellectual property, patent, trade secret, and commercial cases.

Media Partner

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. Through separate publications, we also cover the UK, Canadian and Australian insolvency markets (Insolvency Insider UK / Insolvency Insider Canada / Insolvency Insider Australia).

supporting organization

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

sponsorship opportunities

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Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is where the legal finance market comes together to do business. Bringing together senior leaders from law firms, funders, investors, corporates, insurers, and the wider disputes ecosystem, the Forum is designed to drive the relationships, partnerships, and commercial conversations that move deals forward. As the market matures and capital becomes more selective, LF Dealmakers goes beyond theory to focus on how capital is actually being deployed, partnerships structured, and opportunities executed in practice. Our value lies in convening the full legal finance ecosystem in one place — connecting those originating claims, deploying capital, structuring opportunities, and driving disputes forward. The result is a highly focused environment for meaningful conversations, strategic alignment, and real dealmaking.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with relevant participants

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for real conversations

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

21+ focused sessions tackling capital deployment, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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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 portfoliosUnderstand how funders assess risk, structure deals, and price opportunities in a more selective marketBenchmark your funding and growth strategy against leading claimant firms across EuropeExplore alternative fee arrangements, portfolio models, and firm-level financing strategiesAccess investors and advisors to support expansion, case development, and balance sheet managementStay ahead of how capital is reshaping litigation strategy, firm economics, and competitive positioning

Funders

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 typesBenchmark your underwriting, portfolio construction, and deployment strategies against leading fundersUnderstand how law firms are structuring, packaging, and presenting opportunities in today’s marketAccess origination partners, co-investment opportunities, and new distribution channelsExplore emerging asset classes, including ESG, securities, and cross-border collective actionsStay ahead of regulatory developments, capital flows, and structural shifts impacting returns

Investors

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 strategiesAccess funders, law firms, and platforms originating and managing opportunitiesEvaluate risk, return profiles, and structuring approaches across jurisdictions and asset typesExplore entry points into legal finance, including co-investment, private credit, and secondary marketsBenchmark allocation strategies against other institutional investorsStay ahead of how capital is flowing into and shaping the legal finance market

Insurers

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 disputesExplore opportunities to partner with funders and law firms on risk transfer and capital solutionsBenchmark underwriting approaches, pricing models, and emerging insurance productsAccess key stakeholders originating and structuring large-scale claims and portfoliosExplore how insurance can enhance capital efficiency, mitigate downside, and support deal structuresStay ahead of trends in claims, portfolios, and structured risk across jurisdictions

Claimants & Corporations

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 exposureExplore strategies for pursuing complex, cross-border, and high-value disputesAccess funders, law firms, and advisors to structure and execute claims effectivelyBenchmark your approach against leading corporates and claimant groups across EuropeUnderstand how funding impacts control, governance, and outcomesStay ahead of how disputes are being originated, financed, and executed in today’s market

Secure Your Seat

REGISTER TODAY

Companies Attending Include:

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

VENUE & Accommodations

eventi & second

Experience the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers in Manhattan’s Chelsea district. This year, the forum returns to the sophisticated Kimpton Hotel Eventi (851 6th Avenue) and the adjoining SECOND event space (849 6th Avenue), together occupying an entire NYC city block. With sleek modern design, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, both venues offer breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline — the perfect setting for high-level networking, dealmaking, and strategic discussion. A limited number of premium rooms at Kimpton Hotel Eventi are available at a special rate of $649++ 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 registrant.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

Where will the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum be held?

The 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be held on September 15-17, 2025 at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND event space. This event is colocated with our 3rd LF Mass Torts event. You may find additional information regarding the venue on our Venue page.

How do I register for the event?

Registration for the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be open soon.

What's included with my registration?

All registered attendees will have access to the following: Admission to main conferenceNetworking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptionsOnline event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messagingRecorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

Why does my registration need to be approved?

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.

What criteria do you look for when reviewing 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.

How long will it take to review my registration?

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

Why was my registration declined or waitlisted?

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.

How do I pay my registration fees?

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.

How do I sponsor or get involved in the event?

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.

How do I submit a speaking proposal?

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.

How do you select topics and speakers?

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.

How do I schedule my 1:1 meetings?

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.

Who can schedule 1:1 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.

What is your refund policy if I need to cancel my registration?

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.

Can I send my colleague if I cannot make it?

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.

Who can I contact regarding a question or concern?

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

Forum
2026-09-15 - 2026-09-17 | New York City, New York City, Texas, United States
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2026

Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND | NEW YORK

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Event Home

Agenda

Speakers

Sponsors

Why Attend

Venue

FAQ

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About The Event

WHERE CAPITAL, CLAIMS, AND STRATEGY MEET

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum returns to New York in September 2026, bringing together the funders, law firms, investors, corporates and specialist advisors driving the next phase of legal finance. Now in its ninth year, LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is the flagship meeting point for senior decision-makers across legal finance. The 2026 program focuses on the market questions shaping capital formation, deployment, regulation, liquidity, law firm strategy, AI, insurance and the evolving firm-funder relationship. Co-located with LF Dealmakers Mass Torts, the Forum creates a unique platform connecting the full legal finance ecosystem under one roof — from commercial litigation and plaintiff firms to institutional capital and strategic partners. The result is a highly connected environment built around originating relationships, accessing opportunities, and driving real commercial outcomes.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

LF Dealmakers by the numbers

275+

DecisionMakers

160+

AttendingCOMPANIES

300+

one to onemettings

50+

EXPERT SPEAKERS

10+

Hours of dedicated networking

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

Focused sessions

Tackling capital formation, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms shaping the future of legal finance

Dedicated content streams

Tailored tracks for mass torts, litigation funders, and law firms designed to deliver a more personalised and relevant experience across the legal finance ecosystem

Market-leading plenaries and keynotes

Exploring the forces reshaping legal finance, capital deployment, regulation, and law firm strategy

New interactive formats

Including masterclasses, deep dives, Dealmakers’ rundowns, and practical case studies designed for actionable insight

New closed-door boardrooms

Designed for deeper, candid conversations among senior industry leaders and decision-makers

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform

Facilitating targeted introductions, strategic partnerships, and business opportunities

view full Agenda

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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100percent

ROI rated very good to excellent

100percent

Would highly recommend to a colleague

98percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

"LF Dealmakers is our must attend litigation finance conference in New York each year. The attendees are well-curated, the speakers are experienced and compelling, and the event is impeccably organized."

— Molly Pease | Curiam Capital

"I had been told that LF Dealmakers is the best litigation finance conferences there is. After having spent two days listening to panels of experts and conveniently meeting with folks, I can understand why. I plan to be back next year."

— Marc Carmel | McDonald Hopkins

"LF Dealmakers is a go-to event for litigation finance. Dealmakers Forums runs an excellent program, which is always informative, well-organized, and attracts a good cross-section from the industry and beyond."

— Zachary Krug | NorthWall Capital

"LF Dealmakers is one of the very best conferences dedicated to the litigation finance industry. It is an incredibly well-run event, and brings together a broad range of attendees, including prominent litigation funders, law firms, investors, clients, academics, and media. The content is excellent, and the networking opportunities are second to none."

— Michael Nicolas | Longford Capital

"The Dealmakers team has put together yet another successful, informative, and productive litigation finance conference! LF Dealmakers continues to lead the industry in bringing together top talent and shaping the growth of this market."

— Rebecca Berrebi | Avenue 33, LLC

"As a first time attendee and speaker, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but LF Dealmakers exceeded my expectations. The room was full of relevant and high-level people and the conference was organized to make connections."

— Peter Buckley | Fox Rothschild

EVENT GALLERY

DealmakERS in action

sponsorship opportunities

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2026 SPEAKERS

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

Get Updates

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BECOME A SPEAKER

2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg is one of the Nation’s leading experts in alternative dispute resolution. He was the former Court-appointed Mediator in both the Imerys/Cyprus talc bankruptcy in Delaware and the Hess-Honx asbestos bankruptcy in Texas. He previously served as the voluntary Mediator in the Georgia Pacific/Bestwall bankruptcy in North Carolina, was co-Mediator in the successful Owens Illinois/Paddock asbestos bankruptcy proceeding in North Carolina and was formerly the Court-ordered Estimation Expert in the Johnson & Johnson/LTL Management bankruptcy in New Jersey. He has served as the Court-appointed Mediator in the successful resolution of the Purdue and Mallinckrodt opioid bankruptcies in the Southern District of New York and Delaware. Mr. Feinberg has been designated by the Federal Government to serve in a variety of public compensation and related funding programs over the past 40 years. He previously served as Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, the Department of Justice Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the Department of Justice Boeing 737 Max Crash Victim Beneficiaries Compensation Fund, the Department of the Treasury’s TARP Executive Compensation Program and the Treasury’s Private Multiemployer Pension Reform program. He was also appointed by the Obama Administration to oversee compensation of victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to his acting as Mediator and Administrator in a wide variety of federally related compensation programs, Mr. Feinberg has also served as Administrator of 24 Catholic Church Dioceses’ Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Funds designed to compensate the victims of Church sexual abuse. He also served as Administrator of the One Orlando Fund following a terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub, the General Motors Ignition Switch Compensation Program, and the One Fund Boston Compensation Program arising out of the Boston Marathon bombings. He was also the Mediator in the successful effort to return an original Chagall painting from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to its original family owners in Europe. He previously served as the Court-appointed Settlement Master in the Fiat/Chrysler Diesel Emissions class action settlement in San Francisco and is currently the Court-appointed Special Settlement Master in the national federal multi-district mass tort Roundup litigation. Mr. Feinberg has been appointed mediator and arbitrator in thousands of complex disputes over the past 40 years.

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2026 FORUM SPEAKERS

Bryan F. AylstockFounding Partner Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLC

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Bryan F. Aylstock

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FOUNDING PARTNER, AYLSTOCK, WITKIN, KREIS & OVERHOLTZ, PLC Mr. Aylstock founded his firm (Aylstock Witkin) in 2001, which is now comprised of more than 35 attorneys and 400 staff members who have directly handled the claims of more than 100,000 individual clients and class representatives over the past 20+ years. Mr. Aylstock graduated number one in his law school section from the University of Florida College of Law and served as a senior editor of the Florida Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Aylstock clerked for the Honorable Roger Vinson, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He has specialized in multi-district and class action litigation for more than 25 years and has developed substantial experience in handling complex litigation in both MDLs and state court consolidated proceedings. He has been appointed to multiple leadership roles by Courts across the Country on behalf of Plaintiffs.

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Tom BakerWilliam Maul Measey Professor University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

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Tom Baker

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WILLIAM MAUL MEASEY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL Tom Baker is the William Maul Measey Professor at Penn Carey Law School, with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School of Business, and a member of the Board of Directors of the liability insurer, Bowhead Specialty. Tom teaches and writes about legal finance with a special interest in adjacent insurance markets. Tom was the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Liability Insurance. He was awarded the 2024 Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for “empirical scholarship that has contributed most effectively to the advancement of research in law and society” and the 2013 Robert B. McKay to honor his “commitment to the advancement of justice, scholarship and the legal profession, demonstrated by outstanding contributions to the fields of tort and insurance law.”

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Suneal BediAssociate Professor of Business Law and Ethics Indiana University

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Suneal Bedi

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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS LAW AND ETHICS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY Suneal Bedi is an Associate Professor of Business Law & Ethics and the Jerome Bess Faculty Fellow at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. His work focuses on the intersection of law and business strategy. He seeks to analyze how corporate entities can utilize public institutions (e.g. courts, legislatures, social norms) to gain strategic advantages in marketplace transactions. Suneal has written extensively on litigation finance, intellectual property, and marketing ethics. His work has been published in leading law and business journals including Cornell Law Review, Vanderbilt Law Review, Southern California Law Review, and the Journal of Business Ethics, and has been featured in news outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, Washington Post, and US News. He has a PhD in Marketing and Business Ethics from The Wharton School and was formerly a private equity lawyer at Ropes & Gray, LLP.

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Cesar BelloPartner, Director of Litigation Finance Corbin Capital Partners

Debra Bogo-ErnstPartner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice Willkie Farr & Gallagher

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Debra Bogo-Ernst

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PARTNER & CHAIR, NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION PRACTICE, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER With over 25 years of experience, Debra represents a broad range of national and international organizations in class actions, mass arbitrations, and other high-stakes, complex litigation in the areas of autos, financial services, insurance, privacy, retail, products liability, and telecommunications. These cases involve the alphabet soup of statutory claims, privacy, unfair and deceptive trade practices, false advertising, trade secrets, safety and efficacy issues, false claims, government programs, fair housing and discrimination, civil conspiracy, and fraud-related claims. She also handles a variety of government investigations, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, and other state agencies. Debra often assists clients in navigating Consent Orders and other government settlements, including through the use of independent consultants. She also defends companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company risks and business-to-business disputes, and she has significant bench and jury trial experience.

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Mervin BurtonPartner, Head of Research Beatrice Advisors

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Mervin Burton

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PARTNER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, BEATRICE ADVISORS

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Hugh CarlsonCEO Three Crowns

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Hugh Carlson

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CEO, THREE CROWNS Hugh Carlson is the CEO and General Counsel of Three Crowns LLP. Since joining at the firm’s launch in 2014, he has helped build Three Crowns from a start-up boutique into one of the world’s premier dispute resolution practices. A former software engineer, Hugh has made innovation a defining feature of the firm. Under his leadership, Three Crowns has become a recognized leader in legal AI. The Financial Times has repeatedly honored the firm’s AI innovations, including its deployment of Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex to build enterprise-grade software tailored to its practice. Microsoft has called Three Crowns an “AI-powered company … bending the curve on innovation.” With Stanford’s Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), Hugh co-led the development of Atelier, an AI-powered cross-examination training platform that won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award for best training innovation in 2025. Hugh has lectured at Harvard Law School since 2019. He is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, and holds the leading credential in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

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Alfonso ChanPartner Cahill

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ALFONSO CHAN

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PARTNER, CAHILL Alfonso Garcia Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities, research institutes, and technology companies.His matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters, as well as biomaterials and medical devices. Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Europe.Alfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters.

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Brooke CohenFounding and Managing Partner Cohen Hirsch

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Brooke Cohen

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FOUNDING AND MANAGING PARTNER, COHEN HIRSCH Brooke Cohen has practiced law for almost 30 years, devoting most of her careerto representing individuals injured by defective products, dangerous medications, and corporate misconduct. She has handled complex product-liability and mass-tort matters involving transvaginal mesh, Dow breast implants, Essure, and other medical products. Brooke also represents survivors in cases involving sexual assault and abuse.Brooke’s work in mass torts and cases affecting women grew naturally from herbackground in healthcare policy. Before attending law school, she worked as ahealthcare lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where she gained an understanding of theways public policy, medicine, and corporate decision-making can affect patients and consumers.Brooke graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she majored in women’s history. After working in Washington, D.C., she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas.Throughout her nearly three decades of practice, Brooke has remained committed to advocating for people whose lives have been changed by injury, assault, or abuse. She approaches each client with empathy and integrity, guided by the belief that every client deserves to be heard, understood, and treated with dignity, respect, and care.

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Jeff CohenPartner Contingency Capital

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Jeff Cohen

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PARTNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeff Cohen is a Partner and Managing Director of Contingency Capital, which he joined at its inception in 2021. Prior to joining Contingency Capital, Jeff was formerly a Partner and Managing Director at Southpaw Asset Management, a distressed credit opportunity investment firm, which he joined at its inception in 2005. Prior to working at Southpaw, Jeff was a Vice President and Analyst in the distressed securities fund at Ramius Capital Group LLC. Jeff began his professional career as a bankruptcy and restructuring attorney in private practice and served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Bruce I. Fox in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jeff received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University and aJD from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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Megan ColevilleVP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Megan Colville

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VP, CORPORATE COUNSEL – LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Megan Colville is a vice president of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and serves as a member of, and corporate counsel to, the D. E. Shaw group’s Litigation Investing team, which operates within the firm’s Private Credit investment unit. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Ms. Colville was a corporate associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where she focused on leveraged and acquisition finance, private credit, capital markets, and project finance. She received a B.S. in industrial engineering, with highest honors, from Lehigh University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was an articles editor of the Virginia Law Review.

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Melinda R. CoolidgeManaging Partner Hausfeld

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Melinda Coolidge

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MANAGING PARTNER, HAUSFELD Melinda serves as US Managing Partner, responsible for the successful management of the firm’s US offices. She leads by example, embodying the firm’s values of tenacity and pragmatism, and believes success lies in maximizing opportunities for the professional and personal development of every team member, empowering a culture of bold actions, pioneering cases, and unconventional thinking. Deeply committed to the firm’s vision of global civil redress for those harmed by wrongdoing, Melinda also maintains an active legal practice focused on private enforcement of antitrust laws, representing clients ranging from Fortune 200 companies to classes of consumers with a common goal of maximizing recoveries from cartel price-fixing or monopolization. Her clients have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements and a US Supreme Court victory. Melinda works to safeguard free and open markets and is proud to be named one of the Top 100 Women in Antitrust by Global Competition Review.

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David CunninghamChief Innovation Officer ReedSmith

Kelly DaleyPrincipal & Founder Celsia Capital

Matthew DolmanFounding Partner Dolman Law Group

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Matthew Dolman

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FOUNDING PARTNER, DOLMAN LAW GROUP Matthew Dolman is the Founding Partner of Dolman Law Group, where he grew the firm from a local personal injury practice into a national firm focused on complex litigation and mass torts. With more than 20 years of experience, Matt has led litigation against some of the world’s largest corporations, represented survivors in institutional sexual abuse cases, and built mass tort portfolios involving defective medications, dangerous products, environmental exposures, and other catastrophic litigation. Matt also serves as Head of Underwriting for GFO Asset Management, an alternative asset manager providing institutional investors access to litigation finance by evaluating the legal merits of cases alongside financial risk and return. In that role, he evaluates case portfolios, assesses litigation risk, and identifies quality investment opportunities. Through interviews, speaking engagements, and podcasting, Matt regularly speaks on litigation finance, mass tort strategy, law firm growth, and the intersection of law, business, and capital markets.

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Joseph DunnManaging Director Fortress Investment Group

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Joseph Dunn

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CO-CIO LEGAL ASSETS, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP Mr. Dunn is a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group, and Co-CIO of the Fortress Legal Assets business. Mr. Dunn is based in New York and focuses on litigation and legal process related debt and structured equity transactions, including serving on the boards of several legal services companies. Prior to joining Fortress in 2016, Mr. Dunn was a litigator at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig LLP. At both firms, Mr. Dunn represented parties in disputes in U.S. state and federal courts, primarily in securities cases. Mr. Dunn received his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

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Fred FabricantManaging Partner Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos

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Fred Fabricant

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MANAGING PARTNER, FABRICANT RUBINO LAMBRIANAKOS Alfred R. Fabricant (Fred) is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent, copyright, trademark and unfair competition matters. Fred has litigated patent infringement cases in district courts throughout the United States for both patent owners and defendants including cases in the most active courts in Delaware, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida. His cases have involved a large variety of technologies including automotive, semiconductor, audio processing, LED lighting and displays, smartphone handsets, medical devices, electronic ratings systems, copy protection and anti-piracy technology, NFC and radio frequency identification systems, robotic systems, memory and storage devices, software, internet-related method and system patents, universal remote control devices, and optical systems and methods. According to “The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners” published by the IAM1000: “clients say they cannot imagine working with anyone better, hailing (Fabricant’s) outstanding skills of presentation and persuasion in the courtroom.” Fred has represented clients in patent matters before the International Trade Commission. He has also appeared in more than 100 inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Fred has argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal, Second and Fourth Circuits where he has represented both appellants and appellees in a variety of matters. Since 2008. Fred has handled a large number of cases that have been financed, in whole or in part, by litigation funders. He has also represented litigation funds as outside diligence counsel and is frequently recommended by litigation funders to claimants for both lead counsel representation in litigation as well as for IPR work before the PTAB. In addition to his litigation experience, Fred routinely acts as a legal counselor and advisor in the negotiation and drafting of patent, trademark and copyright license agreements, joint venture and funding agreements, and other business contracts. Fred also specializes in IP due diligence, freedom to operate analyses and strategies for the management and monetization of IP portfolios, a topic on which he has lectured extensively over the past decade. He advises clients on portfolio acquisitions and development, licensing and enforcement strategies, and litigation financing options. EducationThe University of Illinois Chicago Law School, J.D. (with highest distinction)The University of Miami (magna cum laude) AdmissionsNew YorkArizona

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Rachel S. FleishmanPartner Reid Collins Tsai

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Rachel S. Fleishman

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PARTNER, REID COLLINS TSAI

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David GialanellaEditor-in-Chief Business of Law and The American Lawyer

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David Gialanella

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS OF LAW AND THE AMERICAN LAWYER David Gialanella is Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer and Business of Law team at Law.com, where he has spent 16 years in various content team roles. He oversees the Am Law 100/200 and other key Law.com content packages, and leads the Law.com Pro and Law.com Pro Mid-Market platforms. He previously wrote for the ABA Journal and Chicago Sun-Times News Group. He holds master’s degrees from Medill School of Journalism and Pritzker Law at Northwestern University.

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Kiley GrombacherFounding Partner Bradley/Grombacher LLP

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Kiley Grombacher

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FOUNDING PARTNER, BRADLEY/GROMBACHER LLP Kiley L. Grombacher is a co-founding partner at Bradley/Grombacher LLP, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation, including consumer and employment class actions, product liability, personal injury, and pharmaceutical mass torts. With a passion for representing vulnerable individuals wronged by corporate negligence, she has secured numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements, with a strong focus on advocating for women and children. She has led high-profile lawsuits against major global corporations, including Amazon, Pfizer, Roblox, and Epic Games to protect employee rights, drug safety, and consumer privacy.Consistently recognized by her peers for legal excellence, Ms. Grombacher has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer. She is the founder of the Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) and maintains active memberships in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

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Paul B. HaskelPartner Crowell & Moring

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Paul B. Haskel

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PARTNER, CROWELL & MORING Paul B. Haskel is co-chair of Crowell’s Financial Services group and a partner in the New York office. Paul is a highly regarded advisor in the area of litigation finance, and a sought after commentator on litigation finance market trends, including in Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, Litigation Finance Journal, andValueWalk. He regularly represents litigation finance leaders in some of the industry’s most significant matters, including complex international deals. Paul advises litigation funders, private equity firms, and multi-strategy hedge fund clients in connection with their investments in funding transactions, including claims monetization and the provision of non-recourse capital to both plaintiffs and law firms. His work includes the diligence, structuring, and papering of these transactions, as well as advice on the management of credit risk, tax efficiency, state common law issues such as champerty and usury, and legal ethics.

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Ellen HollomanPartner Kaplan Martin

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ELLEN HOLLOMAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN MARTIN Ellen Holloman is a partner at litigation boutique Kaplan Martin. She represents financial institutions, corporations and individuals in civil litigation, arbitrations and at trial, in related regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate internal investigations and, where consistent with client goals, mediation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. In addition to her civil litigation and trial practice, Ellen has significant experience with white-collar criminal defense matters, and has represented clients responding to regulatory inquires, requests and enforcement proceedings. Ellen has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation and Lawdragon, among others, and has been selected as a two-time Notable Black Leader and Executive by Crain’s New York.

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William IsaacsonPartner Dunn Isaacson Rhee

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WILLIAM ISAACSON

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PARTNER, DUNN ISAACSON RHEE Bill Isaacson, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee, is widely considered one of the preeminent trial lawyers of his generation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners across three categories, he was named “Litigator of the Year” in 2016 and “Litigator of the Week” three times by The American Lawyer. Bill has tried cases spanning contract, commercial torts, copyright, international arbitration, and antitrust. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in major antitrust litigations and has tried more federal antitrust class actions this century than any other lawyer—each a major victory. Bill has been recognized in the Lawdragon 500 (each of the last 10 years), two Law360 “Competition MVP” titles, Forbes “America’s Top Lawyers,” and Legal 500 “Hall of Fame Lawyer.”

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Samuel IssacharoffBonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law NYU Law

Sarah JohnsonHead of Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Sarah Johnson

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HEAD OF LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Sarah Johnson serves as head of the Litigation Investing team within the D. E. Shaw group’s Private Credit investment unit. The Litigation Investing team provides financing solutions to law firms, plaintiffs, and other parties involved in commercial litigation. Ms. Johnson joined the D. E. Shaw group in 2006 as an analyst primarily working on distressed credit-related investments, including restructurings, opportunities in stressed equities, litigation plays (including monetizing litigation assets), and bankruptcy liquidations. She has led the Litigation Investing team since its formation in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Johnson was an associate in the restructuring and finance group of the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Ms. Johnson graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in economics and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a managing editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and James Kent Scholar.

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Robert KaplanPartner Kaplan Fox

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ROBERT KAPLAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN FOX ROBERT N. KAPLAN is widely recognized as a leading plaintiff’s litigator and has led the prosecution of numerous Antitrust and securities class actions and individual actions, recovering billions of dollars for the victims of corporate wrongdoing. He was recently listed by defense and corporate counsel as one of the top 75 plaintiffs’ attorneys in the United States for all disciplines and has also been ranked as one of the top attorneys in the United States for securities litigation by Legal 500. Mr. Kaplan was recognized as Super Lawyer in the New York Metro Area. Mr. Kaplan sits on the boards of several organizations, including the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, Board of Directors of the Carver Center in Port Chester, N.Y., Member of the Dana Farber Visiting Committee, Thoracic Oncology in Boston, MA, and Member of Board of Trustees for the Rye Historical Society.

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Ankur KapoorPartner Constantine Cannon

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Ankur Kapoor

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PARTNER, CONSTANTINE CANNON Ankur Kapoor is a partner at Constantine Cannon, with 25 years of experience in antitrust litigation. Most recently, Ankur has been co-lead counsel on behalf of a certified class of video-game publishers in In re Valve Antitrust Litigation, pending in Seattle federal court, as well as a member of the team representing over 60 major corporations in their credit- and debit-card swipe-fee antitrust action against Visa and Mastercard.  Ankur was also lead counsel for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) in a class action alleging price fixing of passenger airfares following a resolved Department of Justice investigation. Ankur is ranked in Chambers U.S.A. for “Antitrust-Mostly Plaintiff” and in U.S. News Best Lawyers for Antitrust Law & Litigation. He has also been named to Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders. Ankur currently serves as the Technology Officer of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section.

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Chris KercherFounder Kercher Law

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Chris Kercher

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FOUNDER, KERCHER LAW

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Stephen KimChief Legal Office & General Counsel Avicanna

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Stephen Kim

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CHIEF LEGAL OFFICE & GENERAL COUNSEL, AVICANNA Stephen is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Avicanna USA Inc., and responsible for all legal, regulatory, IP/tech, compliance, and human resources matters for Avicanna and its subsidiaries globally. Avicanna is a publicly traded commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with sales/operations in twenty-three countries. Prior to Avicanna, Stephen held roles of increasing responsibility at various publicly traded pharma/biotech and technology companies and practiced law with leading US and International law firms in New York and Toronto. Stephen graduated with a US law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (JD, 1997) and a Canadian law degree from the University of Windsor (LLB, 1997)

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Jason LevinePartner Foley & Lardner

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Evan Meyerson

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FOLEY & LARDNER Jason Levine is an antitrust and commercial litigation partner at Foley & Lardner LLP in Washington, D.C. He has over 25 years of first-chair experience, representing corporate plaintiffs and defendants in enterprise-risk disputes, including prior roles as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins, and Alston & Bird. From 2022-25, Jason spent nearly four years as an Investment Manager at Omni Bridgeway, one of the world’s largest commercial litigation finance firms. He originated and managed investments involving billion-dollar antitrust and business disputes and directed the company’s U.S. antitrust strategy. Complementing his litigation practice at Foley, Jason also serves as a trusted counselor to parties and funders on funding-related matters, and helps plaintiff-side clients explore potential non-recourse financing for their matters. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Jason clerked for Judge Randall Rader on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Claudia LinaresFounder & CEO Fortalea Advisory

Stephen MedlockPartner Vinson & Elkins

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Stephen Medlock

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PARTNER, VINSON & ELKINS Steve Medlock is an experienced antitrust litigator who brings dedication, intensity, and commercial common sense to his representations of Fortune 500 clients, whether navigating through complex multidistrict class actions or successfully defending clients in grand jury investigations. Clients place their trust in Steve to develop unique and complex antitrust arguments for both defendants and plaintiffs. Steve’s unique mix of plaintiff and defense-side experience allows him to see the issues that exclusive defense-sided practitioners miss in a full range of antitrust matters, including corporate counseling, internal investigations, civil non-merger and criminal cartel investigations, and litigation. In these areas, Steve is known for providing practical advice that business executives can digest. Steve has secured victories for clients in major antitrust class actions and B2B antitrust cases alleging monopolization and attempted monopolization at critical stages, including winning dismissal prior to discovery and prevailing at summary judgment. His depositions and briefs have been quoted in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Politico. Steve is a recognized as a part of the next generation of leadership in the antitrust bar. He currently serves as one of the editors of the forthcoming draft of the tenth edition of Antitrust Law Developments, the preeminent desk reference for antitrust lawyers.

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Brian MeltonPartner Susman Godfrey

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Brian Melton

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PARTNER, SUSMAN GODFREY Brian Melton is a nationally recognized lead trial lawyer who regularly tries and wins bet-the-company cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. He sits on the Executive Committee at Susman Godfrey – the nation’s premier litigation boutique – and the only law firm where he has practiced since graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law School and clerking for Federal District Court Judge Tom Stagg. Melton has secured several momentous wins throughout his career and has established himself as trusted counsel and a sought-out trial lawyer for clients and colleagues alike. In fact, a streak of three trial wins in an 18-month period led the National Law Journal to name him a “Winning Litigator” in 2017. Landmark Wins Melton’s landmark victory for Beats headphone designer, Steven Lamar, in a nationally followed breach of contract lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics over the design of the now iconic beats headphones was covered from coast to coast, with outlets such as New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter, NY Daily News, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict for Lamar in California federal court. Melton later spent time convincing the Judge to double the value of the judgment to $52 million – at which point Apple settled the case for a confidential amount. Law360 featured the story in their “How They Won It” series and The Recorder also ran a feature story on Melton and his significant role in this case. Later that year, Melton won an injunction for pro bono client Team Fuerza, a local Hispanic soccer team, which was being railroaded out of the giant United Premier Soccer League. Melton got the team back in the league and received an apology from the UPSL President. Unique Background Notably, Melton is a West Point graduate, who served as an infantry officer, attaining the rank of captain. While serving his country, Melton commanded two platoons, and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division. Melton graduated as the Honor Graduate of Ranger School, the Army’s elite leadership training course.

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Chandra MetzlerManaging Partner & Co-Founder CM Squared

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Chandra Metzler

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MANAGING PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, CM SQUARED Chandra Reddy Metzler co-founded CM Squared in 2017. She a Managing Partner with responsibility for all aspects of the business. As a family office and an independent sponsor, CM Squared distinguishes itself by structuring creative transactions that encourage optimal outcomes, align incentives and mitigate undesired risks. Litigation funding is a core strategy for the firm. Prior to CM Squared, Ms. Metzler was Head of Strategic Development for QVT Financial, a multi-billion dollar global alternative investment firm. In this role, she had overall responsibility for investor relations, capital raising and product development. She was also a member of the firm’s Risk Committee. Before joining QVT in 2013, Ms. Metzler was president of the financial lines division at AIG for the U.S. and Canada, leading a business with over $2 billion in revenue and over 500 employees. Prior to AIG, Ms. Metzler had various roles of increasing responsibility and revenue generation in capital markets, banking and investment research at Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan. Ms. Metzler earned her bachelor’s degree at Brown University in Economics, with honors, and Development Studies. She has a master’s degree in Economics from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While a graduate student, Ms. Metzler was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

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Evan MeyersonManaging Director Burford Capital

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Evan Meyerson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL Managing Director, Burford CapitalEvan Meyerson is a Managing Director who leads Burford’s US commercial investment team, with responsibility for overseeing the underwriting, origination, and portfolio management functions.Prior to joining Burford, Evan was a litigator at Paul, Weiss and at Sullivan & Cromwell. His practice focused on complex civil litigation in federal and state court, antitrust, white collar defense, bankruptcy litigation, corporate internal investigations, and government investigations into sanctions, anti-money laundering, and accounting issues. Evan began his career as an analyst at Bain Capital, evaluating venture capital investment opportunities.Evan graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Editor of the Harvard National Security Journal. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. He clerked for the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

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Ian MillicanDirector, Investments Contingency Capital

Steven MoloFounding Partner MoloLamken

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Steven Molo

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FOUNDING PARTNER, MOLOLAMKEN Steven Molo, one of the country’s leading courtroom advocates, is a founding partner of the national litigation boutique MoloLamken LLP. He represents corporations, boards, funds, investors, inventors, and individuals in complex business litigation, white collar criminal matters, and IP litigation. His client base is international. Chambers and Partners calls him “fantastic in the courtroom,” “with lots of charisma,” a “fabulous courtroom litigator who lights up the room with his presence,” “very bright, imaginative, and creative in his approach to problems,” and “one of the most talented lawyers in the (New York) city.” Benchmark Litigation – which named him one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in America – calls him “revered,” “an outstanding advocate and fearless in court,” who “delivers the goods.” Legal 500 includes Mr. Molo on its elite list of Leading Trial Lawyers and calls him “a rockstar litigator; a great lawyer,” with “terrific knowledge of the courts and the law,” “a force to be reckoned with” who “really excels in the courtroom.” It says he is “smart, creative, responsive, knowledgeable, and engaging; he has an excellent mix of traits that set him apart from his peers.” For the past thirteen years he has been named to Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Molo began his career as a prosecutor in Chicago, and then practiced with Winston & Strawn, where he was a senior litigator and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He spent five years as a litigation partner with the Wall Street firm Shearman & Sterling before founding MoloLamken in October 2009. He is also a solicitor on the Roll of Attorneys of the Law Society of England and Wales, and an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

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John MorleyAugustus E. Lines Professor of Law Yale Law School

Andrew MutterEVP, Contingent Risk CAC Specialty

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Andrew Mutter

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EXECUTIVE VICE PRSIDENT, CAC SPECIALITY Andrew is an Executive Vice President at CAC Specialty and Leader of its Contingent Risk Insurance Practice, which has placed more than $5 billion in insurance coverage in the contingent risk markets. The team has received various accolades, including most recently the Business Insurance Innovation award for its work developing new products to insure the core value of IP assets to reduce innovative companies’ cost of capital.Andrew’s practice focuses on crafting bespoke solutions for Contingent Risk Insurance, providing strategic certainty around both contingent legal assets and contingent legal liabilities. On the basis of these policies, the Contingent Risk team help clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity, release hundreds of millions of dollars from escrow, and facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of debt restructuring and refinancing.As a lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Andrew gained significant insurance recovery experience successfully litigating over half a billion dollars in D&O and E&O claims on behalf of financial institutions. Andrew has extensive experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, business torts, and healthcare related investigations and business disputes.Andrew earned his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He is also a former Teach For America teacher, with four years of experience in public education.

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Michael NicolasCo-Founder & Managing Director Longford Capital

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Michael Nicolas

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONGFORD CAPITAL Mike is responsible for the portfolio management of Longford Capital, including underwriting, investment selection, and overseeing the efforts of independent attorneys and other professionals as part of Longford Capital’s due diligence process. He is an accomplished attorney with more than 15 years of experience representing a wide array of corporate clients involved in complex litigation throughout the United States, including trial experience in the commercial litigation departments of two prominent national law firms, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP and Gardner, Carton & Douglas, LLP (n/k/a Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP). Mike is a frequent speaker on commercial litigation finance, and has presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He is an honors graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Business and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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Ryan PhairPartner Paul Hastings

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Ryan Phair

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Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings Ryan Phair is co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition practice of Paul Hastings. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate whose practice focuses on complex antitrust litigation and investigations. On behalf of plaintiffs, he has successfully recovered over $1 billion for his antitrust clients. On behalf of defendants, Ryan has an equally remarkable track record of success spanning dozens of complex cases, investigations and enforcement actions.

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Byron ReevesPaul C. Edwards Professor of Communication Stanford University

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Byron Reeves

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PAUL C. EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Elena S. ReyPartner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations Brown Rudnick

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Elena S. Rey

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PARTNER, HEAD OF LITIGATION FUNDING & CO-HEAD OF EUROPEAN SPECIAL SITUATIONS, BROWN RUDNICK Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Ruth RizkallaPartner The Carlson Law Firm

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RUTH RIZKALLA

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PARTNER, THE CARLSON LAW FIRM Ruth’s experience in complex litigation has given her a unique edge in strategizing and litigating cases of systemic minor sex abuse that require significant foresight and familiarity with advanced legal principles. She has leadership background in complex and mass torts litigations and has represented injured victims involving defective products and dangerous drugs and devices. Ruth has spent her over two-decade career representing those injured through severe negligent acts of large corporations. She has served in numerous leadership positions in several coordinated complex and mass tort proceedings, and has spoken and presented at multiple conferences and seminars.

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SHAYNA E. SACKSPartner Napoli Shkolnik

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Shayna E. Sacks

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NAPOLI SHKOLNIK PARTNER, PUBLIC CLIENT GROUP Ms. Sacks provides experienced representation to individuals, communities, local and state governments in multiple mass torts, including healthcare litigation, defective pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, the opioid crisis, and complex environmental & emerging contaminant litigation. She has served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on product liability multi-district litigations.

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Ed ScanlanCEO & Founder Bridge Legal

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Ed Scanlan

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CEO & FOUNDERBRIDGE LEGAL Ed Scanlan is a serial entrepreneur and litigation technology pioneer who transforms plaintiff-side legal portfolios into scalable, high-yield, risk-adjusted investments for capital partners. As Founder & CEO of Bridge Legal, Ed built a proprietary, AI-driven operating system that gives law firms and funders complete transparency from lead inception to filing—integrating case validation, workflow automation, and analytics to deliver 10x productivity gains and faster time-to-liquidity on funded matters. The platform empowers firms to capture market share at scale while enabling funders to deploy capital with unprecedented precision and control. Previously, Ed founded Total Attorneys, scaling it from startup to $30M+ recurring revenue without outside capital, earning spots on the Inc. 500, Crain’s Fast 50, and induction into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Inc.. Ed partners with leading litigation funders to co-create portfolios with exceptional merit profiles, predictable outcomes, and durable returns—aligning capital efficiency with access to justice.

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Jennifer ScullionPartner SeegerWeiss

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Jennifer Scullion

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PARTNER, SEEGERWEISS Jen Scullion is a partner at Seeger Weiss, where she leads or co-leads the firm’s work in antitrust and related consumer matters for classes and for direct action (opt out) plaintiffs. She currently serves as a member of the Direct Action Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the MultiPlan antitrust MDL, co-lead for Seeger Weiss’s work for the Direct Purchasers in the Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation, and Co-Chair of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Provider Track in the Change Healthcare Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, in addition to leading or co-leading the firm’s work in the Copaxone, “Proteins”, Fragrance, and Liquid Aluminum Sulfate antitrust matters. Jen has also co-led the firm’s work in the National Prescription Opioids and Socal Media Adolescent Addiction cases on behalf of local government and school districts. Jen is the co-author of the treatise New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act: Practice and Procedure (2026).

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Jonathan SelbinSenior Partner Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

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Jonathan Selbin

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SENIOR PARTNER, LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN Jonathan D. Selbin is a senior partner in the New York office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where he has practiced for over 30 years, and a long-time member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has led complex consumer protection, defective products, and sex abuse class action lawsuits in courts around the country against many of the world’s largest corporations and institutions. Together, cases in which Jonathan played a lead role have resulted in court-approved class action settlements with a combined total cash payout to class members in excess of $3.5 billion, plus other relief such as extended and enhanced warranties and implementation of best-practices institutional reforms. He has extensive appellate experience, having argued in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, as well as before state supreme and appellate courts. Jonathan is a leader in the firm’s funding of international consumer protection cases on multiple continents.

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Victoria Shannon SahaniProfessor of Law Boston University School of Law

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Victoria Shannon Sahani

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PROFESSOR OF LAW, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Victoria Shannon Sahani is the Associate Provost for Community and Inclusion at Boston University and a Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law. She previously served as Associate Dean of Faculty Development / Special Projects and Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She started her teaching career and was promoted to Associate Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Associate Provost Sahani is an internationally recognized legal scholar in domestic and international arbitration law and third-party litigation funding law. She is an award-winning teacher and serves as an independent arbitrator, consultant, and expert witness. In addition to publishing numerous book chapters, law review articles, and essays, she co-authored the book Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration (Wolters Kluwer, 1st and 2d ed.) (with Lisa Bench Nieuwveld), the first book in the world on this topic. She is the immediate past Chair of the Academic Council for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Chair-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on International Law, a Counsellor of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), an Elected Member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and an American Bar Foundation (ABF) Fellow. Before joining academia, Associate Provost Sahani worked at the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and practiced law at Pillsbury. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard College and is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia.

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Emily SiegelSenior Reporter Bloomberg Law

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Emily Siegel

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SENIOR REPORTER, BLOOMBERG LAW Emily Siegel is a senior reporter with Bloomberg Law. She covers litigation finance and writes about anything affecting or intersecting with the industry. She previously worked for NBC News as an investigative reporter. She earned a master’s degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

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Ryan StephenCo-Founder & Managing Partner Pine Valley Capital Partners

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Ryan Stephen

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, PINE VALLEY CAPITAL PARTNERS Mr. Stephen has led, originated, and managed more than $2.5B in private financing transactions since 2009. Prior to co-founding Pine Valley Capital Partners, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Trinity Environmental Services, an oilfield waste management company operating across Texas and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, he originated, structured, and managed private credit investments in the energy sector with Guggenheim Partners in Houston. Mr. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Abilene Christian University and has extensive experience structuring complex transactions across multiple industries.

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Kelsey StokesSenior Attorney The Lanier Law Firm

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Ryan Stephen

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SENIOR ATTORNEY, THE LANIER LAW FIRM Kelsey Stokes is recognized as a national leader in mass personal injury litigation. Kelsey practices primarily in the areas of mass tort litigation, products liability, and complex commercial litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in multiple Hernia Mesh MDLs (Multi-District Litigation) at the federal level and 3 MCLs (Multi-County Litigation) in New Jersey, the home of Johnson & Johnson, Kelsey has spent countless hours fighting for victims of defective medical devices, ensuring their voices are heard and their suffering acknowledged. Her leadership in the litigation against C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson has not only changed lives but has also set a precedent for women in leadership roles within the legal industry. Kelsey is currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the second largest MDL in the country (MDL No. 2846, In re Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio). Appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in 2018, the MDL has over 23,000 cases consolidated there. Kelsey served as lead trial counsel for the three bellwether cases tried in MDL 2846. In 2024, as Lead Settlement Counsel for the Bard Hernia Mesh MDL, Kelsey Stokes successfully negotiated a path to resolution for over 30,000 plaintiffs. Kelsey currently serves as Administering Counsel for the Bard resolution and spends countless hours guiding plaintiffs’ lawyers across the country. In addition to her leadership roles at the federal level, Kelsey Stokes was appointed to lead three New Jersey state court consolidated actions against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc.: MCL 627, In re Physiomesh Litigation; MCL 630, In Re: Proceed Mesh Litigation; and MCL 633, In re Prolene Hernia System Mesh Litigation. Kelsey was also elected Co‑Chair of the American Association for Justice Hernia Mesh Litigation Group by her peers, where she has served for over seven years. In addition to her responsibilities with the hernia mesh litigation, Kelsey was also appointed to the Phenylephrine Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. She serves as Science & Expert Committee Co-Chair, as well as a Discovery Co-Chair for the litigation. Prior to leading the hernia mesh docket, Attorney Kelsey Stokes played an integral role in litigating transvaginal mesh cases to a successful resolution. Her work in the various transvaginal mesh MDLs gave her a wealth of knowledge overlapping with the knowledge required to successfully litigate hernia mesh cases. Kelsey has regular speaking engagements, sharing the knowledge she has gained managing MDLs as well as studying the science and legal issues applicable to medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. Through the course of her career, Kelsey has taken hundreds of depositions, including depositions of corporate witnesses, expert witnesses, and treating physicians. Kelsey has also defended the leading experts in their fields as well as hundreds of plaintiffs injured by various medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. She regularly argues at hearings throughout the country and coordinates large-scale briefing on behalf of the MDLs she leads. Early in her career, Kelsey managed a large GranuFlo docket from case filing to resolution, successfully navigating clients through the settlement claims process. In addition to the above litigations, Kelsey Stokes performed considerable work on the Wright Hip and Accutane Litigations as well as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), in which she was trial counsel in the first TRT trial in Cook County, Illinois in 2017. Kelsey’s practice also includes complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, and arbitration, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts. Examples include arbitrations where she represented healthcare providers in contractual and payment disputes with insurers; a massive Ponzi scheme; and an off-shore commercial oil dispute. Attorney Kelsey Stokes’s experience also extends to catastrophic aviation accidents. Education & Memberships Kelsey Stokes earned a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she served as Chief Managing Editor of the Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law. Kelsey is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Circuits. She is a member of the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

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Will WeismanDirector – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel Parabellum Capital

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Will Weisman

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DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CORPORATE COUNSEL, PARABELLUM CAPITAL Will Weisman leads Parabellum Capital’s commercial litigation investment strategy. He originates, structures, and manages commercial litigation investments across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. Before joining Parabellum, Will was a senior member of the investment team at litigation financier Therium Capital Management. Earlier in his career, he practiced complex commercial litigation at Proskauer Rose LLP, one of the nation’s premier law firms, and later joined Liberty International Underwriters, a global insurance company. Will frequently writes and speaks on litigation finance, regulatory developments, and other issues affecting the legal industry. He earned a B.A., with honors, from the University of Maryland and a J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as an editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. Will also worked as a law clerk extern for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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Leanne WilsonManaging Director Contingency Capital

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Leanne Wilson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINGENCY CAPITAL 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).

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R. Brent WisnerManaging Partner Wisner Baum

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R. Brent Wisner

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MANAGING PARTNER, WISNER BAUM 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 winning significant verdicts and settlements for his clients. Over the last several years, Brent has served on the plaintiff’s leadership for multiple mass torts, earned jury verdicts worth a combined $2.427 billion, and helped negotiate settlements in excess of $1 billion—all before the age of 40. While success in the courtroom is often measured exclusively by dollars and cents, Brent’s legal work has led to changes in business practices that will protect people and the environment for generations. Hundreds of media publications across the globe have asked for his perspective on a variety of pressing legal issues.

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Thomas WhitePartner Sullivan Cromwell

Hon. Freda L. WolfsonFormer Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Lowenstein Sandler

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Hon. Freda L. Wolfson

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FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, PARTNER & CHAIR, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Honorable Freda L. Wolfson (ret.) rejoined Lowenstein Sandler after a decades long career in the federal judiciary, including as Chief Judge of the U.S.District Court for the District of New Jersey. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, special master appointments in federal and state courts, including multidistrict litigations (MDL), servingas an expert, monitorships, internal investigations, and presiding over mock trials and oral arguments. Judge Wolfson leads the firm’s ADR practice, leveraging her judicial experience managing complex commercial cases to help clients achieve satisfactoryresolutions on a wide variety of civil and regulatory issues. Since joining Lowenstein, Judge Wolfson has frequently served as a special master and mediator infederal and state civil actions, which typically involve high-stakes disputes, including, among others, data breaches, corporate divorces and securities matters;pre-litigation and pre-arbitration matters; and mass consumer mediations. Judge Wolfson also represents and consults pharmaceutical clients in patent-relatedmatters. Additionally, Judge Wolfson has served as a mock judge for parties in high profile cases involving patents and pharmaceutical product liability. Judge Wolfson was nominated to the District Court in 2002, ascending to the Chief Judge post in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as a U.S.Magistrate Judge for over 16 years, one of the few women and one of the youngest members of the district court in the nation. In 2014, she was appointed byU.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to represent the Third Circuit on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the MagistrateJudge System; she then served as Third Circuit District Judge Representative on the Judicial Conference of the United States. During her 36-year judicial tenure, Judge Wolfson authored thousands of opinions on issues such as securities litigations, shareholder derivative lawsuits,products liability, commercial transactions and financial fraud, civil rights, and constitutionality of federal and state statutes. She presided over a multitude ofcivil and criminal trials, including Hatch Waxman ANDA patent infringement cases; one of the largest excessive fees litigations associated with securities andmutual funds; employment discrimination matters; civil rights claims under section 1983; and white collar criminal cases. Judge Wolfson was also appointed by the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Panel to oversee some of the nation’s largest MDLs, including In re Johnson & JohnsonTalcum Powder Prods. Mktg. Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., the second largest MDL in the country. She has extensive experience in complex discoverymatters and has successfully facilitated hundreds of settlements. Frequently recognized as a leader of the bar, Judge Wolfson has received such honors as the 2022 Donald A. Robinson Meritorious Service Award, the 2016Rutgers University Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award and the, 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Rutgers University School of Law, the 2012Inductee of the Associate Alumni of Douglas College–Society of Excellence, the 2013 Women in the Profession Section’s Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Award forDistinguished Service and Excellence, and the 2008 Women’s Initiative & Leaders in Law Platinum Award from New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Additionally, Judge Wolfson was selected as an American Bar Foundation Fellow.Upon her graduation from law school, Judge Wolfson initially practiced litigation at Lowenstein.

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Boris ZiserGlobal Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets McDermott Will & Schulte

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Boris Ziser

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GLOBAL HEAD OF STRUCTURED FINANCE, CLOS AND ALTERNATIVE ASSETS, MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE Boris Ziser is McDermott’s Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He advises clients on asset-backed lending and securitization, warehouse facilities, secured financings, specialty finance lending, and other esoteric finance transactions. With more than 30 years of experience, he works across a wide range of asset classes, including life settlements, litigation funding, equipment leases, structured settlements, lottery receivables, timeshare loans, merchant cash advances, home equity investments (HEI), cell towers, intellectual property, insurance-related cash flows, and others. He also represents investors, lenders, hedge funds, private equity funds and finance companies in acquisitions and dispositions of asset portfolios, as well as financings secured by those portfolios.

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2026 agenda

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BECOME A SPEAKER

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

OPENing day: tuesday, SEPTEMBER 15

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Opening Reception

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

7:30 – 8:45 AM: Registration & Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:30 AM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS - THE PRICE OF JUSTICE: KEN FEINBERG ON FUNDING, FAIRNESS AND RESOLUTION

In this timely conversation, Feinberg will share his perspective on how funding is reshaping pathways to resolution, what information matters in settlement negotiations, and what safeguards are needed to preserve trust as legal finance continues to mature. Kenneth R. Feinberg, Mediator & Arbitrator, Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg In discussion with Emily Siegel, Senior Reporter, Bloomberg Law

9:30 - 10:20 AM: STATE OF THE MARKET - LEGAL FINANCE 2026: THE MARKET SHIFTS DRIVING CAPITAL, STRATEGY AND DECISIONS

The economic, geopolitical, and regulatory forces reshaping legal finance in 2026The changing capital stack—how direct institutional entrants, banks, and new structures are reshaping competition and deploymentHow legal finance could evolve as capital becomes deeper, cheaper, and more specializedSpeakers: David Gialanella, Editor-in-Chief, Business of Law and The American Lawyer (moderator)Evan Meyerson, Managing Director, Burford CapitalMichael Nicolas, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Longford CapitalElena S. Rey, Partner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations, Brown RudnickRyan Stephen, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Pine Valley Capital Partners

10:20 – 10:50 AM: Networking Break

10:50 - 11:20 AM: FEATURED INTERVIEW - INSIDE THE SILICON VALLEY SUPER TRIAL: ELON MUSK V SAM ALTMAN

Steven Molo, Founding Partner, MoloLamken

11:00 - 12:30 PM: BOARDROOM - HOSTED BY TSEG

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

11:20 - 12:10 PM: THE DEALMAKERS’ RUNDOWN - REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS & THE SHIFTING RISK PROFILE

How state-by-state regulation is changing where, with whom, and on what terms legal finance deals can be doneThe impact on structuring, diligence, pricing, disclosure, and capital deployment across the marketHow firms, funders, and advisers can keep transactions moving as regulatory risk becomes a commercial riskSpeakers: Bryan F. Aylstock, Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & OverholtzVictoria Shannon Sahani, Professor of Law, Boston University School of LawHon. Freda L. Wolfson, Former Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lowenstein SandlerBoris Ziser, Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs & Alternative Assets, McDermott, Will, & Schulte

12:10 - 1:00 PM: IN PERSPECTIVE - VIEW FROM THE TOP: LAW FIRM LEADERS ON AI, MSOS & THE NEW BUSINESS OF LAW

How AI is changing law firm operations, decision-making, and client deliveryWhat growing investor interest and MSO models mean for ownership, control, and independenceHow firm leaders are reshaping their business models for the next era of legal practiceSpeakers: Ed Scanlan, CEO & Founder, Bridge Legal (moderator)Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three CrownsMelinda R. Coolidge, U.S. Managing Partner, HausfeldDavid Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer, ReedSmithKiley Grombacher, Founding Partner, Bradley/Grombacher

1:00 – 2:45 PM: Networking Lunch

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS MASS TORTS

IN FOCUS DEALMAKING

2:45 - 3:30 PM: SOLUTION CIRCLES - ABS & MSOs

As law firms explore external investment, ABS and MSO models are becoming one of the most consequential—and contested—developments in the US legal market. These facilitated, peer-to-peer working groups will examine: Regulation & structuring: navigating state-by-state restrictions on ownership, fee-sharing, management rights, and revenue modelsCapital & control: defining the boundary between commercial oversight and professional independenceThe commercial case: assessing whether external capital can deliver sustainable growth, stronger operations, and aligned long-term returnsCo-Facilitators: Matthew Dolman, Founding Partner, Dolman Law GroupShayna E. Sacks, Partner, Napoli ShkolnikR. Brent Wisner, Managing Partner, Wisner Baum

2:45 - 3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - FROM PARTNERS TO PARTING WAYS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEAL?

How firms and funders can manage performance, communication and changing expectations after a deal is completedWhat options are available when the relationship or funding structure no longer works, including refinancing and restructuringHow secondaries and other liquidity solutions can create an exit, transfer exposure or reset the parties’ positionsSpeakers: Kelly Daley, Principal & Founder, Celsia Capital (moderator)Megan Coleville, VP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant Rubino LambrianakosPaul B. Haskel, Partner, Crowell & Moring

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Networking Break

4:00 - 4:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - DEALING WITH FIRMS IN DISTRESS: REFINANCING VS RESTRUCTURING

When refinancing remains viable—and when deeper restructuring is requiredHow firms and funders can stabilise distress as timelines lengthen and assumptions changeWhat happens when recovery is no longer possible—and whether the market needs a formal frameworkSpeakers: Jeff Cohen, Partner and Managing Director, Contingency CapitalRuth Rizkalla, Partner, The Carlson Law Firm

4:00 - 4:45 PM: INSURANCE SPOTLIGHT - THE WIDESPREAD USE OF INSURANCE (AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JPIS…)

Why insurance is becoming integral to legal finance structures—and what capital providers now expect it to protectHow coverage, pricing, and insurer diligence are reshaping underwriting, economics, and capital deploymentWhat happened to JPI—and which products and risk-transfer models could define the market’s next phaseSpeakers: Tom Baker, William Maul Measey Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (moderator)Andrew Mutter, EVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty

4:00 - 5:30 PM: BOARDROOM - CORPORATE LITIGATION LEADERS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

4:45 - 5:30 PM: LAW FIRM PERSPECTIVES - TRANSPARENCY ON TRIAL: DATA, STANDARDS, & THE FUTURE OF MASS TORT REPORTING

What firms should report to capital providers—and which metrics genuinely inform decisionsCreating consistent definitions, validation standards, and accountability across portfoliosHow better reporting can strengthen trust, identify risk earlier, and improve funding relationshipsSpeakers: Samuel Issacharoff, Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU Law (moderator)Brooke Cohen, Founding and Managing Partner, Cohen HirschSteve Faries, Partner, Pulaski KherkherKelsey Stokes, Senior Attorney, The Lanier Law Firm

4:45 - 5:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - HOW TO EVALUATE AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAPITAL PARTNER

What separates a source of capital from a genuine strategic partnerHow to assess track record, flexibility, alignment, and execution—not just pricingWhere brokers and advisers add value in finding, diligencing, and negotiating with the right funderSpeakers: John Morley, Augustus E. Lines Professor of Law, Yale Law School (moderator)Cesar Bello, Partner, Director of Litigation Finance, Corbin Capital PartnersAlfonso Chan, Partner, CahillJonathan Selbin, Senior Partner, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein

9:00 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.

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Networking Reception & Close of Day One

DAY TWO: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

8:30 - 9:00 AM: Registration & Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Recap

9:15 - 9:45 AM: DATA DEEP DIVE - WHAT THE DATA TELLS US: LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO INVEST

Where investments made between 2017 and 2021 underperformed, and what investors learned from themWhich deal characteristics have been most closely associated with successful outcomesHow those lessons are changing underwriting, portfolio construction and capital deployment todaySpeakers: Joseph Dunn, Managing Director, Legal Assets Co-Chief Investment Officer, Fortress Investment GroupWill Weisman, Director – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel, Parabellum Capital

9:45 - 11:00 AM: PANEL DISCUSSION - UNLOCKING VALUE: THE RISE OF AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION

How law firms and corporations are identifying and pursuing affirmative litigation opportunitiesWhy potentially valuable claims are often overlooked, deprioritized or left undevelopedHow affirmative litigation can shift the legal function from managing exposure to creating strategic and financial valueSpeakers: William Isaacson, Partner, Dunn Isaacson Rhee (moderator)Ellen Holloman, Partner, Kaplan MartinStephen Kim, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Avicannaa

11:00 - 11:30 AM: Networking Break

11:30 AM – 3:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS LITIGATION FUNDERS

IN FOCUS LAW FIRMS

CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS

11:30 – 12:15 PM: MASTERCLASS - AI IN PRACTICE: FINDING AND FUNDING BETTER CASES

How AI is being used to identify potential claims, surface overlooked opportunities and build stronger case pipelinesWhere AI can improve early-stage assessment, diligence and underwriting—and which decisions still require experienced human judgmentWhat funders and firms need to get right on data quality, validation and implementation before AI can produce better investment outcomesSpeakers: Byron Reeves, Paul C. Edwards Professor of Communication, Stanford University (moderator)Chris Kercher, Founder, Kercher Law

11:30 – 12:15 PM: CASE STUDY - BUILDING A PLAINTIFF-SIDE PRACTICE

The strategic and commercial case behind Vinson & Elkins’ move into plaintiff-side litigationHow the firm built the practice: selecting opportunities, assembling the team and integrating contingency work into the wider businessWhat the firm has learned about economics, risk, culture and scaling—and what others should consider before following the same pathSpeakers: Stephen Medlock, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

11:30 - 1:00 PM: BOARDROOM - INSTITUTIONAL ALLOCATORS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

12:15 - 2:00 PM: Networking Lunch

2:00 - 2:45 PM: THE INVESTOR LENS - WHAT FUNDERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL IN A TIGHTER MARKET

Why institutional investors allocate capital to some litigation fund managers—and reject othersWhat allocators are really testing when they assess strategy, team, track record, pipeline and riskWhat can turn investor interest into a commitment—or cause an allocation to fall awaySpeakers: Chandra Metzler, Partner & Co-Founder, CM Squared (moderator)Mervin Burton, Partner, Head of Research, Beatrice Advisors

2:00 - 2:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - WHY GOOD CASES DON’T GET FUNDED

What funders are seeing in the market today, and how appetite, capacity and return expectations are shaping investment decisionsWhy apparently strong cases still fail to secure funding, from weak economics and incomplete diligence to poor strategic fitHow firms can present opportunities more effectively, with the evidence, analysis and commercial clarity funders need to reach a decisionSpeakers: Ankur Kapoor, Partner, Constantine Cannon (moderator)Debra Bogo-Ernst, Partner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice, Willkie Farr & GallagherSarah Johnson, Head of Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Ryan Phair, Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings

2:45 -3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - WHEN THE CASE TURNS: MANAGING APPEAL, ENFORCEMENT AND OUTCOME RISK

Why a major judgment may still be far from a realizable recovery—and the appellate, foreign-law, sovereign and enforcement risks that remain after trialHow claimant counsel, defence counsel and funders assess and stress-test those risks at different stages of a caseWhat happens when the legal or commercial assumptions underpinning a matter change—and how the parties can reset strategy, expectations and next steps without relying on hindsightSpeakers: Claudia Linares, Founder & CEO,Fortalea Advisory (moderator) Jason Levine, Partner, Foley & LardnerJennifer Scullion, Partner, SeegerWeissThomas White, Partner, Sullivan Cromwell

2:45 - 3:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - SKIN IN THE GAME: WHEN TO SELF-FUND, CO-FUND OR SHARE THE RISK

How to determine which matters to finance and when to bring in external capitalHow case economics, portfolio exposure, cash flow and risk appetite shape the choice between self-funding, co-funding and full risk transferLessons learned from funding structures that underperformed, became misaligned or failed to deliver the expected outcomeSpeakers: Suneal Bedi, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University (moderator)Robert Kaplan, Partner, Kaplan FoxBrian D. Melton, Partner, Susman Godfrey

9:00 AM – 3:30 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.

3:30 - 5:00 PM: Closing Reception

THANK YOU TO OUR

2026 SPONSORS & PARTNERS

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2026 SPONSORS

Gold sponsorS

CAC is now part of The Baldwin Group. Together, we deliver greater specialization, expanded
capabilities, and deeper expertise to help clients navigate today’s evolving risk landscape. By
combining CAC’s industry and product expertise with Baldwin’s national platform and distribution
network, we provide seamless access to a full suite of risk management solutions. Our unified
team serves clients across retail, specialty, reinsurance (including London and Bermuda), and
MGA platforms.

Fabricant LLP is a dynamic IP litigation boutique with unparalleled success enforcing or defending patent infringement claims involving the most important and cutting-edge technologies. We are experts representing plaintiffs and defendants in all high-tech industries including, audio processing, smartphone, semiconductor, automotive, payments, computer hardware and software, LED displays and lights, GPS location services among many others. Fabricant LLP is regularly ranked among the most active U.S. law firms representing patent owners in the courts and before the PTAB where it has achieved win rates for defeating validity challenges far above the national average.

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.

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.

silver sponsorS

Brown Rudnick is a leading international law firm that provides exceptional, client-driven service in global litigation, crisis management, brand and reputation management, life sciences, technology, intellectual property, and litigation funding. Our lawyers have extensive experience leading high-profile cross-border matters and are recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Law360 for excellence.

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world.

Cathedral CPAs & Advisors helps litigation finance firms build the financial infrastructure needed to grow with confidence. We provide fractional CFO and controller services, back office solutions, strategic advisory, and comprehensive tax support, including preparation, structuring, and strategy. Our team works with leadership to improve reporting, strengthen controls, manage complexity, and support informed decision making. Clients gain experienced financial leadership, practical insight, and scalable support without the expense of building a full internal finance department.

Contingency Capital is a global asset management business focused on credit oriented legal assets. Contingency Capital was founded in November 2020 by Brandon Baer. We invest in legal assets where the primary driver of value is a legal, tax or regulatory process.

Our investment team is comprised of credit and distressed investors who are also former transactional attorneys and litigators. Collectively we have decades of multifaceted experience investing in legal assets.

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, and its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

The D. E. Shaw group is a global investment and technology development firm with more than $90 billion in investment and committed capital as of June 1, 2026, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Since our founding in 1988, we have earned an international reputation for successful investing based on innovation, careful risk management, and the quality and depth of our staff.

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.

MoloLamken is a law firm focused exclusively on representing clients in complex disputes. It handles civil, criminal, and regulatory matters, as well as appeals, across the United States. The firm’s clients span the globe. MoloLamken is involved in some of the most significant disputes of the day.

MoloLamken provides experienced advocacy – for claimants as well as defendants – before judges, juries, arbitral forums, and courts of appeals, including the Supreme Court of the United States. The firm also represents clients in regulatory and criminal investigations and conducts internal investigations.

Parabellum Capital is a leading financier of commercial and intellectual property litigation. Founded in 2012, its principals pioneered the commercial litigation funding market in the United States and remain on the forefront of shaping the asset class as the industry evolves. Parabellum’s team has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the commercial litigation arena, with a focus on structuring aligned transactions with claimholders and counsel.

BRONZE SPONSORs

Curiam Capital LLC is a private investment firm that provides financing for law firms and high-value litigation. Curiam invests in most types of commercial litigation in areas such as commercial business disputes, securities, antitrust, intellectual property, international arbitration, and bankruptcy and insolvency. Curiam’s team has decades of experience evaluating litigation claims and takes pride in making quick but well-informed investment decisions. Curiam funds both individual cases and portfolios of cases.

Eve Legal is the AI operating system that plaintiff law firms use across the entire case lifecycle to handle more cases, reduce time on desk, and increase settlement values. Over 1200 firms choose EveOS to grow faster and deliver stronger client outcomes.

One platform. Every partner relationship.

Lexamica is a full-service referral platform connecting lawyers across the country. Expand your network, strengthen relationships, and scale referral revenue with Lexamica.

Saul Ewing is a full-service, law firm with specialized practices in IP and Litigation Finance. Our attorneys advise litigation funders, investors, insurers and other clients by underwriting and analyzing litigation risks surrounding potential litigation claims, jury verdicts, case merits, and appeals of intellectual property, patent, trade secret, and commercial cases.

Media Partner

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. Through separate publications, we also cover the UK, Canadian and Australian insolvency markets (Insolvency Insider UK / Insolvency Insider Canada / Insolvency Insider Australia).

supporting organization

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

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Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is where the legal finance market comes together to do business. Bringing together senior leaders from law firms, funders, investors, corporates, insurers, and the wider disputes ecosystem, the Forum is designed to drive the relationships, partnerships, and commercial conversations that move deals forward. As the market matures and capital becomes more selective, LF Dealmakers goes beyond theory to focus on how capital is actually being deployed, partnerships structured, and opportunities executed in practice. Our value lies in convening the full legal finance ecosystem in one place — connecting those originating claims, deploying capital, structuring opportunities, and driving disputes forward. The result is a highly focused environment for meaningful conversations, strategic alignment, and real dealmaking.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with relevant participants

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for real conversations

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

21+ focused sessions tackling capital deployment, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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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 portfoliosUnderstand how funders assess risk, structure deals, and price opportunities in a more selective marketBenchmark your funding and growth strategy against leading claimant firms across EuropeExplore alternative fee arrangements, portfolio models, and firm-level financing strategiesAccess investors and advisors to support expansion, case development, and balance sheet managementStay ahead of how capital is reshaping litigation strategy, firm economics, and competitive positioning

Funders

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 typesBenchmark your underwriting, portfolio construction, and deployment strategies against leading fundersUnderstand how law firms are structuring, packaging, and presenting opportunities in today’s marketAccess origination partners, co-investment opportunities, and new distribution channelsExplore emerging asset classes, including ESG, securities, and cross-border collective actionsStay ahead of regulatory developments, capital flows, and structural shifts impacting returns

Investors

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 strategiesAccess funders, law firms, and platforms originating and managing opportunitiesEvaluate risk, return profiles, and structuring approaches across jurisdictions and asset typesExplore entry points into legal finance, including co-investment, private credit, and secondary marketsBenchmark allocation strategies against other institutional investorsStay ahead of how capital is flowing into and shaping the legal finance market

Insurers

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 disputesExplore opportunities to partner with funders and law firms on risk transfer and capital solutionsBenchmark underwriting approaches, pricing models, and emerging insurance productsAccess key stakeholders originating and structuring large-scale claims and portfoliosExplore how insurance can enhance capital efficiency, mitigate downside, and support deal structuresStay ahead of trends in claims, portfolios, and structured risk across jurisdictions

Claimants & Corporations

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 exposureExplore strategies for pursuing complex, cross-border, and high-value disputesAccess funders, law firms, and advisors to structure and execute claims effectivelyBenchmark your approach against leading corporates and claimant groups across EuropeUnderstand how funding impacts control, governance, and outcomesStay ahead of how disputes are being originated, financed, and executed in today’s market

Secure Your Seat

REGISTER TODAY

Companies Attending Include:

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

VENUE & Accommodations

eventi & second

Experience the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers in Manhattan’s Chelsea district. This year, the forum returns to the sophisticated Kimpton Hotel Eventi (851 6th Avenue) and the adjoining SECOND event space (849 6th Avenue), together occupying an entire NYC city block. With sleek modern design, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, both venues offer breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline — the perfect setting for high-level networking, dealmaking, and strategic discussion. A limited number of premium rooms at Kimpton Hotel Eventi are available at a special rate of $649++ 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 registrant.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

Where will the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum be held?

The 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be held on September 15-17, 2025 at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND event space. This event is colocated with our 3rd LF Mass Torts event. You may find additional information regarding the venue on our Venue page.

How do I register for the event?

Registration for the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be open soon.

What's included with my registration?

All registered attendees will have access to the following: Admission to main conferenceNetworking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptionsOnline event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messagingRecorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

Why does my registration need to be approved?

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.

What criteria do you look for when reviewing 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.

How long will it take to review my registration?

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

Why was my registration declined or waitlisted?

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.

How do I pay my registration fees?

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.

How do I sponsor or get involved in the event?

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.

How do I submit a speaking proposal?

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.

How do you select topics and speakers?

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.

How do I schedule my 1:1 meetings?

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.

Who can schedule 1:1 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.

What is your refund policy if I need to cancel my registration?

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.

Can I send my colleague if I cannot make it?

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.

Who can I contact regarding a question or concern?

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

Forum
2026-09-15 - 2026-09-17 | New York City, New York City, Texas, United States
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2026

Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND | NEW YORK

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Event Home

Agenda

Speakers

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Why Attend

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About The Event

WHERE CAPITAL, CLAIMS, AND STRATEGY MEET

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum returns to New York in September 2026, bringing together the funders, law firms, investors, corporates and specialist advisors driving the next phase of legal finance. Now in its ninth year, LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is the flagship meeting point for senior decision-makers across legal finance. The 2026 program focuses on the market questions shaping capital formation, deployment, regulation, liquidity, law firm strategy, AI, insurance and the evolving firm-funder relationship. Co-located with LF Dealmakers Mass Torts, the Forum creates a unique platform connecting the full legal finance ecosystem under one roof — from commercial litigation and plaintiff firms to institutional capital and strategic partners. The result is a highly connected environment built around originating relationships, accessing opportunities, and driving real commercial outcomes.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

LF Dealmakers by the numbers

275+

DecisionMakers

160+

AttendingCOMPANIES

300+

one to onemettings

50+

EXPERT SPEAKERS

10+

Hours of dedicated networking

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

Focused sessions

Tackling capital formation, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms shaping the future of legal finance

Dedicated content streams

Tailored tracks for mass torts, litigation funders, and law firms designed to deliver a more personalised and relevant experience across the legal finance ecosystem

Market-leading plenaries and keynotes

Exploring the forces reshaping legal finance, capital deployment, regulation, and law firm strategy

New interactive formats

Including masterclasses, deep dives, Dealmakers’ rundowns, and practical case studies designed for actionable insight

New closed-door boardrooms

Designed for deeper, candid conversations among senior industry leaders and decision-makers

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform

Facilitating targeted introductions, strategic partnerships, and business opportunities

view full Agenda

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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100percent

ROI rated very good to excellent

100percent

Would highly recommend to a colleague

98percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

"LF Dealmakers is our must attend litigation finance conference in New York each year. The attendees are well-curated, the speakers are experienced and compelling, and the event is impeccably organized."

— Molly Pease | Curiam Capital

"I had been told that LF Dealmakers is the best litigation finance conferences there is. After having spent two days listening to panels of experts and conveniently meeting with folks, I can understand why. I plan to be back next year."

— Marc Carmel | McDonald Hopkins

"LF Dealmakers is a go-to event for litigation finance. Dealmakers Forums runs an excellent program, which is always informative, well-organized, and attracts a good cross-section from the industry and beyond."

— Zachary Krug | NorthWall Capital

"LF Dealmakers is one of the very best conferences dedicated to the litigation finance industry. It is an incredibly well-run event, and brings together a broad range of attendees, including prominent litigation funders, law firms, investors, clients, academics, and media. The content is excellent, and the networking opportunities are second to none."

— Michael Nicolas | Longford Capital

"The Dealmakers team has put together yet another successful, informative, and productive litigation finance conference! LF Dealmakers continues to lead the industry in bringing together top talent and shaping the growth of this market."

— Rebecca Berrebi | Avenue 33, LLC

"As a first time attendee and speaker, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but LF Dealmakers exceeded my expectations. The room was full of relevant and high-level people and the conference was organized to make connections."

— Peter Buckley | Fox Rothschild

EVENT GALLERY

DealmakERS in action

sponsorship opportunities

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2026 SPEAKERS

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

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BECOME A SPEAKER

2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg is one of the Nation’s leading experts in alternative dispute resolution. He was the former Court-appointed Mediator in both the Imerys/Cyprus talc bankruptcy in Delaware and the Hess-Honx asbestos bankruptcy in Texas. He previously served as the voluntary Mediator in the Georgia Pacific/Bestwall bankruptcy in North Carolina, was co-Mediator in the successful Owens Illinois/Paddock asbestos bankruptcy proceeding in North Carolina and was formerly the Court-ordered Estimation Expert in the Johnson & Johnson/LTL Management bankruptcy in New Jersey. He has served as the Court-appointed Mediator in the successful resolution of the Purdue and Mallinckrodt opioid bankruptcies in the Southern District of New York and Delaware. Mr. Feinberg has been designated by the Federal Government to serve in a variety of public compensation and related funding programs over the past 40 years. He previously served as Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, the Department of Justice Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the Department of Justice Boeing 737 Max Crash Victim Beneficiaries Compensation Fund, the Department of the Treasury’s TARP Executive Compensation Program and the Treasury’s Private Multiemployer Pension Reform program. He was also appointed by the Obama Administration to oversee compensation of victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to his acting as Mediator and Administrator in a wide variety of federally related compensation programs, Mr. Feinberg has also served as Administrator of 24 Catholic Church Dioceses’ Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Funds designed to compensate the victims of Church sexual abuse. He also served as Administrator of the One Orlando Fund following a terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub, the General Motors Ignition Switch Compensation Program, and the One Fund Boston Compensation Program arising out of the Boston Marathon bombings. He was also the Mediator in the successful effort to return an original Chagall painting from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to its original family owners in Europe. He previously served as the Court-appointed Settlement Master in the Fiat/Chrysler Diesel Emissions class action settlement in San Francisco and is currently the Court-appointed Special Settlement Master in the national federal multi-district mass tort Roundup litigation. Mr. Feinberg has been appointed mediator and arbitrator in thousands of complex disputes over the past 40 years.

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2026 FORUM SPEAKERS

Bryan F. AylstockFounding Partner Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLC

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Bryan F. Aylstock

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FOUNDING PARTNER, AYLSTOCK, WITKIN, KREIS & OVERHOLTZ, PLC Mr. Aylstock founded his firm (Aylstock Witkin) in 2001, which is now comprised of more than 35 attorneys and 400 staff members who have directly handled the claims of more than 100,000 individual clients and class representatives over the past 20+ years. Mr. Aylstock graduated number one in his law school section from the University of Florida College of Law and served as a senior editor of the Florida Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Aylstock clerked for the Honorable Roger Vinson, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He has specialized in multi-district and class action litigation for more than 25 years and has developed substantial experience in handling complex litigation in both MDLs and state court consolidated proceedings. He has been appointed to multiple leadership roles by Courts across the Country on behalf of Plaintiffs.

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Tom BakerWilliam Maul Measey Professor University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

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Tom Baker

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WILLIAM MAUL MEASEY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL Tom Baker is the William Maul Measey Professor at Penn Carey Law School, with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School of Business, and a member of the Board of Directors of the liability insurer, Bowhead Specialty. Tom teaches and writes about legal finance with a special interest in adjacent insurance markets. Tom was the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Liability Insurance. He was awarded the 2024 Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for “empirical scholarship that has contributed most effectively to the advancement of research in law and society” and the 2013 Robert B. McKay to honor his “commitment to the advancement of justice, scholarship and the legal profession, demonstrated by outstanding contributions to the fields of tort and insurance law.”

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Suneal BediAssociate Professor of Business Law and Ethics Indiana University

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Suneal Bedi

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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS LAW AND ETHICS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY Suneal Bedi is an Associate Professor of Business Law & Ethics and the Jerome Bess Faculty Fellow at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. His work focuses on the intersection of law and business strategy. He seeks to analyze how corporate entities can utilize public institutions (e.g. courts, legislatures, social norms) to gain strategic advantages in marketplace transactions. Suneal has written extensively on litigation finance, intellectual property, and marketing ethics. His work has been published in leading law and business journals including Cornell Law Review, Vanderbilt Law Review, Southern California Law Review, and the Journal of Business Ethics, and has been featured in news outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, Washington Post, and US News. He has a PhD in Marketing and Business Ethics from The Wharton School and was formerly a private equity lawyer at Ropes & Gray, LLP.

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Cesar BelloPartner, Director of Litigation Finance Corbin Capital Partners

Debra Bogo-ErnstPartner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice Willkie Farr & Gallagher

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Debra Bogo-Ernst

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PARTNER & CHAIR, NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION PRACTICE, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER With over 25 years of experience, Debra represents a broad range of national and international organizations in class actions, mass arbitrations, and other high-stakes, complex litigation in the areas of autos, financial services, insurance, privacy, retail, products liability, and telecommunications. These cases involve the alphabet soup of statutory claims, privacy, unfair and deceptive trade practices, false advertising, trade secrets, safety and efficacy issues, false claims, government programs, fair housing and discrimination, civil conspiracy, and fraud-related claims. She also handles a variety of government investigations, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, and other state agencies. Debra often assists clients in navigating Consent Orders and other government settlements, including through the use of independent consultants. She also defends companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company risks and business-to-business disputes, and she has significant bench and jury trial experience.

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Mervin BurtonPartner, Head of Research Beatrice Advisors

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Mervin Burton

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PARTNER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, BEATRICE ADVISORS

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Hugh CarlsonCEO Three Crowns

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Hugh Carlson

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CEO, THREE CROWNS Hugh Carlson is the CEO and General Counsel of Three Crowns LLP. Since joining at the firm’s launch in 2014, he has helped build Three Crowns from a start-up boutique into one of the world’s premier dispute resolution practices. A former software engineer, Hugh has made innovation a defining feature of the firm. Under his leadership, Three Crowns has become a recognized leader in legal AI. The Financial Times has repeatedly honored the firm’s AI innovations, including its deployment of Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex to build enterprise-grade software tailored to its practice. Microsoft has called Three Crowns an “AI-powered company … bending the curve on innovation.” With Stanford’s Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), Hugh co-led the development of Atelier, an AI-powered cross-examination training platform that won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award for best training innovation in 2025. Hugh has lectured at Harvard Law School since 2019. He is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, and holds the leading credential in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

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Alfonso ChanPartner Cahill

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ALFONSO CHAN

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PARTNER, CAHILL Alfonso Garcia Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities, research institutes, and technology companies.His matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters, as well as biomaterials and medical devices. Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Europe.Alfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters.

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Brooke CohenFounding and Managing Partner Cohen Hirsch

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Brooke Cohen

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FOUNDING AND MANAGING PARTNER, COHEN HIRSCH Brooke Cohen has practiced law for almost 30 years, devoting most of her careerto representing individuals injured by defective products, dangerous medications, and corporate misconduct. She has handled complex product-liability and mass-tort matters involving transvaginal mesh, Dow breast implants, Essure, and other medical products. Brooke also represents survivors in cases involving sexual assault and abuse.Brooke’s work in mass torts and cases affecting women grew naturally from herbackground in healthcare policy. Before attending law school, she worked as ahealthcare lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where she gained an understanding of theways public policy, medicine, and corporate decision-making can affect patients and consumers.Brooke graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she majored in women’s history. After working in Washington, D.C., she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas.Throughout her nearly three decades of practice, Brooke has remained committed to advocating for people whose lives have been changed by injury, assault, or abuse. She approaches each client with empathy and integrity, guided by the belief that every client deserves to be heard, understood, and treated with dignity, respect, and care.

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Jeff CohenPartner Contingency Capital

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Jeff Cohen

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PARTNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeff Cohen is a Partner and Managing Director of Contingency Capital, which he joined at its inception in 2021. Prior to joining Contingency Capital, Jeff was formerly a Partner and Managing Director at Southpaw Asset Management, a distressed credit opportunity investment firm, which he joined at its inception in 2005. Prior to working at Southpaw, Jeff was a Vice President and Analyst in the distressed securities fund at Ramius Capital Group LLC. Jeff began his professional career as a bankruptcy and restructuring attorney in private practice and served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Bruce I. Fox in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jeff received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University and aJD from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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Megan ColevilleVP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Megan Colville

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VP, CORPORATE COUNSEL – LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Megan Colville is a vice president of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and serves as a member of, and corporate counsel to, the D. E. Shaw group’s Litigation Investing team, which operates within the firm’s Private Credit investment unit. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Ms. Colville was a corporate associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where she focused on leveraged and acquisition finance, private credit, capital markets, and project finance. She received a B.S. in industrial engineering, with highest honors, from Lehigh University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was an articles editor of the Virginia Law Review.

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Melinda R. CoolidgeManaging Partner Hausfeld

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Melinda Coolidge

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MANAGING PARTNER, HAUSFELD Melinda serves as US Managing Partner, responsible for the successful management of the firm’s US offices. She leads by example, embodying the firm’s values of tenacity and pragmatism, and believes success lies in maximizing opportunities for the professional and personal development of every team member, empowering a culture of bold actions, pioneering cases, and unconventional thinking. Deeply committed to the firm’s vision of global civil redress for those harmed by wrongdoing, Melinda also maintains an active legal practice focused on private enforcement of antitrust laws, representing clients ranging from Fortune 200 companies to classes of consumers with a common goal of maximizing recoveries from cartel price-fixing or monopolization. Her clients have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements and a US Supreme Court victory. Melinda works to safeguard free and open markets and is proud to be named one of the Top 100 Women in Antitrust by Global Competition Review.

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David CunninghamChief Innovation Officer ReedSmith

Kelly DaleyPrincipal & Founder Celsia Capital

Matthew DolmanFounding Partner Dolman Law Group

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Matthew Dolman

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FOUNDING PARTNER, DOLMAN LAW GROUP Matthew Dolman is the Founding Partner of Dolman Law Group, where he grew the firm from a local personal injury practice into a national firm focused on complex litigation and mass torts. With more than 20 years of experience, Matt has led litigation against some of the world’s largest corporations, represented survivors in institutional sexual abuse cases, and built mass tort portfolios involving defective medications, dangerous products, environmental exposures, and other catastrophic litigation. Matt also serves as Head of Underwriting for GFO Asset Management, an alternative asset manager providing institutional investors access to litigation finance by evaluating the legal merits of cases alongside financial risk and return. In that role, he evaluates case portfolios, assesses litigation risk, and identifies quality investment opportunities. Through interviews, speaking engagements, and podcasting, Matt regularly speaks on litigation finance, mass tort strategy, law firm growth, and the intersection of law, business, and capital markets.

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Joseph DunnManaging Director Fortress Investment Group

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Joseph Dunn

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CO-CIO LEGAL ASSETS, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP Mr. Dunn is a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group, and Co-CIO of the Fortress Legal Assets business. Mr. Dunn is based in New York and focuses on litigation and legal process related debt and structured equity transactions, including serving on the boards of several legal services companies. Prior to joining Fortress in 2016, Mr. Dunn was a litigator at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig LLP. At both firms, Mr. Dunn represented parties in disputes in U.S. state and federal courts, primarily in securities cases. Mr. Dunn received his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

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Fred FabricantManaging Partner Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos

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Fred Fabricant

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MANAGING PARTNER, FABRICANT RUBINO LAMBRIANAKOS Alfred R. Fabricant (Fred) is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent, copyright, trademark and unfair competition matters. Fred has litigated patent infringement cases in district courts throughout the United States for both patent owners and defendants including cases in the most active courts in Delaware, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida. His cases have involved a large variety of technologies including automotive, semiconductor, audio processing, LED lighting and displays, smartphone handsets, medical devices, electronic ratings systems, copy protection and anti-piracy technology, NFC and radio frequency identification systems, robotic systems, memory and storage devices, software, internet-related method and system patents, universal remote control devices, and optical systems and methods. According to “The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners” published by the IAM1000: “clients say they cannot imagine working with anyone better, hailing (Fabricant’s) outstanding skills of presentation and persuasion in the courtroom.” Fred has represented clients in patent matters before the International Trade Commission. He has also appeared in more than 100 inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Fred has argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal, Second and Fourth Circuits where he has represented both appellants and appellees in a variety of matters. Since 2008. Fred has handled a large number of cases that have been financed, in whole or in part, by litigation funders. He has also represented litigation funds as outside diligence counsel and is frequently recommended by litigation funders to claimants for both lead counsel representation in litigation as well as for IPR work before the PTAB. In addition to his litigation experience, Fred routinely acts as a legal counselor and advisor in the negotiation and drafting of patent, trademark and copyright license agreements, joint venture and funding agreements, and other business contracts. Fred also specializes in IP due diligence, freedom to operate analyses and strategies for the management and monetization of IP portfolios, a topic on which he has lectured extensively over the past decade. He advises clients on portfolio acquisitions and development, licensing and enforcement strategies, and litigation financing options. EducationThe University of Illinois Chicago Law School, J.D. (with highest distinction)The University of Miami (magna cum laude) AdmissionsNew YorkArizona

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Rachel S. FleishmanPartner Reid Collins Tsai

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Rachel S. Fleishman

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PARTNER, REID COLLINS TSAI

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David GialanellaEditor-in-Chief Business of Law and The American Lawyer

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David Gialanella

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS OF LAW AND THE AMERICAN LAWYER David Gialanella is Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer and Business of Law team at Law.com, where he has spent 16 years in various content team roles. He oversees the Am Law 100/200 and other key Law.com content packages, and leads the Law.com Pro and Law.com Pro Mid-Market platforms. He previously wrote for the ABA Journal and Chicago Sun-Times News Group. He holds master’s degrees from Medill School of Journalism and Pritzker Law at Northwestern University.

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Kiley GrombacherFounding Partner Bradley/Grombacher LLP

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Kiley Grombacher

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FOUNDING PARTNER, BRADLEY/GROMBACHER LLP Kiley L. Grombacher is a co-founding partner at Bradley/Grombacher LLP, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation, including consumer and employment class actions, product liability, personal injury, and pharmaceutical mass torts. With a passion for representing vulnerable individuals wronged by corporate negligence, she has secured numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements, with a strong focus on advocating for women and children. She has led high-profile lawsuits against major global corporations, including Amazon, Pfizer, Roblox, and Epic Games to protect employee rights, drug safety, and consumer privacy.Consistently recognized by her peers for legal excellence, Ms. Grombacher has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer. She is the founder of the Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) and maintains active memberships in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

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Paul B. HaskelPartner Crowell & Moring

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Paul B. Haskel

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PARTNER, CROWELL & MORING Paul B. Haskel is co-chair of Crowell’s Financial Services group and a partner in the New York office. Paul is a highly regarded advisor in the area of litigation finance, and a sought after commentator on litigation finance market trends, including in Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, Litigation Finance Journal, andValueWalk. He regularly represents litigation finance leaders in some of the industry’s most significant matters, including complex international deals. Paul advises litigation funders, private equity firms, and multi-strategy hedge fund clients in connection with their investments in funding transactions, including claims monetization and the provision of non-recourse capital to both plaintiffs and law firms. His work includes the diligence, structuring, and papering of these transactions, as well as advice on the management of credit risk, tax efficiency, state common law issues such as champerty and usury, and legal ethics.

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Ellen HollomanPartner Kaplan Martin

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ELLEN HOLLOMAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN MARTIN Ellen Holloman is a partner at litigation boutique Kaplan Martin. She represents financial institutions, corporations and individuals in civil litigation, arbitrations and at trial, in related regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate internal investigations and, where consistent with client goals, mediation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. In addition to her civil litigation and trial practice, Ellen has significant experience with white-collar criminal defense matters, and has represented clients responding to regulatory inquires, requests and enforcement proceedings. Ellen has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation and Lawdragon, among others, and has been selected as a two-time Notable Black Leader and Executive by Crain’s New York.

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William IsaacsonPartner Dunn Isaacson Rhee

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WILLIAM ISAACSON

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PARTNER, DUNN ISAACSON RHEE Bill Isaacson, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee, is widely considered one of the preeminent trial lawyers of his generation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners across three categories, he was named “Litigator of the Year” in 2016 and “Litigator of the Week” three times by The American Lawyer. Bill has tried cases spanning contract, commercial torts, copyright, international arbitration, and antitrust. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in major antitrust litigations and has tried more federal antitrust class actions this century than any other lawyer—each a major victory. Bill has been recognized in the Lawdragon 500 (each of the last 10 years), two Law360 “Competition MVP” titles, Forbes “America’s Top Lawyers,” and Legal 500 “Hall of Fame Lawyer.”

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Samuel IssacharoffBonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law NYU Law

Sarah JohnsonHead of Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Sarah Johnson

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HEAD OF LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Sarah Johnson serves as head of the Litigation Investing team within the D. E. Shaw group’s Private Credit investment unit. The Litigation Investing team provides financing solutions to law firms, plaintiffs, and other parties involved in commercial litigation. Ms. Johnson joined the D. E. Shaw group in 2006 as an analyst primarily working on distressed credit-related investments, including restructurings, opportunities in stressed equities, litigation plays (including monetizing litigation assets), and bankruptcy liquidations. She has led the Litigation Investing team since its formation in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Johnson was an associate in the restructuring and finance group of the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Ms. Johnson graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in economics and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a managing editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and James Kent Scholar.

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Robert KaplanPartner Kaplan Fox

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ROBERT KAPLAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN FOX ROBERT N. KAPLAN is widely recognized as a leading plaintiff’s litigator and has led the prosecution of numerous Antitrust and securities class actions and individual actions, recovering billions of dollars for the victims of corporate wrongdoing. He was recently listed by defense and corporate counsel as one of the top 75 plaintiffs’ attorneys in the United States for all disciplines and has also been ranked as one of the top attorneys in the United States for securities litigation by Legal 500. Mr. Kaplan was recognized as Super Lawyer in the New York Metro Area. Mr. Kaplan sits on the boards of several organizations, including the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, Board of Directors of the Carver Center in Port Chester, N.Y., Member of the Dana Farber Visiting Committee, Thoracic Oncology in Boston, MA, and Member of Board of Trustees for the Rye Historical Society.

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Ankur KapoorPartner Constantine Cannon

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Ankur Kapoor

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PARTNER, CONSTANTINE CANNON Ankur Kapoor is a partner at Constantine Cannon, with 25 years of experience in antitrust litigation. Most recently, Ankur has been co-lead counsel on behalf of a certified class of video-game publishers in In re Valve Antitrust Litigation, pending in Seattle federal court, as well as a member of the team representing over 60 major corporations in their credit- and debit-card swipe-fee antitrust action against Visa and Mastercard.  Ankur was also lead counsel for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) in a class action alleging price fixing of passenger airfares following a resolved Department of Justice investigation. Ankur is ranked in Chambers U.S.A. for “Antitrust-Mostly Plaintiff” and in U.S. News Best Lawyers for Antitrust Law & Litigation. He has also been named to Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders. Ankur currently serves as the Technology Officer of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section.

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Chris KercherFounder Kercher Law

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Chris Kercher

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FOUNDER, KERCHER LAW

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Stephen KimChief Legal Office & General Counsel Avicanna

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Stephen Kim

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CHIEF LEGAL OFFICE & GENERAL COUNSEL, AVICANNA Stephen is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Avicanna USA Inc., and responsible for all legal, regulatory, IP/tech, compliance, and human resources matters for Avicanna and its subsidiaries globally. Avicanna is a publicly traded commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with sales/operations in twenty-three countries. Prior to Avicanna, Stephen held roles of increasing responsibility at various publicly traded pharma/biotech and technology companies and practiced law with leading US and International law firms in New York and Toronto. Stephen graduated with a US law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (JD, 1997) and a Canadian law degree from the University of Windsor (LLB, 1997)

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Jason LevinePartner Foley & Lardner

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Evan Meyerson

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FOLEY & LARDNER Jason Levine is an antitrust and commercial litigation partner at Foley & Lardner LLP in Washington, D.C. He has over 25 years of first-chair experience, representing corporate plaintiffs and defendants in enterprise-risk disputes, including prior roles as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins, and Alston & Bird. From 2022-25, Jason spent nearly four years as an Investment Manager at Omni Bridgeway, one of the world’s largest commercial litigation finance firms. He originated and managed investments involving billion-dollar antitrust and business disputes and directed the company’s U.S. antitrust strategy. Complementing his litigation practice at Foley, Jason also serves as a trusted counselor to parties and funders on funding-related matters, and helps plaintiff-side clients explore potential non-recourse financing for their matters. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Jason clerked for Judge Randall Rader on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Claudia LinaresFounder & CEO Fortalea Advisory

Stephen MedlockPartner Vinson & Elkins

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Stephen Medlock

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PARTNER, VINSON & ELKINS Steve Medlock is an experienced antitrust litigator who brings dedication, intensity, and commercial common sense to his representations of Fortune 500 clients, whether navigating through complex multidistrict class actions or successfully defending clients in grand jury investigations. Clients place their trust in Steve to develop unique and complex antitrust arguments for both defendants and plaintiffs. Steve’s unique mix of plaintiff and defense-side experience allows him to see the issues that exclusive defense-sided practitioners miss in a full range of antitrust matters, including corporate counseling, internal investigations, civil non-merger and criminal cartel investigations, and litigation. In these areas, Steve is known for providing practical advice that business executives can digest. Steve has secured victories for clients in major antitrust class actions and B2B antitrust cases alleging monopolization and attempted monopolization at critical stages, including winning dismissal prior to discovery and prevailing at summary judgment. His depositions and briefs have been quoted in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Politico. Steve is a recognized as a part of the next generation of leadership in the antitrust bar. He currently serves as one of the editors of the forthcoming draft of the tenth edition of Antitrust Law Developments, the preeminent desk reference for antitrust lawyers.

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Brian MeltonPartner Susman Godfrey

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Brian Melton

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PARTNER, SUSMAN GODFREY Brian Melton is a nationally recognized lead trial lawyer who regularly tries and wins bet-the-company cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. He sits on the Executive Committee at Susman Godfrey – the nation’s premier litigation boutique – and the only law firm where he has practiced since graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law School and clerking for Federal District Court Judge Tom Stagg. Melton has secured several momentous wins throughout his career and has established himself as trusted counsel and a sought-out trial lawyer for clients and colleagues alike. In fact, a streak of three trial wins in an 18-month period led the National Law Journal to name him a “Winning Litigator” in 2017. Landmark Wins Melton’s landmark victory for Beats headphone designer, Steven Lamar, in a nationally followed breach of contract lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics over the design of the now iconic beats headphones was covered from coast to coast, with outlets such as New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter, NY Daily News, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict for Lamar in California federal court. Melton later spent time convincing the Judge to double the value of the judgment to $52 million – at which point Apple settled the case for a confidential amount. Law360 featured the story in their “How They Won It” series and The Recorder also ran a feature story on Melton and his significant role in this case. Later that year, Melton won an injunction for pro bono client Team Fuerza, a local Hispanic soccer team, which was being railroaded out of the giant United Premier Soccer League. Melton got the team back in the league and received an apology from the UPSL President. Unique Background Notably, Melton is a West Point graduate, who served as an infantry officer, attaining the rank of captain. While serving his country, Melton commanded two platoons, and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division. Melton graduated as the Honor Graduate of Ranger School, the Army’s elite leadership training course.

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Chandra MetzlerManaging Partner & Co-Founder CM Squared

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Chandra Metzler

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MANAGING PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, CM SQUARED Chandra Reddy Metzler co-founded CM Squared in 2017. She a Managing Partner with responsibility for all aspects of the business. As a family office and an independent sponsor, CM Squared distinguishes itself by structuring creative transactions that encourage optimal outcomes, align incentives and mitigate undesired risks. Litigation funding is a core strategy for the firm. Prior to CM Squared, Ms. Metzler was Head of Strategic Development for QVT Financial, a multi-billion dollar global alternative investment firm. In this role, she had overall responsibility for investor relations, capital raising and product development. She was also a member of the firm’s Risk Committee. Before joining QVT in 2013, Ms. Metzler was president of the financial lines division at AIG for the U.S. and Canada, leading a business with over $2 billion in revenue and over 500 employees. Prior to AIG, Ms. Metzler had various roles of increasing responsibility and revenue generation in capital markets, banking and investment research at Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan. Ms. Metzler earned her bachelor’s degree at Brown University in Economics, with honors, and Development Studies. She has a master’s degree in Economics from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While a graduate student, Ms. Metzler was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

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Evan MeyersonManaging Director Burford Capital

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Evan Meyerson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL Managing Director, Burford CapitalEvan Meyerson is a Managing Director who leads Burford’s US commercial investment team, with responsibility for overseeing the underwriting, origination, and portfolio management functions.Prior to joining Burford, Evan was a litigator at Paul, Weiss and at Sullivan & Cromwell. His practice focused on complex civil litigation in federal and state court, antitrust, white collar defense, bankruptcy litigation, corporate internal investigations, and government investigations into sanctions, anti-money laundering, and accounting issues. Evan began his career as an analyst at Bain Capital, evaluating venture capital investment opportunities.Evan graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Editor of the Harvard National Security Journal. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. He clerked for the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

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Ian MillicanDirector, Investments Contingency Capital

Steven MoloFounding Partner MoloLamken

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Steven Molo

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FOUNDING PARTNER, MOLOLAMKEN Steven Molo, one of the country’s leading courtroom advocates, is a founding partner of the national litigation boutique MoloLamken LLP. He represents corporations, boards, funds, investors, inventors, and individuals in complex business litigation, white collar criminal matters, and IP litigation. His client base is international. Chambers and Partners calls him “fantastic in the courtroom,” “with lots of charisma,” a “fabulous courtroom litigator who lights up the room with his presence,” “very bright, imaginative, and creative in his approach to problems,” and “one of the most talented lawyers in the (New York) city.” Benchmark Litigation – which named him one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in America – calls him “revered,” “an outstanding advocate and fearless in court,” who “delivers the goods.” Legal 500 includes Mr. Molo on its elite list of Leading Trial Lawyers and calls him “a rockstar litigator; a great lawyer,” with “terrific knowledge of the courts and the law,” “a force to be reckoned with” who “really excels in the courtroom.” It says he is “smart, creative, responsive, knowledgeable, and engaging; he has an excellent mix of traits that set him apart from his peers.” For the past thirteen years he has been named to Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Molo began his career as a prosecutor in Chicago, and then practiced with Winston & Strawn, where he was a senior litigator and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He spent five years as a litigation partner with the Wall Street firm Shearman & Sterling before founding MoloLamken in October 2009. He is also a solicitor on the Roll of Attorneys of the Law Society of England and Wales, and an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

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John MorleyAugustus E. Lines Professor of Law Yale Law School

Andrew MutterEVP, Contingent Risk CAC Specialty

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Andrew Mutter

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EXECUTIVE VICE PRSIDENT, CAC SPECIALITY Andrew is an Executive Vice President at CAC Specialty and Leader of its Contingent Risk Insurance Practice, which has placed more than $5 billion in insurance coverage in the contingent risk markets. The team has received various accolades, including most recently the Business Insurance Innovation award for its work developing new products to insure the core value of IP assets to reduce innovative companies’ cost of capital.Andrew’s practice focuses on crafting bespoke solutions for Contingent Risk Insurance, providing strategic certainty around both contingent legal assets and contingent legal liabilities. On the basis of these policies, the Contingent Risk team help clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity, release hundreds of millions of dollars from escrow, and facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of debt restructuring and refinancing.As a lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Andrew gained significant insurance recovery experience successfully litigating over half a billion dollars in D&O and E&O claims on behalf of financial institutions. Andrew has extensive experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, business torts, and healthcare related investigations and business disputes.Andrew earned his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He is also a former Teach For America teacher, with four years of experience in public education.

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Michael NicolasCo-Founder & Managing Director Longford Capital

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Michael Nicolas

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONGFORD CAPITAL Mike is responsible for the portfolio management of Longford Capital, including underwriting, investment selection, and overseeing the efforts of independent attorneys and other professionals as part of Longford Capital’s due diligence process. He is an accomplished attorney with more than 15 years of experience representing a wide array of corporate clients involved in complex litigation throughout the United States, including trial experience in the commercial litigation departments of two prominent national law firms, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP and Gardner, Carton & Douglas, LLP (n/k/a Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP). Mike is a frequent speaker on commercial litigation finance, and has presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He is an honors graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Business and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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Ryan PhairPartner Paul Hastings

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Ryan Phair

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Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings Ryan Phair is co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition practice of Paul Hastings. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate whose practice focuses on complex antitrust litigation and investigations. On behalf of plaintiffs, he has successfully recovered over $1 billion for his antitrust clients. On behalf of defendants, Ryan has an equally remarkable track record of success spanning dozens of complex cases, investigations and enforcement actions.

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Byron ReevesPaul C. Edwards Professor of Communication Stanford University

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Byron Reeves

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PAUL C. EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Elena S. ReyPartner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations Brown Rudnick

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Elena S. Rey

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PARTNER, HEAD OF LITIGATION FUNDING & CO-HEAD OF EUROPEAN SPECIAL SITUATIONS, BROWN RUDNICK Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Ruth RizkallaPartner The Carlson Law Firm

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RUTH RIZKALLA

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PARTNER, THE CARLSON LAW FIRM Ruth’s experience in complex litigation has given her a unique edge in strategizing and litigating cases of systemic minor sex abuse that require significant foresight and familiarity with advanced legal principles. She has leadership background in complex and mass torts litigations and has represented injured victims involving defective products and dangerous drugs and devices. Ruth has spent her over two-decade career representing those injured through severe negligent acts of large corporations. She has served in numerous leadership positions in several coordinated complex and mass tort proceedings, and has spoken and presented at multiple conferences and seminars.

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SHAYNA E. SACKSPartner Napoli Shkolnik

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Shayna E. Sacks

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NAPOLI SHKOLNIK PARTNER, PUBLIC CLIENT GROUP Ms. Sacks provides experienced representation to individuals, communities, local and state governments in multiple mass torts, including healthcare litigation, defective pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, the opioid crisis, and complex environmental & emerging contaminant litigation. She has served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on product liability multi-district litigations.

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Ed ScanlanCEO & Founder Bridge Legal

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Ed Scanlan

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CEO & FOUNDERBRIDGE LEGAL Ed Scanlan is a serial entrepreneur and litigation technology pioneer who transforms plaintiff-side legal portfolios into scalable, high-yield, risk-adjusted investments for capital partners. As Founder & CEO of Bridge Legal, Ed built a proprietary, AI-driven operating system that gives law firms and funders complete transparency from lead inception to filing—integrating case validation, workflow automation, and analytics to deliver 10x productivity gains and faster time-to-liquidity on funded matters. The platform empowers firms to capture market share at scale while enabling funders to deploy capital with unprecedented precision and control. Previously, Ed founded Total Attorneys, scaling it from startup to $30M+ recurring revenue without outside capital, earning spots on the Inc. 500, Crain’s Fast 50, and induction into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Inc.. Ed partners with leading litigation funders to co-create portfolios with exceptional merit profiles, predictable outcomes, and durable returns—aligning capital efficiency with access to justice.

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Jennifer ScullionPartner SeegerWeiss

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Jennifer Scullion

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PARTNER, SEEGERWEISS Jen Scullion is a partner at Seeger Weiss, where she leads or co-leads the firm’s work in antitrust and related consumer matters for classes and for direct action (opt out) plaintiffs. She currently serves as a member of the Direct Action Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the MultiPlan antitrust MDL, co-lead for Seeger Weiss’s work for the Direct Purchasers in the Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation, and Co-Chair of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Provider Track in the Change Healthcare Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, in addition to leading or co-leading the firm’s work in the Copaxone, “Proteins”, Fragrance, and Liquid Aluminum Sulfate antitrust matters. Jen has also co-led the firm’s work in the National Prescription Opioids and Socal Media Adolescent Addiction cases on behalf of local government and school districts. Jen is the co-author of the treatise New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act: Practice and Procedure (2026).

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Jonathan SelbinSenior Partner Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

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Jonathan Selbin

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SENIOR PARTNER, LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN Jonathan D. Selbin is a senior partner in the New York office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where he has practiced for over 30 years, and a long-time member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has led complex consumer protection, defective products, and sex abuse class action lawsuits in courts around the country against many of the world’s largest corporations and institutions. Together, cases in which Jonathan played a lead role have resulted in court-approved class action settlements with a combined total cash payout to class members in excess of $3.5 billion, plus other relief such as extended and enhanced warranties and implementation of best-practices institutional reforms. He has extensive appellate experience, having argued in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, as well as before state supreme and appellate courts. Jonathan is a leader in the firm’s funding of international consumer protection cases on multiple continents.

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Victoria Shannon SahaniProfessor of Law Boston University School of Law

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Victoria Shannon Sahani

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PROFESSOR OF LAW, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Victoria Shannon Sahani is the Associate Provost for Community and Inclusion at Boston University and a Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law. She previously served as Associate Dean of Faculty Development / Special Projects and Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She started her teaching career and was promoted to Associate Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Associate Provost Sahani is an internationally recognized legal scholar in domestic and international arbitration law and third-party litigation funding law. She is an award-winning teacher and serves as an independent arbitrator, consultant, and expert witness. In addition to publishing numerous book chapters, law review articles, and essays, she co-authored the book Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration (Wolters Kluwer, 1st and 2d ed.) (with Lisa Bench Nieuwveld), the first book in the world on this topic. She is the immediate past Chair of the Academic Council for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Chair-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on International Law, a Counsellor of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), an Elected Member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and an American Bar Foundation (ABF) Fellow. Before joining academia, Associate Provost Sahani worked at the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and practiced law at Pillsbury. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard College and is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia.

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Emily SiegelSenior Reporter Bloomberg Law

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Emily Siegel

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SENIOR REPORTER, BLOOMBERG LAW Emily Siegel is a senior reporter with Bloomberg Law. She covers litigation finance and writes about anything affecting or intersecting with the industry. She previously worked for NBC News as an investigative reporter. She earned a master’s degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

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Ryan StephenCo-Founder & Managing Partner Pine Valley Capital Partners

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Ryan Stephen

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, PINE VALLEY CAPITAL PARTNERS Mr. Stephen has led, originated, and managed more than $2.5B in private financing transactions since 2009. Prior to co-founding Pine Valley Capital Partners, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Trinity Environmental Services, an oilfield waste management company operating across Texas and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, he originated, structured, and managed private credit investments in the energy sector with Guggenheim Partners in Houston. Mr. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Abilene Christian University and has extensive experience structuring complex transactions across multiple industries.

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Kelsey StokesSenior Attorney The Lanier Law Firm

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Ryan Stephen

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SENIOR ATTORNEY, THE LANIER LAW FIRM Kelsey Stokes is recognized as a national leader in mass personal injury litigation. Kelsey practices primarily in the areas of mass tort litigation, products liability, and complex commercial litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in multiple Hernia Mesh MDLs (Multi-District Litigation) at the federal level and 3 MCLs (Multi-County Litigation) in New Jersey, the home of Johnson & Johnson, Kelsey has spent countless hours fighting for victims of defective medical devices, ensuring their voices are heard and their suffering acknowledged. Her leadership in the litigation against C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson has not only changed lives but has also set a precedent for women in leadership roles within the legal industry. Kelsey is currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the second largest MDL in the country (MDL No. 2846, In re Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio). Appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in 2018, the MDL has over 23,000 cases consolidated there. Kelsey served as lead trial counsel for the three bellwether cases tried in MDL 2846. In 2024, as Lead Settlement Counsel for the Bard Hernia Mesh MDL, Kelsey Stokes successfully negotiated a path to resolution for over 30,000 plaintiffs. Kelsey currently serves as Administering Counsel for the Bard resolution and spends countless hours guiding plaintiffs’ lawyers across the country. In addition to her leadership roles at the federal level, Kelsey Stokes was appointed to lead three New Jersey state court consolidated actions against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc.: MCL 627, In re Physiomesh Litigation; MCL 630, In Re: Proceed Mesh Litigation; and MCL 633, In re Prolene Hernia System Mesh Litigation. Kelsey was also elected Co‑Chair of the American Association for Justice Hernia Mesh Litigation Group by her peers, where she has served for over seven years. In addition to her responsibilities with the hernia mesh litigation, Kelsey was also appointed to the Phenylephrine Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. She serves as Science & Expert Committee Co-Chair, as well as a Discovery Co-Chair for the litigation. Prior to leading the hernia mesh docket, Attorney Kelsey Stokes played an integral role in litigating transvaginal mesh cases to a successful resolution. Her work in the various transvaginal mesh MDLs gave her a wealth of knowledge overlapping with the knowledge required to successfully litigate hernia mesh cases. Kelsey has regular speaking engagements, sharing the knowledge she has gained managing MDLs as well as studying the science and legal issues applicable to medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. Through the course of her career, Kelsey has taken hundreds of depositions, including depositions of corporate witnesses, expert witnesses, and treating physicians. Kelsey has also defended the leading experts in their fields as well as hundreds of plaintiffs injured by various medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. She regularly argues at hearings throughout the country and coordinates large-scale briefing on behalf of the MDLs she leads. Early in her career, Kelsey managed a large GranuFlo docket from case filing to resolution, successfully navigating clients through the settlement claims process. In addition to the above litigations, Kelsey Stokes performed considerable work on the Wright Hip and Accutane Litigations as well as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), in which she was trial counsel in the first TRT trial in Cook County, Illinois in 2017. Kelsey’s practice also includes complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, and arbitration, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts. Examples include arbitrations where she represented healthcare providers in contractual and payment disputes with insurers; a massive Ponzi scheme; and an off-shore commercial oil dispute. Attorney Kelsey Stokes’s experience also extends to catastrophic aviation accidents. Education & Memberships Kelsey Stokes earned a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she served as Chief Managing Editor of the Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law. Kelsey is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Circuits. She is a member of the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

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Will WeismanDirector – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel Parabellum Capital

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Will Weisman

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DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CORPORATE COUNSEL, PARABELLUM CAPITAL Will Weisman leads Parabellum Capital’s commercial litigation investment strategy. He originates, structures, and manages commercial litigation investments across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. Before joining Parabellum, Will was a senior member of the investment team at litigation financier Therium Capital Management. Earlier in his career, he practiced complex commercial litigation at Proskauer Rose LLP, one of the nation’s premier law firms, and later joined Liberty International Underwriters, a global insurance company. Will frequently writes and speaks on litigation finance, regulatory developments, and other issues affecting the legal industry. He earned a B.A., with honors, from the University of Maryland and a J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as an editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. Will also worked as a law clerk extern for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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Leanne WilsonManaging Director Contingency Capital

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Leanne Wilson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINGENCY CAPITAL 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).

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R. Brent WisnerManaging Partner Wisner Baum

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R. Brent Wisner

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MANAGING PARTNER, WISNER BAUM 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 winning significant verdicts and settlements for his clients. Over the last several years, Brent has served on the plaintiff’s leadership for multiple mass torts, earned jury verdicts worth a combined $2.427 billion, and helped negotiate settlements in excess of $1 billion—all before the age of 40. While success in the courtroom is often measured exclusively by dollars and cents, Brent’s legal work has led to changes in business practices that will protect people and the environment for generations. Hundreds of media publications across the globe have asked for his perspective on a variety of pressing legal issues.

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Thomas WhitePartner Sullivan Cromwell

Hon. Freda L. WolfsonFormer Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Lowenstein Sandler

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Hon. Freda L. Wolfson

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FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, PARTNER & CHAIR, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Honorable Freda L. Wolfson (ret.) rejoined Lowenstein Sandler after a decades long career in the federal judiciary, including as Chief Judge of the U.S.District Court for the District of New Jersey. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, special master appointments in federal and state courts, including multidistrict litigations (MDL), servingas an expert, monitorships, internal investigations, and presiding over mock trials and oral arguments. Judge Wolfson leads the firm’s ADR practice, leveraging her judicial experience managing complex commercial cases to help clients achieve satisfactoryresolutions on a wide variety of civil and regulatory issues. Since joining Lowenstein, Judge Wolfson has frequently served as a special master and mediator infederal and state civil actions, which typically involve high-stakes disputes, including, among others, data breaches, corporate divorces and securities matters;pre-litigation and pre-arbitration matters; and mass consumer mediations. Judge Wolfson also represents and consults pharmaceutical clients in patent-relatedmatters. Additionally, Judge Wolfson has served as a mock judge for parties in high profile cases involving patents and pharmaceutical product liability. Judge Wolfson was nominated to the District Court in 2002, ascending to the Chief Judge post in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as a U.S.Magistrate Judge for over 16 years, one of the few women and one of the youngest members of the district court in the nation. In 2014, she was appointed byU.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to represent the Third Circuit on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the MagistrateJudge System; she then served as Third Circuit District Judge Representative on the Judicial Conference of the United States. During her 36-year judicial tenure, Judge Wolfson authored thousands of opinions on issues such as securities litigations, shareholder derivative lawsuits,products liability, commercial transactions and financial fraud, civil rights, and constitutionality of federal and state statutes. She presided over a multitude ofcivil and criminal trials, including Hatch Waxman ANDA patent infringement cases; one of the largest excessive fees litigations associated with securities andmutual funds; employment discrimination matters; civil rights claims under section 1983; and white collar criminal cases. Judge Wolfson was also appointed by the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Panel to oversee some of the nation’s largest MDLs, including In re Johnson & JohnsonTalcum Powder Prods. Mktg. Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., the second largest MDL in the country. She has extensive experience in complex discoverymatters and has successfully facilitated hundreds of settlements. Frequently recognized as a leader of the bar, Judge Wolfson has received such honors as the 2022 Donald A. Robinson Meritorious Service Award, the 2016Rutgers University Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award and the, 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Rutgers University School of Law, the 2012Inductee of the Associate Alumni of Douglas College–Society of Excellence, the 2013 Women in the Profession Section’s Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Award forDistinguished Service and Excellence, and the 2008 Women’s Initiative & Leaders in Law Platinum Award from New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Additionally, Judge Wolfson was selected as an American Bar Foundation Fellow.Upon her graduation from law school, Judge Wolfson initially practiced litigation at Lowenstein.

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Boris ZiserGlobal Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets McDermott Will & Schulte

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Boris Ziser

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GLOBAL HEAD OF STRUCTURED FINANCE, CLOS AND ALTERNATIVE ASSETS, MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE Boris Ziser is McDermott’s Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He advises clients on asset-backed lending and securitization, warehouse facilities, secured financings, specialty finance lending, and other esoteric finance transactions. With more than 30 years of experience, he works across a wide range of asset classes, including life settlements, litigation funding, equipment leases, structured settlements, lottery receivables, timeshare loans, merchant cash advances, home equity investments (HEI), cell towers, intellectual property, insurance-related cash flows, and others. He also represents investors, lenders, hedge funds, private equity funds and finance companies in acquisitions and dispositions of asset portfolios, as well as financings secured by those portfolios.

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2026 agenda

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BECOME A SPEAKER

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

OPENing day: tuesday, SEPTEMBER 15

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Opening Reception

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

7:30 – 8:45 AM: Registration & Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:30 AM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS - THE PRICE OF JUSTICE: KEN FEINBERG ON FUNDING, FAIRNESS AND RESOLUTION

In this timely conversation, Feinberg will share his perspective on how funding is reshaping pathways to resolution, what information matters in settlement negotiations, and what safeguards are needed to preserve trust as legal finance continues to mature. Kenneth R. Feinberg, Mediator & Arbitrator, Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg In discussion with Emily Siegel, Senior Reporter, Bloomberg Law

9:30 - 10:20 AM: STATE OF THE MARKET - LEGAL FINANCE 2026: THE MARKET SHIFTS DRIVING CAPITAL, STRATEGY AND DECISIONS

The economic, geopolitical, and regulatory forces reshaping legal finance in 2026The changing capital stack—how direct institutional entrants, banks, and new structures are reshaping competition and deploymentHow legal finance could evolve as capital becomes deeper, cheaper, and more specializedSpeakers: David Gialanella, Editor-in-Chief, Business of Law and The American Lawyer (moderator)Evan Meyerson, Managing Director, Burford CapitalMichael Nicolas, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Longford CapitalElena S. Rey, Partner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations, Brown RudnickRyan Stephen, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Pine Valley Capital Partners

10:20 – 10:50 AM: Networking Break

10:50 - 11:20 AM: FEATURED INTERVIEW - INSIDE THE SILICON VALLEY SUPER TRIAL: ELON MUSK V SAM ALTMAN

Steven Molo, Founding Partner, MoloLamken

11:00 - 12:30 PM: BOARDROOM - HOSTED BY TSEG

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

11:20 - 12:10 PM: THE DEALMAKERS’ RUNDOWN - REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS & THE SHIFTING RISK PROFILE

How state-by-state regulation is changing where, with whom, and on what terms legal finance deals can be doneThe impact on structuring, diligence, pricing, disclosure, and capital deployment across the marketHow firms, funders, and advisers can keep transactions moving as regulatory risk becomes a commercial riskSpeakers: Bryan F. Aylstock, Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & OverholtzVictoria Shannon Sahani, Professor of Law, Boston University School of LawHon. Freda L. Wolfson, Former Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lowenstein SandlerBoris Ziser, Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs & Alternative Assets, McDermott, Will, & Schulte

12:10 - 1:00 PM: IN PERSPECTIVE - VIEW FROM THE TOP: LAW FIRM LEADERS ON AI, MSOS & THE NEW BUSINESS OF LAW

How AI is changing law firm operations, decision-making, and client deliveryWhat growing investor interest and MSO models mean for ownership, control, and independenceHow firm leaders are reshaping their business models for the next era of legal practiceSpeakers: Ed Scanlan, CEO & Founder, Bridge Legal (moderator)Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three CrownsMelinda R. Coolidge, U.S. Managing Partner, HausfeldDavid Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer, ReedSmithKiley Grombacher, Founding Partner, Bradley/Grombacher

1:00 – 2:45 PM: Networking Lunch

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS MASS TORTS

IN FOCUS DEALMAKING

2:45 - 3:30 PM: SOLUTION CIRCLES - ABS & MSOs

As law firms explore external investment, ABS and MSO models are becoming one of the most consequential—and contested—developments in the US legal market. These facilitated, peer-to-peer working groups will examine: Regulation & structuring: navigating state-by-state restrictions on ownership, fee-sharing, management rights, and revenue modelsCapital & control: defining the boundary between commercial oversight and professional independenceThe commercial case: assessing whether external capital can deliver sustainable growth, stronger operations, and aligned long-term returnsCo-Facilitators: Matthew Dolman, Founding Partner, Dolman Law GroupShayna E. Sacks, Partner, Napoli ShkolnikR. Brent Wisner, Managing Partner, Wisner Baum

2:45 - 3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - FROM PARTNERS TO PARTING WAYS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEAL?

How firms and funders can manage performance, communication and changing expectations after a deal is completedWhat options are available when the relationship or funding structure no longer works, including refinancing and restructuringHow secondaries and other liquidity solutions can create an exit, transfer exposure or reset the parties’ positionsSpeakers: Kelly Daley, Principal & Founder, Celsia Capital (moderator)Megan Coleville, VP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant Rubino LambrianakosPaul B. Haskel, Partner, Crowell & Moring

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Networking Break

4:00 - 4:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - DEALING WITH FIRMS IN DISTRESS: REFINANCING VS RESTRUCTURING

When refinancing remains viable—and when deeper restructuring is requiredHow firms and funders can stabilise distress as timelines lengthen and assumptions changeWhat happens when recovery is no longer possible—and whether the market needs a formal frameworkSpeakers: Jeff Cohen, Partner and Managing Director, Contingency CapitalRuth Rizkalla, Partner, The Carlson Law Firm

4:00 - 4:45 PM: INSURANCE SPOTLIGHT - THE WIDESPREAD USE OF INSURANCE (AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JPIS…)

Why insurance is becoming integral to legal finance structures—and what capital providers now expect it to protectHow coverage, pricing, and insurer diligence are reshaping underwriting, economics, and capital deploymentWhat happened to JPI—and which products and risk-transfer models could define the market’s next phaseSpeakers: Tom Baker, William Maul Measey Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (moderator)Andrew Mutter, EVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty

4:00 - 5:30 PM: BOARDROOM - CORPORATE LITIGATION LEADERS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

4:45 - 5:30 PM: LAW FIRM PERSPECTIVES - TRANSPARENCY ON TRIAL: DATA, STANDARDS, & THE FUTURE OF MASS TORT REPORTING

What firms should report to capital providers—and which metrics genuinely inform decisionsCreating consistent definitions, validation standards, and accountability across portfoliosHow better reporting can strengthen trust, identify risk earlier, and improve funding relationshipsSpeakers: Samuel Issacharoff, Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU Law (moderator)Brooke Cohen, Founding and Managing Partner, Cohen HirschSteve Faries, Partner, Pulaski KherkherKelsey Stokes, Senior Attorney, The Lanier Law Firm

4:45 - 5:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - HOW TO EVALUATE AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAPITAL PARTNER

What separates a source of capital from a genuine strategic partnerHow to assess track record, flexibility, alignment, and execution—not just pricingWhere brokers and advisers add value in finding, diligencing, and negotiating with the right funderSpeakers: John Morley, Augustus E. Lines Professor of Law, Yale Law School (moderator)Cesar Bello, Partner, Director of Litigation Finance, Corbin Capital PartnersAlfonso Chan, Partner, CahillJonathan Selbin, Senior Partner, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein

9:00 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.

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Networking Reception & Close of Day One

DAY TWO: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

8:30 - 9:00 AM: Registration & Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Recap

9:15 - 9:45 AM: DATA DEEP DIVE - WHAT THE DATA TELLS US: LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO INVEST

Where investments made between 2017 and 2021 underperformed, and what investors learned from themWhich deal characteristics have been most closely associated with successful outcomesHow those lessons are changing underwriting, portfolio construction and capital deployment todaySpeakers: Joseph Dunn, Managing Director, Legal Assets Co-Chief Investment Officer, Fortress Investment GroupWill Weisman, Director – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel, Parabellum Capital

9:45 - 11:00 AM: PANEL DISCUSSION - UNLOCKING VALUE: THE RISE OF AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION

How law firms and corporations are identifying and pursuing affirmative litigation opportunitiesWhy potentially valuable claims are often overlooked, deprioritized or left undevelopedHow affirmative litigation can shift the legal function from managing exposure to creating strategic and financial valueSpeakers: William Isaacson, Partner, Dunn Isaacson Rhee (moderator)Ellen Holloman, Partner, Kaplan MartinStephen Kim, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Avicannaa

11:00 - 11:30 AM: Networking Break

11:30 AM – 3:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS LITIGATION FUNDERS

IN FOCUS LAW FIRMS

CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS

11:30 – 12:15 PM: MASTERCLASS - AI IN PRACTICE: FINDING AND FUNDING BETTER CASES

How AI is being used to identify potential claims, surface overlooked opportunities and build stronger case pipelinesWhere AI can improve early-stage assessment, diligence and underwriting—and which decisions still require experienced human judgmentWhat funders and firms need to get right on data quality, validation and implementation before AI can produce better investment outcomesSpeakers: Byron Reeves, Paul C. Edwards Professor of Communication, Stanford University (moderator)Chris Kercher, Founder, Kercher Law

11:30 – 12:15 PM: CASE STUDY - BUILDING A PLAINTIFF-SIDE PRACTICE

The strategic and commercial case behind Vinson & Elkins’ move into plaintiff-side litigationHow the firm built the practice: selecting opportunities, assembling the team and integrating contingency work into the wider businessWhat the firm has learned about economics, risk, culture and scaling—and what others should consider before following the same pathSpeakers: Stephen Medlock, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

11:30 - 1:00 PM: BOARDROOM - INSTITUTIONAL ALLOCATORS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

12:15 - 2:00 PM: Networking Lunch

2:00 - 2:45 PM: THE INVESTOR LENS - WHAT FUNDERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL IN A TIGHTER MARKET

Why institutional investors allocate capital to some litigation fund managers—and reject othersWhat allocators are really testing when they assess strategy, team, track record, pipeline and riskWhat can turn investor interest into a commitment—or cause an allocation to fall awaySpeakers: Chandra Metzler, Partner & Co-Founder, CM Squared (moderator)Mervin Burton, Partner, Head of Research, Beatrice Advisors

2:00 - 2:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - WHY GOOD CASES DON’T GET FUNDED

What funders are seeing in the market today, and how appetite, capacity and return expectations are shaping investment decisionsWhy apparently strong cases still fail to secure funding, from weak economics and incomplete diligence to poor strategic fitHow firms can present opportunities more effectively, with the evidence, analysis and commercial clarity funders need to reach a decisionSpeakers: Ankur Kapoor, Partner, Constantine Cannon (moderator)Debra Bogo-Ernst, Partner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice, Willkie Farr & GallagherSarah Johnson, Head of Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Ryan Phair, Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings

2:45 -3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - WHEN THE CASE TURNS: MANAGING APPEAL, ENFORCEMENT AND OUTCOME RISK

Why a major judgment may still be far from a realizable recovery—and the appellate, foreign-law, sovereign and enforcement risks that remain after trialHow claimant counsel, defence counsel and funders assess and stress-test those risks at different stages of a caseWhat happens when the legal or commercial assumptions underpinning a matter change—and how the parties can reset strategy, expectations and next steps without relying on hindsightSpeakers: Claudia Linares, Founder & CEO,Fortalea Advisory (moderator) Jason Levine, Partner, Foley & LardnerJennifer Scullion, Partner, SeegerWeissThomas White, Partner, Sullivan Cromwell

2:45 - 3:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - SKIN IN THE GAME: WHEN TO SELF-FUND, CO-FUND OR SHARE THE RISK

How to determine which matters to finance and when to bring in external capitalHow case economics, portfolio exposure, cash flow and risk appetite shape the choice between self-funding, co-funding and full risk transferLessons learned from funding structures that underperformed, became misaligned or failed to deliver the expected outcomeSpeakers: Suneal Bedi, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University (moderator)Robert Kaplan, Partner, Kaplan FoxBrian D. Melton, Partner, Susman Godfrey

9:00 AM – 3:30 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.

3:30 - 5:00 PM: Closing Reception

THANK YOU TO OUR

2026 SPONSORS & PARTNERS

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

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BECOME A SPONSOR

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SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION

read more about OUR

2026 SPONSORS

Gold sponsorS

CAC is now part of The Baldwin Group. Together, we deliver greater specialization, expanded
capabilities, and deeper expertise to help clients navigate today’s evolving risk landscape. By
combining CAC’s industry and product expertise with Baldwin’s national platform and distribution
network, we provide seamless access to a full suite of risk management solutions. Our unified
team serves clients across retail, specialty, reinsurance (including London and Bermuda), and
MGA platforms.

Fabricant LLP is a dynamic IP litigation boutique with unparalleled success enforcing or defending patent infringement claims involving the most important and cutting-edge technologies. We are experts representing plaintiffs and defendants in all high-tech industries including, audio processing, smartphone, semiconductor, automotive, payments, computer hardware and software, LED displays and lights, GPS location services among many others. Fabricant LLP is regularly ranked among the most active U.S. law firms representing patent owners in the courts and before the PTAB where it has achieved win rates for defeating validity challenges far above the national average.

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.

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.

silver sponsorS

Brown Rudnick is a leading international law firm that provides exceptional, client-driven service in global litigation, crisis management, brand and reputation management, life sciences, technology, intellectual property, and litigation funding. Our lawyers have extensive experience leading high-profile cross-border matters and are recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Law360 for excellence.

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world.

Cathedral CPAs & Advisors helps litigation finance firms build the financial infrastructure needed to grow with confidence. We provide fractional CFO and controller services, back office solutions, strategic advisory, and comprehensive tax support, including preparation, structuring, and strategy. Our team works with leadership to improve reporting, strengthen controls, manage complexity, and support informed decision making. Clients gain experienced financial leadership, practical insight, and scalable support without the expense of building a full internal finance department.

Contingency Capital is a global asset management business focused on credit oriented legal assets. Contingency Capital was founded in November 2020 by Brandon Baer. We invest in legal assets where the primary driver of value is a legal, tax or regulatory process.

Our investment team is comprised of credit and distressed investors who are also former transactional attorneys and litigators. Collectively we have decades of multifaceted experience investing in legal assets.

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, and its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

The D. E. Shaw group is a global investment and technology development firm with more than $90 billion in investment and committed capital as of June 1, 2026, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Since our founding in 1988, we have earned an international reputation for successful investing based on innovation, careful risk management, and the quality and depth of our staff.

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.

MoloLamken is a law firm focused exclusively on representing clients in complex disputes. It handles civil, criminal, and regulatory matters, as well as appeals, across the United States. The firm’s clients span the globe. MoloLamken is involved in some of the most significant disputes of the day.

MoloLamken provides experienced advocacy – for claimants as well as defendants – before judges, juries, arbitral forums, and courts of appeals, including the Supreme Court of the United States. The firm also represents clients in regulatory and criminal investigations and conducts internal investigations.

Parabellum Capital is a leading financier of commercial and intellectual property litigation. Founded in 2012, its principals pioneered the commercial litigation funding market in the United States and remain on the forefront of shaping the asset class as the industry evolves. Parabellum’s team has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the commercial litigation arena, with a focus on structuring aligned transactions with claimholders and counsel.

BRONZE SPONSORs

Curiam Capital LLC is a private investment firm that provides financing for law firms and high-value litigation. Curiam invests in most types of commercial litigation in areas such as commercial business disputes, securities, antitrust, intellectual property, international arbitration, and bankruptcy and insolvency. Curiam’s team has decades of experience evaluating litigation claims and takes pride in making quick but well-informed investment decisions. Curiam funds both individual cases and portfolios of cases.

Eve Legal is the AI operating system that plaintiff law firms use across the entire case lifecycle to handle more cases, reduce time on desk, and increase settlement values. Over 1200 firms choose EveOS to grow faster and deliver stronger client outcomes.

One platform. Every partner relationship.

Lexamica is a full-service referral platform connecting lawyers across the country. Expand your network, strengthen relationships, and scale referral revenue with Lexamica.

Saul Ewing is a full-service, law firm with specialized practices in IP and Litigation Finance. Our attorneys advise litigation funders, investors, insurers and other clients by underwriting and analyzing litigation risks surrounding potential litigation claims, jury verdicts, case merits, and appeals of intellectual property, patent, trade secret, and commercial cases.

Media Partner

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. Through separate publications, we also cover the UK, Canadian and Australian insolvency markets (Insolvency Insider UK / Insolvency Insider Canada / Insolvency Insider Australia).

supporting organization

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

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Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is where the legal finance market comes together to do business. Bringing together senior leaders from law firms, funders, investors, corporates, insurers, and the wider disputes ecosystem, the Forum is designed to drive the relationships, partnerships, and commercial conversations that move deals forward. As the market matures and capital becomes more selective, LF Dealmakers goes beyond theory to focus on how capital is actually being deployed, partnerships structured, and opportunities executed in practice. Our value lies in convening the full legal finance ecosystem in one place — connecting those originating claims, deploying capital, structuring opportunities, and driving disputes forward. The result is a highly focused environment for meaningful conversations, strategic alignment, and real dealmaking.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with relevant participants

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for real conversations

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

21+ focused sessions tackling capital deployment, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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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 portfoliosUnderstand how funders assess risk, structure deals, and price opportunities in a more selective marketBenchmark your funding and growth strategy against leading claimant firms across EuropeExplore alternative fee arrangements, portfolio models, and firm-level financing strategiesAccess investors and advisors to support expansion, case development, and balance sheet managementStay ahead of how capital is reshaping litigation strategy, firm economics, and competitive positioning

Funders

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 typesBenchmark your underwriting, portfolio construction, and deployment strategies against leading fundersUnderstand how law firms are structuring, packaging, and presenting opportunities in today’s marketAccess origination partners, co-investment opportunities, and new distribution channelsExplore emerging asset classes, including ESG, securities, and cross-border collective actionsStay ahead of regulatory developments, capital flows, and structural shifts impacting returns

Investors

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 strategiesAccess funders, law firms, and platforms originating and managing opportunitiesEvaluate risk, return profiles, and structuring approaches across jurisdictions and asset typesExplore entry points into legal finance, including co-investment, private credit, and secondary marketsBenchmark allocation strategies against other institutional investorsStay ahead of how capital is flowing into and shaping the legal finance market

Insurers

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 disputesExplore opportunities to partner with funders and law firms on risk transfer and capital solutionsBenchmark underwriting approaches, pricing models, and emerging insurance productsAccess key stakeholders originating and structuring large-scale claims and portfoliosExplore how insurance can enhance capital efficiency, mitigate downside, and support deal structuresStay ahead of trends in claims, portfolios, and structured risk across jurisdictions

Claimants & Corporations

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 exposureExplore strategies for pursuing complex, cross-border, and high-value disputesAccess funders, law firms, and advisors to structure and execute claims effectivelyBenchmark your approach against leading corporates and claimant groups across EuropeUnderstand how funding impacts control, governance, and outcomesStay ahead of how disputes are being originated, financed, and executed in today’s market

Secure Your Seat

REGISTER TODAY

Companies Attending Include:

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

VENUE & Accommodations

eventi & second

Experience the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers in Manhattan’s Chelsea district. This year, the forum returns to the sophisticated Kimpton Hotel Eventi (851 6th Avenue) and the adjoining SECOND event space (849 6th Avenue), together occupying an entire NYC city block. With sleek modern design, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, both venues offer breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline — the perfect setting for high-level networking, dealmaking, and strategic discussion. A limited number of premium rooms at Kimpton Hotel Eventi are available at a special rate of $649++ 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 registrant.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

Where will the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum be held?

The 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be held on September 15-17, 2025 at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND event space. This event is colocated with our 3rd LF Mass Torts event. You may find additional information regarding the venue on our Venue page.

How do I register for the event?

Registration for the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be open soon.

What's included with my registration?

All registered attendees will have access to the following: Admission to main conferenceNetworking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptionsOnline event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messagingRecorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

Why does my registration need to be approved?

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.

What criteria do you look for when reviewing 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.

How long will it take to review my registration?

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

Why was my registration declined or waitlisted?

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.

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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.

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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.

How do you select topics and speakers?

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.

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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.

Who can schedule 1:1 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.

What is your refund policy if I need to cancel my registration?

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.

Can I send my colleague if I cannot make it?

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.

Who can I contact regarding a question or concern?

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

AI+EMTECH
2026-11-02 | Austin, Austin, TX, United States
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2026

Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND | NEW YORK

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About The Event

WHERE CAPITAL, CLAIMS, AND STRATEGY MEET

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum returns to New York in September 2026, bringing together the funders, law firms, investors, corporates and specialist advisors driving the next phase of legal finance. Now in its ninth year, LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is the flagship meeting point for senior decision-makers across legal finance. The 2026 program focuses on the market questions shaping capital formation, deployment, regulation, liquidity, law firm strategy, AI, insurance and the evolving firm-funder relationship. Co-located with LF Dealmakers Mass Torts, the Forum creates a unique platform connecting the full legal finance ecosystem under one roof — from commercial litigation and plaintiff firms to institutional capital and strategic partners. The result is a highly connected environment built around originating relationships, accessing opportunities, and driving real commercial outcomes.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

LF Dealmakers by the numbers

275+

DecisionMakers

160+

AttendingCOMPANIES

300+

one to onemettings

50+

EXPERT SPEAKERS

10+

Hours of dedicated networking

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

Focused sessions

Tackling capital formation, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms shaping the future of legal finance

Dedicated content streams

Tailored tracks for mass torts, litigation funders, and law firms designed to deliver a more personalised and relevant experience across the legal finance ecosystem

Market-leading plenaries and keynotes

Exploring the forces reshaping legal finance, capital deployment, regulation, and law firm strategy

New interactive formats

Including masterclasses, deep dives, Dealmakers’ rundowns, and practical case studies designed for actionable insight

New closed-door boardrooms

Designed for deeper, candid conversations among senior industry leaders and decision-makers

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform

Facilitating targeted introductions, strategic partnerships, and business opportunities

view full Agenda

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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100percent

ROI rated very good to excellent

100percent

Would highly recommend to a colleague

98percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

"LF Dealmakers is our must attend litigation finance conference in New York each year. The attendees are well-curated, the speakers are experienced and compelling, and the event is impeccably organized."

— Molly Pease | Curiam Capital

"I had been told that LF Dealmakers is the best litigation finance conferences there is. After having spent two days listening to panels of experts and conveniently meeting with folks, I can understand why. I plan to be back next year."

— Marc Carmel | McDonald Hopkins

"LF Dealmakers is a go-to event for litigation finance. Dealmakers Forums runs an excellent program, which is always informative, well-organized, and attracts a good cross-section from the industry and beyond."

— Zachary Krug | NorthWall Capital

"LF Dealmakers is one of the very best conferences dedicated to the litigation finance industry. It is an incredibly well-run event, and brings together a broad range of attendees, including prominent litigation funders, law firms, investors, clients, academics, and media. The content is excellent, and the networking opportunities are second to none."

— Michael Nicolas | Longford Capital

"The Dealmakers team has put together yet another successful, informative, and productive litigation finance conference! LF Dealmakers continues to lead the industry in bringing together top talent and shaping the growth of this market."

— Rebecca Berrebi | Avenue 33, LLC

"As a first time attendee and speaker, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but LF Dealmakers exceeded my expectations. The room was full of relevant and high-level people and the conference was organized to make connections."

— Peter Buckley | Fox Rothschild

EVENT GALLERY

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2026 SPEAKERS

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

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BECOME A SPEAKER

2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg is one of the Nation’s leading experts in alternative dispute resolution. He was the former Court-appointed Mediator in both the Imerys/Cyprus talc bankruptcy in Delaware and the Hess-Honx asbestos bankruptcy in Texas. He previously served as the voluntary Mediator in the Georgia Pacific/Bestwall bankruptcy in North Carolina, was co-Mediator in the successful Owens Illinois/Paddock asbestos bankruptcy proceeding in North Carolina and was formerly the Court-ordered Estimation Expert in the Johnson & Johnson/LTL Management bankruptcy in New Jersey. He has served as the Court-appointed Mediator in the successful resolution of the Purdue and Mallinckrodt opioid bankruptcies in the Southern District of New York and Delaware. Mr. Feinberg has been designated by the Federal Government to serve in a variety of public compensation and related funding programs over the past 40 years. He previously served as Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, the Department of Justice Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the Department of Justice Boeing 737 Max Crash Victim Beneficiaries Compensation Fund, the Department of the Treasury’s TARP Executive Compensation Program and the Treasury’s Private Multiemployer Pension Reform program. He was also appointed by the Obama Administration to oversee compensation of victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to his acting as Mediator and Administrator in a wide variety of federally related compensation programs, Mr. Feinberg has also served as Administrator of 24 Catholic Church Dioceses’ Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Funds designed to compensate the victims of Church sexual abuse. He also served as Administrator of the One Orlando Fund following a terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub, the General Motors Ignition Switch Compensation Program, and the One Fund Boston Compensation Program arising out of the Boston Marathon bombings. He was also the Mediator in the successful effort to return an original Chagall painting from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to its original family owners in Europe. He previously served as the Court-appointed Settlement Master in the Fiat/Chrysler Diesel Emissions class action settlement in San Francisco and is currently the Court-appointed Special Settlement Master in the national federal multi-district mass tort Roundup litigation. Mr. Feinberg has been appointed mediator and arbitrator in thousands of complex disputes over the past 40 years.

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2026 FORUM SPEAKERS

Bryan F. AylstockFounding Partner Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLC

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Bryan F. Aylstock

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FOUNDING PARTNER, AYLSTOCK, WITKIN, KREIS & OVERHOLTZ, PLC Mr. Aylstock founded his firm (Aylstock Witkin) in 2001, which is now comprised of more than 35 attorneys and 400 staff members who have directly handled the claims of more than 100,000 individual clients and class representatives over the past 20+ years. Mr. Aylstock graduated number one in his law school section from the University of Florida College of Law and served as a senior editor of the Florida Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Aylstock clerked for the Honorable Roger Vinson, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He has specialized in multi-district and class action litigation for more than 25 years and has developed substantial experience in handling complex litigation in both MDLs and state court consolidated proceedings. He has been appointed to multiple leadership roles by Courts across the Country on behalf of Plaintiffs.

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Tom BakerWilliam Maul Measey Professor University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

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Tom Baker

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WILLIAM MAUL MEASEY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL Tom Baker is the William Maul Measey Professor at Penn Carey Law School, with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School of Business, and a member of the Board of Directors of the liability insurer, Bowhead Specialty. Tom teaches and writes about legal finance with a special interest in adjacent insurance markets. Tom was the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Liability Insurance. He was awarded the 2024 Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for “empirical scholarship that has contributed most effectively to the advancement of research in law and society” and the 2013 Robert B. McKay to honor his “commitment to the advancement of justice, scholarship and the legal profession, demonstrated by outstanding contributions to the fields of tort and insurance law.”

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Suneal BediAssociate Professor of Business Law and Ethics Indiana University

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Suneal Bedi

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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS LAW AND ETHICS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY Suneal Bedi is an Associate Professor of Business Law & Ethics and the Jerome Bess Faculty Fellow at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. His work focuses on the intersection of law and business strategy. He seeks to analyze how corporate entities can utilize public institutions (e.g. courts, legislatures, social norms) to gain strategic advantages in marketplace transactions. Suneal has written extensively on litigation finance, intellectual property, and marketing ethics. His work has been published in leading law and business journals including Cornell Law Review, Vanderbilt Law Review, Southern California Law Review, and the Journal of Business Ethics, and has been featured in news outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, Washington Post, and US News. He has a PhD in Marketing and Business Ethics from The Wharton School and was formerly a private equity lawyer at Ropes & Gray, LLP.

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Cesar BelloPartner, Director of Litigation Finance Corbin Capital Partners

Debra Bogo-ErnstPartner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice Willkie Farr & Gallagher

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Debra Bogo-Ernst

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PARTNER & CHAIR, NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION PRACTICE, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER With over 25 years of experience, Debra represents a broad range of national and international organizations in class actions, mass arbitrations, and other high-stakes, complex litigation in the areas of autos, financial services, insurance, privacy, retail, products liability, and telecommunications. These cases involve the alphabet soup of statutory claims, privacy, unfair and deceptive trade practices, false advertising, trade secrets, safety and efficacy issues, false claims, government programs, fair housing and discrimination, civil conspiracy, and fraud-related claims. She also handles a variety of government investigations, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, and other state agencies. Debra often assists clients in navigating Consent Orders and other government settlements, including through the use of independent consultants. She also defends companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company risks and business-to-business disputes, and she has significant bench and jury trial experience.

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Mervin BurtonPartner, Head of Research Beatrice Advisors

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Mervin Burton

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PARTNER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, BEATRICE ADVISORS

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Hugh CarlsonCEO Three Crowns

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Hugh Carlson

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CEO, THREE CROWNS Hugh Carlson is the CEO and General Counsel of Three Crowns LLP. Since joining at the firm’s launch in 2014, he has helped build Three Crowns from a start-up boutique into one of the world’s premier dispute resolution practices. A former software engineer, Hugh has made innovation a defining feature of the firm. Under his leadership, Three Crowns has become a recognized leader in legal AI. The Financial Times has repeatedly honored the firm’s AI innovations, including its deployment of Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex to build enterprise-grade software tailored to its practice. Microsoft has called Three Crowns an “AI-powered company … bending the curve on innovation.” With Stanford’s Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), Hugh co-led the development of Atelier, an AI-powered cross-examination training platform that won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award for best training innovation in 2025. Hugh has lectured at Harvard Law School since 2019. He is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, and holds the leading credential in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

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Alfonso ChanPartner Cahill

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ALFONSO CHAN

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PARTNER, CAHILL Alfonso Garcia Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities, research institutes, and technology companies.His matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters, as well as biomaterials and medical devices. Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Europe.Alfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters.

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Brooke CohenFounding and Managing Partner Cohen Hirsch

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Brooke Cohen

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FOUNDING AND MANAGING PARTNER, COHEN HIRSCH Brooke Cohen has practiced law for almost 30 years, devoting most of her careerto representing individuals injured by defective products, dangerous medications, and corporate misconduct. She has handled complex product-liability and mass-tort matters involving transvaginal mesh, Dow breast implants, Essure, and other medical products. Brooke also represents survivors in cases involving sexual assault and abuse.Brooke’s work in mass torts and cases affecting women grew naturally from herbackground in healthcare policy. Before attending law school, she worked as ahealthcare lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where she gained an understanding of theways public policy, medicine, and corporate decision-making can affect patients and consumers.Brooke graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she majored in women’s history. After working in Washington, D.C., she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas.Throughout her nearly three decades of practice, Brooke has remained committed to advocating for people whose lives have been changed by injury, assault, or abuse. She approaches each client with empathy and integrity, guided by the belief that every client deserves to be heard, understood, and treated with dignity, respect, and care.

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Jeff CohenPartner Contingency Capital

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Jeff Cohen

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PARTNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeff Cohen is a Partner and Managing Director of Contingency Capital, which he joined at its inception in 2021. Prior to joining Contingency Capital, Jeff was formerly a Partner and Managing Director at Southpaw Asset Management, a distressed credit opportunity investment firm, which he joined at its inception in 2005. Prior to working at Southpaw, Jeff was a Vice President and Analyst in the distressed securities fund at Ramius Capital Group LLC. Jeff began his professional career as a bankruptcy and restructuring attorney in private practice and served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Bruce I. Fox in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jeff received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University and aJD from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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Megan ColevilleVP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Megan Colville

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VP, CORPORATE COUNSEL – LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Megan Colville is a vice president of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and serves as a member of, and corporate counsel to, the D. E. Shaw group’s Litigation Investing team, which operates within the firm’s Private Credit investment unit. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Ms. Colville was a corporate associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where she focused on leveraged and acquisition finance, private credit, capital markets, and project finance. She received a B.S. in industrial engineering, with highest honors, from Lehigh University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was an articles editor of the Virginia Law Review.

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Melinda R. CoolidgeManaging Partner Hausfeld

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Melinda Coolidge

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MANAGING PARTNER, HAUSFELD Melinda serves as US Managing Partner, responsible for the successful management of the firm’s US offices. She leads by example, embodying the firm’s values of tenacity and pragmatism, and believes success lies in maximizing opportunities for the professional and personal development of every team member, empowering a culture of bold actions, pioneering cases, and unconventional thinking. Deeply committed to the firm’s vision of global civil redress for those harmed by wrongdoing, Melinda also maintains an active legal practice focused on private enforcement of antitrust laws, representing clients ranging from Fortune 200 companies to classes of consumers with a common goal of maximizing recoveries from cartel price-fixing or monopolization. Her clients have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements and a US Supreme Court victory. Melinda works to safeguard free and open markets and is proud to be named one of the Top 100 Women in Antitrust by Global Competition Review.

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David CunninghamChief Innovation Officer ReedSmith

Kelly DaleyPrincipal & Founder Celsia Capital

Matthew DolmanFounding Partner Dolman Law Group

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Matthew Dolman

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FOUNDING PARTNER, DOLMAN LAW GROUP Matthew Dolman is the Founding Partner of Dolman Law Group, where he grew the firm from a local personal injury practice into a national firm focused on complex litigation and mass torts. With more than 20 years of experience, Matt has led litigation against some of the world’s largest corporations, represented survivors in institutional sexual abuse cases, and built mass tort portfolios involving defective medications, dangerous products, environmental exposures, and other catastrophic litigation. Matt also serves as Head of Underwriting for GFO Asset Management, an alternative asset manager providing institutional investors access to litigation finance by evaluating the legal merits of cases alongside financial risk and return. In that role, he evaluates case portfolios, assesses litigation risk, and identifies quality investment opportunities. Through interviews, speaking engagements, and podcasting, Matt regularly speaks on litigation finance, mass tort strategy, law firm growth, and the intersection of law, business, and capital markets.

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Joseph DunnManaging Director Fortress Investment Group

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Joseph Dunn

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CO-CIO LEGAL ASSETS, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP Mr. Dunn is a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group, and Co-CIO of the Fortress Legal Assets business. Mr. Dunn is based in New York and focuses on litigation and legal process related debt and structured equity transactions, including serving on the boards of several legal services companies. Prior to joining Fortress in 2016, Mr. Dunn was a litigator at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig LLP. At both firms, Mr. Dunn represented parties in disputes in U.S. state and federal courts, primarily in securities cases. Mr. Dunn received his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

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Fred FabricantManaging Partner Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos

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Fred Fabricant

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MANAGING PARTNER, FABRICANT RUBINO LAMBRIANAKOS Alfred R. Fabricant (Fred) is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent, copyright, trademark and unfair competition matters. Fred has litigated patent infringement cases in district courts throughout the United States for both patent owners and defendants including cases in the most active courts in Delaware, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida. His cases have involved a large variety of technologies including automotive, semiconductor, audio processing, LED lighting and displays, smartphone handsets, medical devices, electronic ratings systems, copy protection and anti-piracy technology, NFC and radio frequency identification systems, robotic systems, memory and storage devices, software, internet-related method and system patents, universal remote control devices, and optical systems and methods. According to “The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners” published by the IAM1000: “clients say they cannot imagine working with anyone better, hailing (Fabricant’s) outstanding skills of presentation and persuasion in the courtroom.” Fred has represented clients in patent matters before the International Trade Commission. He has also appeared in more than 100 inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Fred has argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal, Second and Fourth Circuits where he has represented both appellants and appellees in a variety of matters. Since 2008. Fred has handled a large number of cases that have been financed, in whole or in part, by litigation funders. He has also represented litigation funds as outside diligence counsel and is frequently recommended by litigation funders to claimants for both lead counsel representation in litigation as well as for IPR work before the PTAB. In addition to his litigation experience, Fred routinely acts as a legal counselor and advisor in the negotiation and drafting of patent, trademark and copyright license agreements, joint venture and funding agreements, and other business contracts. Fred also specializes in IP due diligence, freedom to operate analyses and strategies for the management and monetization of IP portfolios, a topic on which he has lectured extensively over the past decade. He advises clients on portfolio acquisitions and development, licensing and enforcement strategies, and litigation financing options. EducationThe University of Illinois Chicago Law School, J.D. (with highest distinction)The University of Miami (magna cum laude) AdmissionsNew YorkArizona

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Rachel S. FleishmanPartner Reid Collins Tsai

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Rachel S. Fleishman

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PARTNER, REID COLLINS TSAI

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David GialanellaEditor-in-Chief Business of Law and The American Lawyer

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David Gialanella

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS OF LAW AND THE AMERICAN LAWYER David Gialanella is Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer and Business of Law team at Law.com, where he has spent 16 years in various content team roles. He oversees the Am Law 100/200 and other key Law.com content packages, and leads the Law.com Pro and Law.com Pro Mid-Market platforms. He previously wrote for the ABA Journal and Chicago Sun-Times News Group. He holds master’s degrees from Medill School of Journalism and Pritzker Law at Northwestern University.

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Kiley GrombacherFounding Partner Bradley/Grombacher LLP

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Kiley Grombacher

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FOUNDING PARTNER, BRADLEY/GROMBACHER LLP Kiley L. Grombacher is a co-founding partner at Bradley/Grombacher LLP, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation, including consumer and employment class actions, product liability, personal injury, and pharmaceutical mass torts. With a passion for representing vulnerable individuals wronged by corporate negligence, she has secured numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements, with a strong focus on advocating for women and children. She has led high-profile lawsuits against major global corporations, including Amazon, Pfizer, Roblox, and Epic Games to protect employee rights, drug safety, and consumer privacy.Consistently recognized by her peers for legal excellence, Ms. Grombacher has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer. She is the founder of the Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) and maintains active memberships in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

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Paul B. HaskelPartner Crowell & Moring

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Paul B. Haskel

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PARTNER, CROWELL & MORING Paul B. Haskel is co-chair of Crowell’s Financial Services group and a partner in the New York office. Paul is a highly regarded advisor in the area of litigation finance, and a sought after commentator on litigation finance market trends, including in Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, Litigation Finance Journal, andValueWalk. He regularly represents litigation finance leaders in some of the industry’s most significant matters, including complex international deals. Paul advises litigation funders, private equity firms, and multi-strategy hedge fund clients in connection with their investments in funding transactions, including claims monetization and the provision of non-recourse capital to both plaintiffs and law firms. His work includes the diligence, structuring, and papering of these transactions, as well as advice on the management of credit risk, tax efficiency, state common law issues such as champerty and usury, and legal ethics.

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Ellen HollomanPartner Kaplan Martin

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ELLEN HOLLOMAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN MARTIN Ellen Holloman is a partner at litigation boutique Kaplan Martin. She represents financial institutions, corporations and individuals in civil litigation, arbitrations and at trial, in related regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate internal investigations and, where consistent with client goals, mediation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. In addition to her civil litigation and trial practice, Ellen has significant experience with white-collar criminal defense matters, and has represented clients responding to regulatory inquires, requests and enforcement proceedings. Ellen has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation and Lawdragon, among others, and has been selected as a two-time Notable Black Leader and Executive by Crain’s New York.

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William IsaacsonPartner Dunn Isaacson Rhee

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WILLIAM ISAACSON

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PARTNER, DUNN ISAACSON RHEE Bill Isaacson, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee, is widely considered one of the preeminent trial lawyers of his generation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners across three categories, he was named “Litigator of the Year” in 2016 and “Litigator of the Week” three times by The American Lawyer. Bill has tried cases spanning contract, commercial torts, copyright, international arbitration, and antitrust. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in major antitrust litigations and has tried more federal antitrust class actions this century than any other lawyer—each a major victory. Bill has been recognized in the Lawdragon 500 (each of the last 10 years), two Law360 “Competition MVP” titles, Forbes “America’s Top Lawyers,” and Legal 500 “Hall of Fame Lawyer.”

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Samuel IssacharoffBonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law NYU Law

Sarah JohnsonHead of Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Sarah Johnson

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HEAD OF LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Sarah Johnson serves as head of the Litigation Investing team within the D. E. Shaw group’s Private Credit investment unit. The Litigation Investing team provides financing solutions to law firms, plaintiffs, and other parties involved in commercial litigation. Ms. Johnson joined the D. E. Shaw group in 2006 as an analyst primarily working on distressed credit-related investments, including restructurings, opportunities in stressed equities, litigation plays (including monetizing litigation assets), and bankruptcy liquidations. She has led the Litigation Investing team since its formation in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Johnson was an associate in the restructuring and finance group of the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Ms. Johnson graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in economics and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a managing editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and James Kent Scholar.

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Robert KaplanPartner Kaplan Fox

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ROBERT KAPLAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN FOX ROBERT N. KAPLAN is widely recognized as a leading plaintiff’s litigator and has led the prosecution of numerous Antitrust and securities class actions and individual actions, recovering billions of dollars for the victims of corporate wrongdoing. He was recently listed by defense and corporate counsel as one of the top 75 plaintiffs’ attorneys in the United States for all disciplines and has also been ranked as one of the top attorneys in the United States for securities litigation by Legal 500. Mr. Kaplan was recognized as Super Lawyer in the New York Metro Area. Mr. Kaplan sits on the boards of several organizations, including the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, Board of Directors of the Carver Center in Port Chester, N.Y., Member of the Dana Farber Visiting Committee, Thoracic Oncology in Boston, MA, and Member of Board of Trustees for the Rye Historical Society.

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Ankur KapoorPartner Constantine Cannon

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Ankur Kapoor

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PARTNER, CONSTANTINE CANNON Ankur Kapoor is a partner at Constantine Cannon, with 25 years of experience in antitrust litigation. Most recently, Ankur has been co-lead counsel on behalf of a certified class of video-game publishers in In re Valve Antitrust Litigation, pending in Seattle federal court, as well as a member of the team representing over 60 major corporations in their credit- and debit-card swipe-fee antitrust action against Visa and Mastercard.  Ankur was also lead counsel for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) in a class action alleging price fixing of passenger airfares following a resolved Department of Justice investigation. Ankur is ranked in Chambers U.S.A. for “Antitrust-Mostly Plaintiff” and in U.S. News Best Lawyers for Antitrust Law & Litigation. He has also been named to Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders. Ankur currently serves as the Technology Officer of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section.

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Chris KercherFounder Kercher Law

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Chris Kercher

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FOUNDER, KERCHER LAW

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Stephen KimChief Legal Office & General Counsel Avicanna

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Stephen Kim

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CHIEF LEGAL OFFICE & GENERAL COUNSEL, AVICANNA Stephen is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Avicanna USA Inc., and responsible for all legal, regulatory, IP/tech, compliance, and human resources matters for Avicanna and its subsidiaries globally. Avicanna is a publicly traded commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with sales/operations in twenty-three countries. Prior to Avicanna, Stephen held roles of increasing responsibility at various publicly traded pharma/biotech and technology companies and practiced law with leading US and International law firms in New York and Toronto. Stephen graduated with a US law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (JD, 1997) and a Canadian law degree from the University of Windsor (LLB, 1997)

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Jason LevinePartner Foley & Lardner

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Evan Meyerson

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FOLEY & LARDNER Jason Levine is an antitrust and commercial litigation partner at Foley & Lardner LLP in Washington, D.C. He has over 25 years of first-chair experience, representing corporate plaintiffs and defendants in enterprise-risk disputes, including prior roles as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins, and Alston & Bird. From 2022-25, Jason spent nearly four years as an Investment Manager at Omni Bridgeway, one of the world’s largest commercial litigation finance firms. He originated and managed investments involving billion-dollar antitrust and business disputes and directed the company’s U.S. antitrust strategy. Complementing his litigation practice at Foley, Jason also serves as a trusted counselor to parties and funders on funding-related matters, and helps plaintiff-side clients explore potential non-recourse financing for their matters. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Jason clerked for Judge Randall Rader on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Claudia LinaresFounder & CEO Fortalea Advisory

Stephen MedlockPartner Vinson & Elkins

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Stephen Medlock

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PARTNER, VINSON & ELKINS Steve Medlock is an experienced antitrust litigator who brings dedication, intensity, and commercial common sense to his representations of Fortune 500 clients, whether navigating through complex multidistrict class actions or successfully defending clients in grand jury investigations. Clients place their trust in Steve to develop unique and complex antitrust arguments for both defendants and plaintiffs. Steve’s unique mix of plaintiff and defense-side experience allows him to see the issues that exclusive defense-sided practitioners miss in a full range of antitrust matters, including corporate counseling, internal investigations, civil non-merger and criminal cartel investigations, and litigation. In these areas, Steve is known for providing practical advice that business executives can digest. Steve has secured victories for clients in major antitrust class actions and B2B antitrust cases alleging monopolization and attempted monopolization at critical stages, including winning dismissal prior to discovery and prevailing at summary judgment. His depositions and briefs have been quoted in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Politico. Steve is a recognized as a part of the next generation of leadership in the antitrust bar. He currently serves as one of the editors of the forthcoming draft of the tenth edition of Antitrust Law Developments, the preeminent desk reference for antitrust lawyers.

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Brian MeltonPartner Susman Godfrey

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Brian Melton

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PARTNER, SUSMAN GODFREY Brian Melton is a nationally recognized lead trial lawyer who regularly tries and wins bet-the-company cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. He sits on the Executive Committee at Susman Godfrey – the nation’s premier litigation boutique – and the only law firm where he has practiced since graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law School and clerking for Federal District Court Judge Tom Stagg. Melton has secured several momentous wins throughout his career and has established himself as trusted counsel and a sought-out trial lawyer for clients and colleagues alike. In fact, a streak of three trial wins in an 18-month period led the National Law Journal to name him a “Winning Litigator” in 2017. Landmark Wins Melton’s landmark victory for Beats headphone designer, Steven Lamar, in a nationally followed breach of contract lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics over the design of the now iconic beats headphones was covered from coast to coast, with outlets such as New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter, NY Daily News, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict for Lamar in California federal court. Melton later spent time convincing the Judge to double the value of the judgment to $52 million – at which point Apple settled the case for a confidential amount. Law360 featured the story in their “How They Won It” series and The Recorder also ran a feature story on Melton and his significant role in this case. Later that year, Melton won an injunction for pro bono client Team Fuerza, a local Hispanic soccer team, which was being railroaded out of the giant United Premier Soccer League. Melton got the team back in the league and received an apology from the UPSL President. Unique Background Notably, Melton is a West Point graduate, who served as an infantry officer, attaining the rank of captain. While serving his country, Melton commanded two platoons, and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division. Melton graduated as the Honor Graduate of Ranger School, the Army’s elite leadership training course.

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Chandra MetzlerManaging Partner & Co-Founder CM Squared

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Chandra Metzler

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MANAGING PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, CM SQUARED Chandra Reddy Metzler co-founded CM Squared in 2017. She a Managing Partner with responsibility for all aspects of the business. As a family office and an independent sponsor, CM Squared distinguishes itself by structuring creative transactions that encourage optimal outcomes, align incentives and mitigate undesired risks. Litigation funding is a core strategy for the firm. Prior to CM Squared, Ms. Metzler was Head of Strategic Development for QVT Financial, a multi-billion dollar global alternative investment firm. In this role, she had overall responsibility for investor relations, capital raising and product development. She was also a member of the firm’s Risk Committee. Before joining QVT in 2013, Ms. Metzler was president of the financial lines division at AIG for the U.S. and Canada, leading a business with over $2 billion in revenue and over 500 employees. Prior to AIG, Ms. Metzler had various roles of increasing responsibility and revenue generation in capital markets, banking and investment research at Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan. Ms. Metzler earned her bachelor’s degree at Brown University in Economics, with honors, and Development Studies. She has a master’s degree in Economics from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While a graduate student, Ms. Metzler was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

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Evan MeyersonManaging Director Burford Capital

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Evan Meyerson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL Managing Director, Burford CapitalEvan Meyerson is a Managing Director who leads Burford’s US commercial investment team, with responsibility for overseeing the underwriting, origination, and portfolio management functions.Prior to joining Burford, Evan was a litigator at Paul, Weiss and at Sullivan & Cromwell. His practice focused on complex civil litigation in federal and state court, antitrust, white collar defense, bankruptcy litigation, corporate internal investigations, and government investigations into sanctions, anti-money laundering, and accounting issues. Evan began his career as an analyst at Bain Capital, evaluating venture capital investment opportunities.Evan graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Editor of the Harvard National Security Journal. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. He clerked for the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

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Ian MillicanDirector, Investments Contingency Capital

Steven MoloFounding Partner MoloLamken

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Steven Molo

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FOUNDING PARTNER, MOLOLAMKEN Steven Molo, one of the country’s leading courtroom advocates, is a founding partner of the national litigation boutique MoloLamken LLP. He represents corporations, boards, funds, investors, inventors, and individuals in complex business litigation, white collar criminal matters, and IP litigation. His client base is international. Chambers and Partners calls him “fantastic in the courtroom,” “with lots of charisma,” a “fabulous courtroom litigator who lights up the room with his presence,” “very bright, imaginative, and creative in his approach to problems,” and “one of the most talented lawyers in the (New York) city.” Benchmark Litigation – which named him one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in America – calls him “revered,” “an outstanding advocate and fearless in court,” who “delivers the goods.” Legal 500 includes Mr. Molo on its elite list of Leading Trial Lawyers and calls him “a rockstar litigator; a great lawyer,” with “terrific knowledge of the courts and the law,” “a force to be reckoned with” who “really excels in the courtroom.” It says he is “smart, creative, responsive, knowledgeable, and engaging; he has an excellent mix of traits that set him apart from his peers.” For the past thirteen years he has been named to Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Molo began his career as a prosecutor in Chicago, and then practiced with Winston & Strawn, where he was a senior litigator and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He spent five years as a litigation partner with the Wall Street firm Shearman & Sterling before founding MoloLamken in October 2009. He is also a solicitor on the Roll of Attorneys of the Law Society of England and Wales, and an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

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John MorleyAugustus E. Lines Professor of Law Yale Law School

Andrew MutterEVP, Contingent Risk CAC Specialty

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Andrew Mutter

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EXECUTIVE VICE PRSIDENT, CAC SPECIALITY Andrew is an Executive Vice President at CAC Specialty and Leader of its Contingent Risk Insurance Practice, which has placed more than $5 billion in insurance coverage in the contingent risk markets. The team has received various accolades, including most recently the Business Insurance Innovation award for its work developing new products to insure the core value of IP assets to reduce innovative companies’ cost of capital.Andrew’s practice focuses on crafting bespoke solutions for Contingent Risk Insurance, providing strategic certainty around both contingent legal assets and contingent legal liabilities. On the basis of these policies, the Contingent Risk team help clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity, release hundreds of millions of dollars from escrow, and facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of debt restructuring and refinancing.As a lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Andrew gained significant insurance recovery experience successfully litigating over half a billion dollars in D&O and E&O claims on behalf of financial institutions. Andrew has extensive experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, business torts, and healthcare related investigations and business disputes.Andrew earned his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He is also a former Teach For America teacher, with four years of experience in public education.

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Michael NicolasCo-Founder & Managing Director Longford Capital

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Michael Nicolas

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONGFORD CAPITAL Mike is responsible for the portfolio management of Longford Capital, including underwriting, investment selection, and overseeing the efforts of independent attorneys and other professionals as part of Longford Capital’s due diligence process. He is an accomplished attorney with more than 15 years of experience representing a wide array of corporate clients involved in complex litigation throughout the United States, including trial experience in the commercial litigation departments of two prominent national law firms, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP and Gardner, Carton & Douglas, LLP (n/k/a Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP). Mike is a frequent speaker on commercial litigation finance, and has presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He is an honors graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Business and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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Ryan PhairPartner Paul Hastings

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Ryan Phair

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Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings Ryan Phair is co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition practice of Paul Hastings. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate whose practice focuses on complex antitrust litigation and investigations. On behalf of plaintiffs, he has successfully recovered over $1 billion for his antitrust clients. On behalf of defendants, Ryan has an equally remarkable track record of success spanning dozens of complex cases, investigations and enforcement actions.

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Byron ReevesPaul C. Edwards Professor of Communication Stanford University

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Byron Reeves

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PAUL C. EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Elena S. ReyPartner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations Brown Rudnick

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Elena S. Rey

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PARTNER, HEAD OF LITIGATION FUNDING & CO-HEAD OF EUROPEAN SPECIAL SITUATIONS, BROWN RUDNICK Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Ruth RizkallaPartner The Carlson Law Firm

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RUTH RIZKALLA

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PARTNER, THE CARLSON LAW FIRM Ruth’s experience in complex litigation has given her a unique edge in strategizing and litigating cases of systemic minor sex abuse that require significant foresight and familiarity with advanced legal principles. She has leadership background in complex and mass torts litigations and has represented injured victims involving defective products and dangerous drugs and devices. Ruth has spent her over two-decade career representing those injured through severe negligent acts of large corporations. She has served in numerous leadership positions in several coordinated complex and mass tort proceedings, and has spoken and presented at multiple conferences and seminars.

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SHAYNA E. SACKSPartner Napoli Shkolnik

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Shayna E. Sacks

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NAPOLI SHKOLNIK PARTNER, PUBLIC CLIENT GROUP Ms. Sacks provides experienced representation to individuals, communities, local and state governments in multiple mass torts, including healthcare litigation, defective pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, the opioid crisis, and complex environmental & emerging contaminant litigation. She has served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on product liability multi-district litigations.

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Ed ScanlanCEO & Founder Bridge Legal

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Ed Scanlan

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CEO & FOUNDERBRIDGE LEGAL Ed Scanlan is a serial entrepreneur and litigation technology pioneer who transforms plaintiff-side legal portfolios into scalable, high-yield, risk-adjusted investments for capital partners. As Founder & CEO of Bridge Legal, Ed built a proprietary, AI-driven operating system that gives law firms and funders complete transparency from lead inception to filing—integrating case validation, workflow automation, and analytics to deliver 10x productivity gains and faster time-to-liquidity on funded matters. The platform empowers firms to capture market share at scale while enabling funders to deploy capital with unprecedented precision and control. Previously, Ed founded Total Attorneys, scaling it from startup to $30M+ recurring revenue without outside capital, earning spots on the Inc. 500, Crain’s Fast 50, and induction into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Inc.. Ed partners with leading litigation funders to co-create portfolios with exceptional merit profiles, predictable outcomes, and durable returns—aligning capital efficiency with access to justice.

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Jennifer ScullionPartner SeegerWeiss

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Jennifer Scullion

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PARTNER, SEEGERWEISS Jen Scullion is a partner at Seeger Weiss, where she leads or co-leads the firm’s work in antitrust and related consumer matters for classes and for direct action (opt out) plaintiffs. She currently serves as a member of the Direct Action Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the MultiPlan antitrust MDL, co-lead for Seeger Weiss’s work for the Direct Purchasers in the Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation, and Co-Chair of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Provider Track in the Change Healthcare Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, in addition to leading or co-leading the firm’s work in the Copaxone, “Proteins”, Fragrance, and Liquid Aluminum Sulfate antitrust matters. Jen has also co-led the firm’s work in the National Prescription Opioids and Socal Media Adolescent Addiction cases on behalf of local government and school districts. Jen is the co-author of the treatise New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act: Practice and Procedure (2026).

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Jonathan SelbinSenior Partner Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

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Jonathan Selbin

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SENIOR PARTNER, LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN Jonathan D. Selbin is a senior partner in the New York office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where he has practiced for over 30 years, and a long-time member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has led complex consumer protection, defective products, and sex abuse class action lawsuits in courts around the country against many of the world’s largest corporations and institutions. Together, cases in which Jonathan played a lead role have resulted in court-approved class action settlements with a combined total cash payout to class members in excess of $3.5 billion, plus other relief such as extended and enhanced warranties and implementation of best-practices institutional reforms. He has extensive appellate experience, having argued in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, as well as before state supreme and appellate courts. Jonathan is a leader in the firm’s funding of international consumer protection cases on multiple continents.

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Victoria Shannon SahaniProfessor of Law Boston University School of Law

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Victoria Shannon Sahani

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PROFESSOR OF LAW, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Victoria Shannon Sahani is the Associate Provost for Community and Inclusion at Boston University and a Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law. She previously served as Associate Dean of Faculty Development / Special Projects and Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She started her teaching career and was promoted to Associate Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Associate Provost Sahani is an internationally recognized legal scholar in domestic and international arbitration law and third-party litigation funding law. She is an award-winning teacher and serves as an independent arbitrator, consultant, and expert witness. In addition to publishing numerous book chapters, law review articles, and essays, she co-authored the book Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration (Wolters Kluwer, 1st and 2d ed.) (with Lisa Bench Nieuwveld), the first book in the world on this topic. She is the immediate past Chair of the Academic Council for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Chair-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on International Law, a Counsellor of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), an Elected Member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and an American Bar Foundation (ABF) Fellow. Before joining academia, Associate Provost Sahani worked at the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and practiced law at Pillsbury. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard College and is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia.

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Emily SiegelSenior Reporter Bloomberg Law

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Emily Siegel

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SENIOR REPORTER, BLOOMBERG LAW Emily Siegel is a senior reporter with Bloomberg Law. She covers litigation finance and writes about anything affecting or intersecting with the industry. She previously worked for NBC News as an investigative reporter. She earned a master’s degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

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Ryan StephenCo-Founder & Managing Partner Pine Valley Capital Partners

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Ryan Stephen

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, PINE VALLEY CAPITAL PARTNERS Mr. Stephen has led, originated, and managed more than $2.5B in private financing transactions since 2009. Prior to co-founding Pine Valley Capital Partners, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Trinity Environmental Services, an oilfield waste management company operating across Texas and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, he originated, structured, and managed private credit investments in the energy sector with Guggenheim Partners in Houston. Mr. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Abilene Christian University and has extensive experience structuring complex transactions across multiple industries.

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Kelsey StokesSenior Attorney The Lanier Law Firm

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Ryan Stephen

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SENIOR ATTORNEY, THE LANIER LAW FIRM Kelsey Stokes is recognized as a national leader in mass personal injury litigation. Kelsey practices primarily in the areas of mass tort litigation, products liability, and complex commercial litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in multiple Hernia Mesh MDLs (Multi-District Litigation) at the federal level and 3 MCLs (Multi-County Litigation) in New Jersey, the home of Johnson & Johnson, Kelsey has spent countless hours fighting for victims of defective medical devices, ensuring their voices are heard and their suffering acknowledged. Her leadership in the litigation against C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson has not only changed lives but has also set a precedent for women in leadership roles within the legal industry. Kelsey is currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the second largest MDL in the country (MDL No. 2846, In re Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio). Appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in 2018, the MDL has over 23,000 cases consolidated there. Kelsey served as lead trial counsel for the three bellwether cases tried in MDL 2846. In 2024, as Lead Settlement Counsel for the Bard Hernia Mesh MDL, Kelsey Stokes successfully negotiated a path to resolution for over 30,000 plaintiffs. Kelsey currently serves as Administering Counsel for the Bard resolution and spends countless hours guiding plaintiffs’ lawyers across the country. In addition to her leadership roles at the federal level, Kelsey Stokes was appointed to lead three New Jersey state court consolidated actions against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc.: MCL 627, In re Physiomesh Litigation; MCL 630, In Re: Proceed Mesh Litigation; and MCL 633, In re Prolene Hernia System Mesh Litigation. Kelsey was also elected Co‑Chair of the American Association for Justice Hernia Mesh Litigation Group by her peers, where she has served for over seven years. In addition to her responsibilities with the hernia mesh litigation, Kelsey was also appointed to the Phenylephrine Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. She serves as Science & Expert Committee Co-Chair, as well as a Discovery Co-Chair for the litigation. Prior to leading the hernia mesh docket, Attorney Kelsey Stokes played an integral role in litigating transvaginal mesh cases to a successful resolution. Her work in the various transvaginal mesh MDLs gave her a wealth of knowledge overlapping with the knowledge required to successfully litigate hernia mesh cases. Kelsey has regular speaking engagements, sharing the knowledge she has gained managing MDLs as well as studying the science and legal issues applicable to medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. Through the course of her career, Kelsey has taken hundreds of depositions, including depositions of corporate witnesses, expert witnesses, and treating physicians. Kelsey has also defended the leading experts in their fields as well as hundreds of plaintiffs injured by various medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. She regularly argues at hearings throughout the country and coordinates large-scale briefing on behalf of the MDLs she leads. Early in her career, Kelsey managed a large GranuFlo docket from case filing to resolution, successfully navigating clients through the settlement claims process. In addition to the above litigations, Kelsey Stokes performed considerable work on the Wright Hip and Accutane Litigations as well as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), in which she was trial counsel in the first TRT trial in Cook County, Illinois in 2017. Kelsey’s practice also includes complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, and arbitration, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts. Examples include arbitrations where she represented healthcare providers in contractual and payment disputes with insurers; a massive Ponzi scheme; and an off-shore commercial oil dispute. Attorney Kelsey Stokes’s experience also extends to catastrophic aviation accidents. Education & Memberships Kelsey Stokes earned a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she served as Chief Managing Editor of the Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law. Kelsey is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Circuits. She is a member of the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

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Will WeismanDirector – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel Parabellum Capital

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Will Weisman

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DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CORPORATE COUNSEL, PARABELLUM CAPITAL Will Weisman leads Parabellum Capital’s commercial litigation investment strategy. He originates, structures, and manages commercial litigation investments across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. Before joining Parabellum, Will was a senior member of the investment team at litigation financier Therium Capital Management. Earlier in his career, he practiced complex commercial litigation at Proskauer Rose LLP, one of the nation’s premier law firms, and later joined Liberty International Underwriters, a global insurance company. Will frequently writes and speaks on litigation finance, regulatory developments, and other issues affecting the legal industry. He earned a B.A., with honors, from the University of Maryland and a J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as an editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. Will also worked as a law clerk extern for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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Leanne WilsonManaging Director Contingency Capital

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Leanne Wilson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINGENCY CAPITAL 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).

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R. Brent WisnerManaging Partner Wisner Baum

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R. Brent Wisner

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MANAGING PARTNER, WISNER BAUM 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 winning significant verdicts and settlements for his clients. Over the last several years, Brent has served on the plaintiff’s leadership for multiple mass torts, earned jury verdicts worth a combined $2.427 billion, and helped negotiate settlements in excess of $1 billion—all before the age of 40. While success in the courtroom is often measured exclusively by dollars and cents, Brent’s legal work has led to changes in business practices that will protect people and the environment for generations. Hundreds of media publications across the globe have asked for his perspective on a variety of pressing legal issues.

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Thomas WhitePartner Sullivan Cromwell

Hon. Freda L. WolfsonFormer Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Lowenstein Sandler

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Hon. Freda L. Wolfson

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FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, PARTNER & CHAIR, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Honorable Freda L. Wolfson (ret.) rejoined Lowenstein Sandler after a decades long career in the federal judiciary, including as Chief Judge of the U.S.District Court for the District of New Jersey. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, special master appointments in federal and state courts, including multidistrict litigations (MDL), servingas an expert, monitorships, internal investigations, and presiding over mock trials and oral arguments. Judge Wolfson leads the firm’s ADR practice, leveraging her judicial experience managing complex commercial cases to help clients achieve satisfactoryresolutions on a wide variety of civil and regulatory issues. Since joining Lowenstein, Judge Wolfson has frequently served as a special master and mediator infederal and state civil actions, which typically involve high-stakes disputes, including, among others, data breaches, corporate divorces and securities matters;pre-litigation and pre-arbitration matters; and mass consumer mediations. Judge Wolfson also represents and consults pharmaceutical clients in patent-relatedmatters. Additionally, Judge Wolfson has served as a mock judge for parties in high profile cases involving patents and pharmaceutical product liability. Judge Wolfson was nominated to the District Court in 2002, ascending to the Chief Judge post in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as a U.S.Magistrate Judge for over 16 years, one of the few women and one of the youngest members of the district court in the nation. In 2014, she was appointed byU.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to represent the Third Circuit on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the MagistrateJudge System; she then served as Third Circuit District Judge Representative on the Judicial Conference of the United States. During her 36-year judicial tenure, Judge Wolfson authored thousands of opinions on issues such as securities litigations, shareholder derivative lawsuits,products liability, commercial transactions and financial fraud, civil rights, and constitutionality of federal and state statutes. She presided over a multitude ofcivil and criminal trials, including Hatch Waxman ANDA patent infringement cases; one of the largest excessive fees litigations associated with securities andmutual funds; employment discrimination matters; civil rights claims under section 1983; and white collar criminal cases. Judge Wolfson was also appointed by the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Panel to oversee some of the nation’s largest MDLs, including In re Johnson & JohnsonTalcum Powder Prods. Mktg. Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., the second largest MDL in the country. She has extensive experience in complex discoverymatters and has successfully facilitated hundreds of settlements. Frequently recognized as a leader of the bar, Judge Wolfson has received such honors as the 2022 Donald A. Robinson Meritorious Service Award, the 2016Rutgers University Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award and the, 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Rutgers University School of Law, the 2012Inductee of the Associate Alumni of Douglas College–Society of Excellence, the 2013 Women in the Profession Section’s Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Award forDistinguished Service and Excellence, and the 2008 Women’s Initiative & Leaders in Law Platinum Award from New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Additionally, Judge Wolfson was selected as an American Bar Foundation Fellow.Upon her graduation from law school, Judge Wolfson initially practiced litigation at Lowenstein.

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Boris ZiserGlobal Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets McDermott Will & Schulte

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Boris Ziser

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GLOBAL HEAD OF STRUCTURED FINANCE, CLOS AND ALTERNATIVE ASSETS, MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE Boris Ziser is McDermott’s Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He advises clients on asset-backed lending and securitization, warehouse facilities, secured financings, specialty finance lending, and other esoteric finance transactions. With more than 30 years of experience, he works across a wide range of asset classes, including life settlements, litigation funding, equipment leases, structured settlements, lottery receivables, timeshare loans, merchant cash advances, home equity investments (HEI), cell towers, intellectual property, insurance-related cash flows, and others. He also represents investors, lenders, hedge funds, private equity funds and finance companies in acquisitions and dispositions of asset portfolios, as well as financings secured by those portfolios.

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2026 agenda

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

OPENing day: tuesday, SEPTEMBER 15

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Opening Reception

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

7:30 – 8:45 AM: Registration & Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:30 AM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS - THE PRICE OF JUSTICE: KEN FEINBERG ON FUNDING, FAIRNESS AND RESOLUTION

In this timely conversation, Feinberg will share his perspective on how funding is reshaping pathways to resolution, what information matters in settlement negotiations, and what safeguards are needed to preserve trust as legal finance continues to mature. Kenneth R. Feinberg, Mediator & Arbitrator, Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg In discussion with Emily Siegel, Senior Reporter, Bloomberg Law

9:30 - 10:20 AM: STATE OF THE MARKET - LEGAL FINANCE 2026: THE MARKET SHIFTS DRIVING CAPITAL, STRATEGY AND DECISIONS

The economic, geopolitical, and regulatory forces reshaping legal finance in 2026The changing capital stack—how direct institutional entrants, banks, and new structures are reshaping competition and deploymentHow legal finance could evolve as capital becomes deeper, cheaper, and more specializedSpeakers: David Gialanella, Editor-in-Chief, Business of Law and The American Lawyer (moderator)Evan Meyerson, Managing Director, Burford CapitalMichael Nicolas, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Longford CapitalElena S. Rey, Partner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations, Brown RudnickRyan Stephen, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Pine Valley Capital Partners

10:20 – 10:50 AM: Networking Break

10:50 - 11:20 AM: FEATURED INTERVIEW - INSIDE THE SILICON VALLEY SUPER TRIAL: ELON MUSK V SAM ALTMAN

Steven Molo, Founding Partner, MoloLamken

11:00 - 12:30 PM: BOARDROOM - HOSTED BY TSEG

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

11:20 - 12:10 PM: THE DEALMAKERS’ RUNDOWN - REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS & THE SHIFTING RISK PROFILE

How state-by-state regulation is changing where, with whom, and on what terms legal finance deals can be doneThe impact on structuring, diligence, pricing, disclosure, and capital deployment across the marketHow firms, funders, and advisers can keep transactions moving as regulatory risk becomes a commercial riskSpeakers: Bryan F. Aylstock, Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & OverholtzVictoria Shannon Sahani, Professor of Law, Boston University School of LawHon. Freda L. Wolfson, Former Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lowenstein SandlerBoris Ziser, Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs & Alternative Assets, McDermott, Will, & Schulte

12:10 - 1:00 PM: IN PERSPECTIVE - VIEW FROM THE TOP: LAW FIRM LEADERS ON AI, MSOS & THE NEW BUSINESS OF LAW

How AI is changing law firm operations, decision-making, and client deliveryWhat growing investor interest and MSO models mean for ownership, control, and independenceHow firm leaders are reshaping their business models for the next era of legal practiceSpeakers: Ed Scanlan, CEO & Founder, Bridge Legal (moderator)Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three CrownsMelinda R. Coolidge, U.S. Managing Partner, HausfeldDavid Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer, ReedSmithKiley Grombacher, Founding Partner, Bradley/Grombacher

1:00 – 2:45 PM: Networking Lunch

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS MASS TORTS

IN FOCUS DEALMAKING

2:45 - 3:30 PM: SOLUTION CIRCLES - ABS & MSOs

As law firms explore external investment, ABS and MSO models are becoming one of the most consequential—and contested—developments in the US legal market. These facilitated, peer-to-peer working groups will examine: Regulation & structuring: navigating state-by-state restrictions on ownership, fee-sharing, management rights, and revenue modelsCapital & control: defining the boundary between commercial oversight and professional independenceThe commercial case: assessing whether external capital can deliver sustainable growth, stronger operations, and aligned long-term returnsCo-Facilitators: Matthew Dolman, Founding Partner, Dolman Law GroupShayna E. Sacks, Partner, Napoli ShkolnikR. Brent Wisner, Managing Partner, Wisner Baum

2:45 - 3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - FROM PARTNERS TO PARTING WAYS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEAL?

How firms and funders can manage performance, communication and changing expectations after a deal is completedWhat options are available when the relationship or funding structure no longer works, including refinancing and restructuringHow secondaries and other liquidity solutions can create an exit, transfer exposure or reset the parties’ positionsSpeakers: Kelly Daley, Principal & Founder, Celsia Capital (moderator)Megan Coleville, VP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant Rubino LambrianakosPaul B. Haskel, Partner, Crowell & Moring

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Networking Break

4:00 - 4:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - DEALING WITH FIRMS IN DISTRESS: REFINANCING VS RESTRUCTURING

When refinancing remains viable—and when deeper restructuring is requiredHow firms and funders can stabilise distress as timelines lengthen and assumptions changeWhat happens when recovery is no longer possible—and whether the market needs a formal frameworkSpeakers: Jeff Cohen, Partner and Managing Director, Contingency CapitalRuth Rizkalla, Partner, The Carlson Law Firm

4:00 - 4:45 PM: INSURANCE SPOTLIGHT - THE WIDESPREAD USE OF INSURANCE (AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JPIS…)

Why insurance is becoming integral to legal finance structures—and what capital providers now expect it to protectHow coverage, pricing, and insurer diligence are reshaping underwriting, economics, and capital deploymentWhat happened to JPI—and which products and risk-transfer models could define the market’s next phaseSpeakers: Tom Baker, William Maul Measey Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (moderator)Andrew Mutter, EVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty

4:00 - 5:30 PM: BOARDROOM - CORPORATE LITIGATION LEADERS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

4:45 - 5:30 PM: LAW FIRM PERSPECTIVES - TRANSPARENCY ON TRIAL: DATA, STANDARDS, & THE FUTURE OF MASS TORT REPORTING

What firms should report to capital providers—and which metrics genuinely inform decisionsCreating consistent definitions, validation standards, and accountability across portfoliosHow better reporting can strengthen trust, identify risk earlier, and improve funding relationshipsSpeakers: Samuel Issacharoff, Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU Law (moderator)Brooke Cohen, Founding and Managing Partner, Cohen HirschSteve Faries, Partner, Pulaski KherkherKelsey Stokes, Senior Attorney, The Lanier Law Firm

4:45 - 5:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - HOW TO EVALUATE AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAPITAL PARTNER

What separates a source of capital from a genuine strategic partnerHow to assess track record, flexibility, alignment, and execution—not just pricingWhere brokers and advisers add value in finding, diligencing, and negotiating with the right funderSpeakers: John Morley, Augustus E. Lines Professor of Law, Yale Law School (moderator)Cesar Bello, Partner, Director of Litigation Finance, Corbin Capital PartnersAlfonso Chan, Partner, CahillJonathan Selbin, Senior Partner, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein

9:00 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.

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Networking Reception & Close of Day One

DAY TWO: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

8:30 - 9:00 AM: Registration & Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Recap

9:15 - 9:45 AM: DATA DEEP DIVE - WHAT THE DATA TELLS US: LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO INVEST

Where investments made between 2017 and 2021 underperformed, and what investors learned from themWhich deal characteristics have been most closely associated with successful outcomesHow those lessons are changing underwriting, portfolio construction and capital deployment todaySpeakers: Joseph Dunn, Managing Director, Legal Assets Co-Chief Investment Officer, Fortress Investment GroupWill Weisman, Director – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel, Parabellum Capital

9:45 - 11:00 AM: PANEL DISCUSSION - UNLOCKING VALUE: THE RISE OF AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION

How law firms and corporations are identifying and pursuing affirmative litigation opportunitiesWhy potentially valuable claims are often overlooked, deprioritized or left undevelopedHow affirmative litigation can shift the legal function from managing exposure to creating strategic and financial valueSpeakers: William Isaacson, Partner, Dunn Isaacson Rhee (moderator)Ellen Holloman, Partner, Kaplan MartinStephen Kim, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Avicannaa

11:00 - 11:30 AM: Networking Break

11:30 AM – 3:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS LITIGATION FUNDERS

IN FOCUS LAW FIRMS

CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS

11:30 – 12:15 PM: MASTERCLASS - AI IN PRACTICE: FINDING AND FUNDING BETTER CASES

How AI is being used to identify potential claims, surface overlooked opportunities and build stronger case pipelinesWhere AI can improve early-stage assessment, diligence and underwriting—and which decisions still require experienced human judgmentWhat funders and firms need to get right on data quality, validation and implementation before AI can produce better investment outcomesSpeakers: Byron Reeves, Paul C. Edwards Professor of Communication, Stanford University (moderator)Chris Kercher, Founder, Kercher Law

11:30 – 12:15 PM: CASE STUDY - BUILDING A PLAINTIFF-SIDE PRACTICE

The strategic and commercial case behind Vinson & Elkins’ move into plaintiff-side litigationHow the firm built the practice: selecting opportunities, assembling the team and integrating contingency work into the wider businessWhat the firm has learned about economics, risk, culture and scaling—and what others should consider before following the same pathSpeakers: Stephen Medlock, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

11:30 - 1:00 PM: BOARDROOM - INSTITUTIONAL ALLOCATORS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

12:15 - 2:00 PM: Networking Lunch

2:00 - 2:45 PM: THE INVESTOR LENS - WHAT FUNDERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL IN A TIGHTER MARKET

Why institutional investors allocate capital to some litigation fund managers—and reject othersWhat allocators are really testing when they assess strategy, team, track record, pipeline and riskWhat can turn investor interest into a commitment—or cause an allocation to fall awaySpeakers: Chandra Metzler, Partner & Co-Founder, CM Squared (moderator)Mervin Burton, Partner, Head of Research, Beatrice Advisors

2:00 - 2:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - WHY GOOD CASES DON’T GET FUNDED

What funders are seeing in the market today, and how appetite, capacity and return expectations are shaping investment decisionsWhy apparently strong cases still fail to secure funding, from weak economics and incomplete diligence to poor strategic fitHow firms can present opportunities more effectively, with the evidence, analysis and commercial clarity funders need to reach a decisionSpeakers: Ankur Kapoor, Partner, Constantine Cannon (moderator)Debra Bogo-Ernst, Partner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice, Willkie Farr & GallagherSarah Johnson, Head of Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Ryan Phair, Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings

2:45 -3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - WHEN THE CASE TURNS: MANAGING APPEAL, ENFORCEMENT AND OUTCOME RISK

Why a major judgment may still be far from a realizable recovery—and the appellate, foreign-law, sovereign and enforcement risks that remain after trialHow claimant counsel, defence counsel and funders assess and stress-test those risks at different stages of a caseWhat happens when the legal or commercial assumptions underpinning a matter change—and how the parties can reset strategy, expectations and next steps without relying on hindsightSpeakers: Claudia Linares, Founder & CEO,Fortalea Advisory (moderator) Jason Levine, Partner, Foley & LardnerJennifer Scullion, Partner, SeegerWeissThomas White, Partner, Sullivan Cromwell

2:45 - 3:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - SKIN IN THE GAME: WHEN TO SELF-FUND, CO-FUND OR SHARE THE RISK

How to determine which matters to finance and when to bring in external capitalHow case economics, portfolio exposure, cash flow and risk appetite shape the choice between self-funding, co-funding and full risk transferLessons learned from funding structures that underperformed, became misaligned or failed to deliver the expected outcomeSpeakers: Suneal Bedi, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University (moderator)Robert Kaplan, Partner, Kaplan FoxBrian D. Melton, Partner, Susman Godfrey

9:00 AM – 3:30 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.

3:30 - 5:00 PM: Closing Reception

THANK YOU TO OUR

2026 SPONSORS & PARTNERS

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SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION

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2026 SPONSORS

Gold sponsorS

CAC is now part of The Baldwin Group. Together, we deliver greater specialization, expanded
capabilities, and deeper expertise to help clients navigate today’s evolving risk landscape. By
combining CAC’s industry and product expertise with Baldwin’s national platform and distribution
network, we provide seamless access to a full suite of risk management solutions. Our unified
team serves clients across retail, specialty, reinsurance (including London and Bermuda), and
MGA platforms.

Fabricant LLP is a dynamic IP litigation boutique with unparalleled success enforcing or defending patent infringement claims involving the most important and cutting-edge technologies. We are experts representing plaintiffs and defendants in all high-tech industries including, audio processing, smartphone, semiconductor, automotive, payments, computer hardware and software, LED displays and lights, GPS location services among many others. Fabricant LLP is regularly ranked among the most active U.S. law firms representing patent owners in the courts and before the PTAB where it has achieved win rates for defeating validity challenges far above the national average.

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.

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.

silver sponsorS

Brown Rudnick is a leading international law firm that provides exceptional, client-driven service in global litigation, crisis management, brand and reputation management, life sciences, technology, intellectual property, and litigation funding. Our lawyers have extensive experience leading high-profile cross-border matters and are recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Law360 for excellence.

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world.

Cathedral CPAs & Advisors helps litigation finance firms build the financial infrastructure needed to grow with confidence. We provide fractional CFO and controller services, back office solutions, strategic advisory, and comprehensive tax support, including preparation, structuring, and strategy. Our team works with leadership to improve reporting, strengthen controls, manage complexity, and support informed decision making. Clients gain experienced financial leadership, practical insight, and scalable support without the expense of building a full internal finance department.

Contingency Capital is a global asset management business focused on credit oriented legal assets. Contingency Capital was founded in November 2020 by Brandon Baer. We invest in legal assets where the primary driver of value is a legal, tax or regulatory process.

Our investment team is comprised of credit and distressed investors who are also former transactional attorneys and litigators. Collectively we have decades of multifaceted experience investing in legal assets.

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, and its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

The D. E. Shaw group is a global investment and technology development firm with more than $90 billion in investment and committed capital as of June 1, 2026, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Since our founding in 1988, we have earned an international reputation for successful investing based on innovation, careful risk management, and the quality and depth of our staff.

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.

MoloLamken is a law firm focused exclusively on representing clients in complex disputes. It handles civil, criminal, and regulatory matters, as well as appeals, across the United States. The firm’s clients span the globe. MoloLamken is involved in some of the most significant disputes of the day.

MoloLamken provides experienced advocacy – for claimants as well as defendants – before judges, juries, arbitral forums, and courts of appeals, including the Supreme Court of the United States. The firm also represents clients in regulatory and criminal investigations and conducts internal investigations.

Parabellum Capital is a leading financier of commercial and intellectual property litigation. Founded in 2012, its principals pioneered the commercial litigation funding market in the United States and remain on the forefront of shaping the asset class as the industry evolves. Parabellum’s team has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the commercial litigation arena, with a focus on structuring aligned transactions with claimholders and counsel.

BRONZE SPONSORs

Curiam Capital LLC is a private investment firm that provides financing for law firms and high-value litigation. Curiam invests in most types of commercial litigation in areas such as commercial business disputes, securities, antitrust, intellectual property, international arbitration, and bankruptcy and insolvency. Curiam’s team has decades of experience evaluating litigation claims and takes pride in making quick but well-informed investment decisions. Curiam funds both individual cases and portfolios of cases.

Eve Legal is the AI operating system that plaintiff law firms use across the entire case lifecycle to handle more cases, reduce time on desk, and increase settlement values. Over 1200 firms choose EveOS to grow faster and deliver stronger client outcomes.

One platform. Every partner relationship.

Lexamica is a full-service referral platform connecting lawyers across the country. Expand your network, strengthen relationships, and scale referral revenue with Lexamica.

Saul Ewing is a full-service, law firm with specialized practices in IP and Litigation Finance. Our attorneys advise litigation funders, investors, insurers and other clients by underwriting and analyzing litigation risks surrounding potential litigation claims, jury verdicts, case merits, and appeals of intellectual property, patent, trade secret, and commercial cases.

Media Partner

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. Through separate publications, we also cover the UK, Canadian and Australian insolvency markets (Insolvency Insider UK / Insolvency Insider Canada / Insolvency Insider Australia).

supporting organization

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

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Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is where the legal finance market comes together to do business. Bringing together senior leaders from law firms, funders, investors, corporates, insurers, and the wider disputes ecosystem, the Forum is designed to drive the relationships, partnerships, and commercial conversations that move deals forward. As the market matures and capital becomes more selective, LF Dealmakers goes beyond theory to focus on how capital is actually being deployed, partnerships structured, and opportunities executed in practice. Our value lies in convening the full legal finance ecosystem in one place — connecting those originating claims, deploying capital, structuring opportunities, and driving disputes forward. The result is a highly focused environment for meaningful conversations, strategic alignment, and real dealmaking.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with relevant participants

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for real conversations

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

21+ focused sessions tackling capital deployment, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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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 portfoliosUnderstand how funders assess risk, structure deals, and price opportunities in a more selective marketBenchmark your funding and growth strategy against leading claimant firms across EuropeExplore alternative fee arrangements, portfolio models, and firm-level financing strategiesAccess investors and advisors to support expansion, case development, and balance sheet managementStay ahead of how capital is reshaping litigation strategy, firm economics, and competitive positioning

Funders

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 typesBenchmark your underwriting, portfolio construction, and deployment strategies against leading fundersUnderstand how law firms are structuring, packaging, and presenting opportunities in today’s marketAccess origination partners, co-investment opportunities, and new distribution channelsExplore emerging asset classes, including ESG, securities, and cross-border collective actionsStay ahead of regulatory developments, capital flows, and structural shifts impacting returns

Investors

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 strategiesAccess funders, law firms, and platforms originating and managing opportunitiesEvaluate risk, return profiles, and structuring approaches across jurisdictions and asset typesExplore entry points into legal finance, including co-investment, private credit, and secondary marketsBenchmark allocation strategies against other institutional investorsStay ahead of how capital is flowing into and shaping the legal finance market

Insurers

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 disputesExplore opportunities to partner with funders and law firms on risk transfer and capital solutionsBenchmark underwriting approaches, pricing models, and emerging insurance productsAccess key stakeholders originating and structuring large-scale claims and portfoliosExplore how insurance can enhance capital efficiency, mitigate downside, and support deal structuresStay ahead of trends in claims, portfolios, and structured risk across jurisdictions

Claimants & Corporations

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 exposureExplore strategies for pursuing complex, cross-border, and high-value disputesAccess funders, law firms, and advisors to structure and execute claims effectivelyBenchmark your approach against leading corporates and claimant groups across EuropeUnderstand how funding impacts control, governance, and outcomesStay ahead of how disputes are being originated, financed, and executed in today’s market

Secure Your Seat

REGISTER TODAY

Companies Attending Include:

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

VENUE & Accommodations

eventi & second

Experience the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers in Manhattan’s Chelsea district. This year, the forum returns to the sophisticated Kimpton Hotel Eventi (851 6th Avenue) and the adjoining SECOND event space (849 6th Avenue), together occupying an entire NYC city block. With sleek modern design, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, both venues offer breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline — the perfect setting for high-level networking, dealmaking, and strategic discussion. A limited number of premium rooms at Kimpton Hotel Eventi are available at a special rate of $649++ 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 registrant.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

Where will the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum be held?

The 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be held on September 15-17, 2025 at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND event space. This event is colocated with our 3rd LF Mass Torts event. You may find additional information regarding the venue on our Venue page.

How do I register for the event?

Registration for the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be open soon.

What's included with my registration?

All registered attendees will have access to the following: Admission to main conferenceNetworking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptionsOnline event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messagingRecorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

Why does my registration need to be approved?

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.

What criteria do you look for when reviewing 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.

How long will it take to review my registration?

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

Why was my registration declined or waitlisted?

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.

How do I pay my registration fees?

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.

How do I sponsor or get involved in the event?

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.

How do I submit a speaking proposal?

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.

How do you select topics and speakers?

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.

How do I schedule my 1:1 meetings?

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.

Who can schedule 1:1 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.

What is your refund policy if I need to cancel my registration?

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.

Can I send my colleague if I cannot make it?

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.

Who can I contact regarding a question or concern?

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

Forum
2026-11-02 - 2026-11-04 | Austin, Austin, TX, United States
SEPTEMBER 15-17, 2026

Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND | NEW YORK

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About The Event

WHERE CAPITAL, CLAIMS, AND STRATEGY MEET

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum returns to New York in September 2026, bringing together the funders, law firms, investors, corporates and specialist advisors driving the next phase of legal finance. Now in its ninth year, LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is the flagship meeting point for senior decision-makers across legal finance. The 2026 program focuses on the market questions shaping capital formation, deployment, regulation, liquidity, law firm strategy, AI, insurance and the evolving firm-funder relationship. Co-located with LF Dealmakers Mass Torts, the Forum creates a unique platform connecting the full legal finance ecosystem under one roof — from commercial litigation and plaintiff firms to institutional capital and strategic partners. The result is a highly connected environment built around originating relationships, accessing opportunities, and driving real commercial outcomes.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT

LF Dealmakers by the numbers

275+

DecisionMakers

160+

AttendingCOMPANIES

300+

one to onemettings

50+

EXPERT SPEAKERS

10+

Hours of dedicated networking

What’s Shaping The Agenda in 2026

Focused sessions

Tackling capital formation, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms shaping the future of legal finance

Dedicated content streams

Tailored tracks for mass torts, litigation funders, and law firms designed to deliver a more personalised and relevant experience across the legal finance ecosystem

Market-leading plenaries and keynotes

Exploring the forces reshaping legal finance, capital deployment, regulation, and law firm strategy

New interactive formats

Including masterclasses, deep dives, Dealmakers’ rundowns, and practical case studies designed for actionable insight

New closed-door boardrooms

Designed for deeper, candid conversations among senior industry leaders and decision-makers

Dedicated 1:1 meetings platform

Facilitating targeted introductions, strategic partnerships, and business opportunities

view full Agenda

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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100percent

ROI rated very good to excellent

100percent

Would highly recommend to a colleague

98percent

1:1 Meetings were rated very good to excellent

"LF Dealmakers is our must attend litigation finance conference in New York each year. The attendees are well-curated, the speakers are experienced and compelling, and the event is impeccably organized."

— Molly Pease | Curiam Capital

"I had been told that LF Dealmakers is the best litigation finance conferences there is. After having spent two days listening to panels of experts and conveniently meeting with folks, I can understand why. I plan to be back next year."

— Marc Carmel | McDonald Hopkins

"LF Dealmakers is a go-to event for litigation finance. Dealmakers Forums runs an excellent program, which is always informative, well-organized, and attracts a good cross-section from the industry and beyond."

— Zachary Krug | NorthWall Capital

"LF Dealmakers is one of the very best conferences dedicated to the litigation finance industry. It is an incredibly well-run event, and brings together a broad range of attendees, including prominent litigation funders, law firms, investors, clients, academics, and media. The content is excellent, and the networking opportunities are second to none."

— Michael Nicolas | Longford Capital

"The Dealmakers team has put together yet another successful, informative, and productive litigation finance conference! LF Dealmakers continues to lead the industry in bringing together top talent and shaping the growth of this market."

— Rebecca Berrebi | Avenue 33, LLC

"As a first time attendee and speaker, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but LF Dealmakers exceeded my expectations. The room was full of relevant and high-level people and the conference was organized to make connections."

— Peter Buckley | Fox Rothschild

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2026 SPEAKERS

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

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2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg

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Kenneth R. Feinberg is one of the Nation’s leading experts in alternative dispute resolution. He was the former Court-appointed Mediator in both the Imerys/Cyprus talc bankruptcy in Delaware and the Hess-Honx asbestos bankruptcy in Texas. He previously served as the voluntary Mediator in the Georgia Pacific/Bestwall bankruptcy in North Carolina, was co-Mediator in the successful Owens Illinois/Paddock asbestos bankruptcy proceeding in North Carolina and was formerly the Court-ordered Estimation Expert in the Johnson & Johnson/LTL Management bankruptcy in New Jersey. He has served as the Court-appointed Mediator in the successful resolution of the Purdue and Mallinckrodt opioid bankruptcies in the Southern District of New York and Delaware. Mr. Feinberg has been designated by the Federal Government to serve in a variety of public compensation and related funding programs over the past 40 years. He previously served as Special Master of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001, the Department of Justice Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, the Department of Justice Boeing 737 Max Crash Victim Beneficiaries Compensation Fund, the Department of the Treasury’s TARP Executive Compensation Program and the Treasury’s Private Multiemployer Pension Reform program. He was also appointed by the Obama Administration to oversee compensation of victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to his acting as Mediator and Administrator in a wide variety of federally related compensation programs, Mr. Feinberg has also served as Administrator of 24 Catholic Church Dioceses’ Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Funds designed to compensate the victims of Church sexual abuse. He also served as Administrator of the One Orlando Fund following a terrorist attack at the Pulse nightclub, the General Motors Ignition Switch Compensation Program, and the One Fund Boston Compensation Program arising out of the Boston Marathon bombings. He was also the Mediator in the successful effort to return an original Chagall painting from the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to its original family owners in Europe. He previously served as the Court-appointed Settlement Master in the Fiat/Chrysler Diesel Emissions class action settlement in San Francisco and is currently the Court-appointed Special Settlement Master in the national federal multi-district mass tort Roundup litigation. Mr. Feinberg has been appointed mediator and arbitrator in thousands of complex disputes over the past 40 years.

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2026 FORUM SPEAKERS

Bryan F. AylstockFounding Partner Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLC

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Bryan F. Aylstock

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FOUNDING PARTNER, AYLSTOCK, WITKIN, KREIS & OVERHOLTZ, PLC Mr. Aylstock founded his firm (Aylstock Witkin) in 2001, which is now comprised of more than 35 attorneys and 400 staff members who have directly handled the claims of more than 100,000 individual clients and class representatives over the past 20+ years. Mr. Aylstock graduated number one in his law school section from the University of Florida College of Law and served as a senior editor of the Florida Law Review. Following law school, Mr. Aylstock clerked for the Honorable Roger Vinson, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida. He has specialized in multi-district and class action litigation for more than 25 years and has developed substantial experience in handling complex litigation in both MDLs and state court consolidated proceedings. He has been appointed to multiple leadership roles by Courts across the Country on behalf of Plaintiffs.

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Tom BakerWilliam Maul Measey Professor University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School

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Tom Baker

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WILLIAM MAUL MEASEY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL Tom Baker is the William Maul Measey Professor at Penn Carey Law School, with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School of Business, and a member of the Board of Directors of the liability insurer, Bowhead Specialty. Tom teaches and writes about legal finance with a special interest in adjacent insurance markets. Tom was the Reporter for the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law Liability Insurance. He was awarded the 2024 Harry J. Kalven, Jr. Prize for “empirical scholarship that has contributed most effectively to the advancement of research in law and society” and the 2013 Robert B. McKay to honor his “commitment to the advancement of justice, scholarship and the legal profession, demonstrated by outstanding contributions to the fields of tort and insurance law.”

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Suneal BediAssociate Professor of Business Law and Ethics Indiana University

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Suneal Bedi

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ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS LAW AND ETHICS, INDIANA UNIVERSITY Suneal Bedi is an Associate Professor of Business Law & Ethics and the Jerome Bess Faculty Fellow at the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University. His work focuses on the intersection of law and business strategy. He seeks to analyze how corporate entities can utilize public institutions (e.g. courts, legislatures, social norms) to gain strategic advantages in marketplace transactions. Suneal has written extensively on litigation finance, intellectual property, and marketing ethics. His work has been published in leading law and business journals including Cornell Law Review, Vanderbilt Law Review, Southern California Law Review, and the Journal of Business Ethics, and has been featured in news outlets including The New York Times, Forbes, Washington Post, and US News. He has a PhD in Marketing and Business Ethics from The Wharton School and was formerly a private equity lawyer at Ropes & Gray, LLP.

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Cesar BelloPartner, Director of Litigation Finance Corbin Capital Partners

Debra Bogo-ErnstPartner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice Willkie Farr & Gallagher

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Debra Bogo-Ernst

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PARTNER & CHAIR, NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION PRACTICE, WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER With over 25 years of experience, Debra represents a broad range of national and international organizations in class actions, mass arbitrations, and other high-stakes, complex litigation in the areas of autos, financial services, insurance, privacy, retail, products liability, and telecommunications. These cases involve the alphabet soup of statutory claims, privacy, unfair and deceptive trade practices, false advertising, trade secrets, safety and efficacy issues, false claims, government programs, fair housing and discrimination, civil conspiracy, and fraud-related claims. She also handles a variety of government investigations, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, and other state agencies. Debra often assists clients in navigating Consent Orders and other government settlements, including through the use of independent consultants. She also defends companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company risks and business-to-business disputes, and she has significant bench and jury trial experience.

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Mervin BurtonPartner, Head of Research Beatrice Advisors

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Mervin Burton

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PARTNER, HEAD OF RESEARCH, BEATRICE ADVISORS

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Hugh CarlsonCEO Three Crowns

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Hugh Carlson

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CEO, THREE CROWNS Hugh Carlson is the CEO and General Counsel of Three Crowns LLP. Since joining at the firm’s launch in 2014, he has helped build Three Crowns from a start-up boutique into one of the world’s premier dispute resolution practices. A former software engineer, Hugh has made innovation a defining feature of the firm. Under his leadership, Three Crowns has become a recognized leader in legal AI. The Financial Times has repeatedly honored the firm’s AI innovations, including its deployment of Claude Code and ChatGPT Codex to build enterprise-grade software tailored to its practice. Microsoft has called Three Crowns an “AI-powered company … bending the curve on innovation.” With Stanford’s Legal Innovation through Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), Hugh co-led the development of Atelier, an AI-powered cross-examination training platform that won the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers award for best training innovation in 2025. Hugh has lectured at Harvard Law School since 2019. He is admitted to practice in New York and the District of Columbia, and holds the leading credential in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

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Alfonso ChanPartner Cahill

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ALFONSO CHAN

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PARTNER, CAHILL Alfonso Garcia Chan is a trial lawyer who focuses on litigating and licensing complex intellectual property cases on behalf of universities, research institutes, and technology companies.His matters are primarily focused on semiconductors and electronic technology-intensive matters, as well as biomaterials and medical devices. Alfonso represents plaintiffs and defendants in district courts nationwide and before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.He is also registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and has experience in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). His international practice includes handling matters in China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and Europe.Alfonso served as an adjunct professor of International Comparative Law at Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Alfonso was an officer in the United States Navy and nuclear propulsion engineer at Naval Reactors Headquarters.

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Brooke CohenFounding and Managing Partner Cohen Hirsch

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Brooke Cohen

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FOUNDING AND MANAGING PARTNER, COHEN HIRSCH Brooke Cohen has practiced law for almost 30 years, devoting most of her careerto representing individuals injured by defective products, dangerous medications, and corporate misconduct. She has handled complex product-liability and mass-tort matters involving transvaginal mesh, Dow breast implants, Essure, and other medical products. Brooke also represents survivors in cases involving sexual assault and abuse.Brooke’s work in mass torts and cases affecting women grew naturally from herbackground in healthcare policy. Before attending law school, she worked as ahealthcare lobbyist in Washington, D.C., where she gained an understanding of theways public policy, medicine, and corporate decision-making can affect patients and consumers.Brooke graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, where she majored in women’s history. After working in Washington, D.C., she earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas, Texas.Throughout her nearly three decades of practice, Brooke has remained committed to advocating for people whose lives have been changed by injury, assault, or abuse. She approaches each client with empathy and integrity, guided by the belief that every client deserves to be heard, understood, and treated with dignity, respect, and care.

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Jeff CohenPartner Contingency Capital

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Jeff Cohen

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PARTNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR Jeff Cohen is a Partner and Managing Director of Contingency Capital, which he joined at its inception in 2021. Prior to joining Contingency Capital, Jeff was formerly a Partner and Managing Director at Southpaw Asset Management, a distressed credit opportunity investment firm, which he joined at its inception in 2005. Prior to working at Southpaw, Jeff was a Vice President and Analyst in the distressed securities fund at Ramius Capital Group LLC. Jeff began his professional career as a bankruptcy and restructuring attorney in private practice and served as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Honorable Bruce I. Fox in the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Jeff received a BA in Political Science from Columbia University and aJD from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

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Megan ColevilleVP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Megan Colville

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VP, CORPORATE COUNSEL – LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Megan Colville is a vice president of D. E. Shaw & Co., L.P. and serves as a member of, and corporate counsel to, the D. E. Shaw group’s Litigation Investing team, which operates within the firm’s Private Credit investment unit. Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Ms. Colville was a corporate associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where she focused on leveraged and acquisition finance, private credit, capital markets, and project finance. She received a B.S. in industrial engineering, with highest honors, from Lehigh University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was an articles editor of the Virginia Law Review.

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Melinda R. CoolidgeManaging Partner Hausfeld

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Melinda Coolidge

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MANAGING PARTNER, HAUSFELD Melinda serves as US Managing Partner, responsible for the successful management of the firm’s US offices. She leads by example, embodying the firm’s values of tenacity and pragmatism, and believes success lies in maximizing opportunities for the professional and personal development of every team member, empowering a culture of bold actions, pioneering cases, and unconventional thinking. Deeply committed to the firm’s vision of global civil redress for those harmed by wrongdoing, Melinda also maintains an active legal practice focused on private enforcement of antitrust laws, representing clients ranging from Fortune 200 companies to classes of consumers with a common goal of maximizing recoveries from cartel price-fixing or monopolization. Her clients have obtained more than $1 billion in settlements and a US Supreme Court victory. Melinda works to safeguard free and open markets and is proud to be named one of the Top 100 Women in Antitrust by Global Competition Review.

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David CunninghamChief Innovation Officer ReedSmith

Kelly DaleyPrincipal & Founder Celsia Capital

Matthew DolmanFounding Partner Dolman Law Group

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Matthew Dolman

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FOUNDING PARTNER, DOLMAN LAW GROUP Matthew Dolman is the Founding Partner of Dolman Law Group, where he grew the firm from a local personal injury practice into a national firm focused on complex litigation and mass torts. With more than 20 years of experience, Matt has led litigation against some of the world’s largest corporations, represented survivors in institutional sexual abuse cases, and built mass tort portfolios involving defective medications, dangerous products, environmental exposures, and other catastrophic litigation. Matt also serves as Head of Underwriting for GFO Asset Management, an alternative asset manager providing institutional investors access to litigation finance by evaluating the legal merits of cases alongside financial risk and return. In that role, he evaluates case portfolios, assesses litigation risk, and identifies quality investment opportunities. Through interviews, speaking engagements, and podcasting, Matt regularly speaks on litigation finance, mass tort strategy, law firm growth, and the intersection of law, business, and capital markets.

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Joseph DunnManaging Director Fortress Investment Group

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Joseph Dunn

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CO-CIO LEGAL ASSETS, FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP Mr. Dunn is a Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group, and Co-CIO of the Fortress Legal Assets business. Mr. Dunn is based in New York and focuses on litigation and legal process related debt and structured equity transactions, including serving on the boards of several legal services companies. Prior to joining Fortress in 2016, Mr. Dunn was a litigator at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP and Dontzin Nagy & Fleissig LLP. At both firms, Mr. Dunn represented parties in disputes in U.S. state and federal courts, primarily in securities cases. Mr. Dunn received his B.A. in Economics from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.

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Fred FabricantManaging Partner Fabricant Rubino Lambrianakos

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Fred Fabricant

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MANAGING PARTNER, FABRICANT RUBINO LAMBRIANAKOS Alfred R. Fabricant (Fred) is an experienced first chair trial lawyer who focuses his practice on patent, copyright, trademark and unfair competition matters. Fred has litigated patent infringement cases in district courts throughout the United States for both patent owners and defendants including cases in the most active courts in Delaware, Texas, California, Illinois and Florida. His cases have involved a large variety of technologies including automotive, semiconductor, audio processing, LED lighting and displays, smartphone handsets, medical devices, electronic ratings systems, copy protection and anti-piracy technology, NFC and radio frequency identification systems, robotic systems, memory and storage devices, software, internet-related method and system patents, universal remote control devices, and optical systems and methods. According to “The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners” published by the IAM1000: “clients say they cannot imagine working with anyone better, hailing (Fabricant’s) outstanding skills of presentation and persuasion in the courtroom.” Fred has represented clients in patent matters before the International Trade Commission. He has also appeared in more than 100 inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Fred has argued numerous appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Federal, Second and Fourth Circuits where he has represented both appellants and appellees in a variety of matters. Since 2008. Fred has handled a large number of cases that have been financed, in whole or in part, by litigation funders. He has also represented litigation funds as outside diligence counsel and is frequently recommended by litigation funders to claimants for both lead counsel representation in litigation as well as for IPR work before the PTAB. In addition to his litigation experience, Fred routinely acts as a legal counselor and advisor in the negotiation and drafting of patent, trademark and copyright license agreements, joint venture and funding agreements, and other business contracts. Fred also specializes in IP due diligence, freedom to operate analyses and strategies for the management and monetization of IP portfolios, a topic on which he has lectured extensively over the past decade. He advises clients on portfolio acquisitions and development, licensing and enforcement strategies, and litigation financing options. EducationThe University of Illinois Chicago Law School, J.D. (with highest distinction)The University of Miami (magna cum laude) AdmissionsNew YorkArizona

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Rachel S. FleishmanPartner Reid Collins Tsai

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Rachel S. Fleishman

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PARTNER, REID COLLINS TSAI

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David GialanellaEditor-in-Chief Business of Law and The American Lawyer

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David Gialanella

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, BUSINESS OF LAW AND THE AMERICAN LAWYER David Gialanella is Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer and Business of Law team at Law.com, where he has spent 16 years in various content team roles. He oversees the Am Law 100/200 and other key Law.com content packages, and leads the Law.com Pro and Law.com Pro Mid-Market platforms. He previously wrote for the ABA Journal and Chicago Sun-Times News Group. He holds master’s degrees from Medill School of Journalism and Pritzker Law at Northwestern University.

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Kiley GrombacherFounding Partner Bradley/Grombacher LLP

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Kiley Grombacher

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FOUNDING PARTNER, BRADLEY/GROMBACHER LLP Kiley L. Grombacher is a co-founding partner at Bradley/Grombacher LLP, where she focuses her practice on complex litigation, including consumer and employment class actions, product liability, personal injury, and pharmaceutical mass torts. With a passion for representing vulnerable individuals wronged by corporate negligence, she has secured numerous seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements, with a strong focus on advocating for women and children. She has led high-profile lawsuits against major global corporations, including Amazon, Pfizer, Roblox, and Epic Games to protect employee rights, drug safety, and consumer privacy.Consistently recognized by her peers for legal excellence, Ms. Grombacher has been named a Southern California Super Lawyer. She is the founder of the Trial Lawyers of Mass Torts (TLMT) and maintains active memberships in the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA) and the American Association for Justice (AAJ).

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Paul B. HaskelPartner Crowell & Moring

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Paul B. Haskel

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PARTNER, CROWELL & MORING Paul B. Haskel is co-chair of Crowell’s Financial Services group and a partner in the New York office. Paul is a highly regarded advisor in the area of litigation finance, and a sought after commentator on litigation finance market trends, including in Bloomberg, The American Lawyer, Litigation Finance Journal, andValueWalk. He regularly represents litigation finance leaders in some of the industry’s most significant matters, including complex international deals. Paul advises litigation funders, private equity firms, and multi-strategy hedge fund clients in connection with their investments in funding transactions, including claims monetization and the provision of non-recourse capital to both plaintiffs and law firms. His work includes the diligence, structuring, and papering of these transactions, as well as advice on the management of credit risk, tax efficiency, state common law issues such as champerty and usury, and legal ethics.

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Ellen HollomanPartner Kaplan Martin

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ELLEN HOLLOMAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN MARTIN Ellen Holloman is a partner at litigation boutique Kaplan Martin. She represents financial institutions, corporations and individuals in civil litigation, arbitrations and at trial, in related regulatory enforcement proceedings and corporate internal investigations and, where consistent with client goals, mediation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. In addition to her civil litigation and trial practice, Ellen has significant experience with white-collar criminal defense matters, and has represented clients responding to regulatory inquires, requests and enforcement proceedings. Ellen has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation and Lawdragon, among others, and has been selected as a two-time Notable Black Leader and Executive by Crain’s New York.

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William IsaacsonPartner Dunn Isaacson Rhee

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WILLIAM ISAACSON

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PARTNER, DUNN ISAACSON RHEE Bill Isaacson, a founding partner of Dunn Isaacson Rhee, is widely considered one of the preeminent trial lawyers of his generation. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners across three categories, he was named “Litigator of the Year” in 2016 and “Litigator of the Week” three times by The American Lawyer. Bill has tried cases spanning contract, commercial torts, copyright, international arbitration, and antitrust. He has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in major antitrust litigations and has tried more federal antitrust class actions this century than any other lawyer—each a major victory. Bill has been recognized in the Lawdragon 500 (each of the last 10 years), two Law360 “Competition MVP” titles, Forbes “America’s Top Lawyers,” and Legal 500 “Hall of Fame Lawyer.”

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Samuel IssacharoffBonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law NYU Law

Sarah JohnsonHead of Litigation Investing D. E. Shaw & Co.

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Sarah Johnson

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HEAD OF LITIGATION INVESTING, D. E. SHAW & CO. Sarah Johnson serves as head of the Litigation Investing team within the D. E. Shaw group’s Private Credit investment unit. The Litigation Investing team provides financing solutions to law firms, plaintiffs, and other parties involved in commercial litigation. Ms. Johnson joined the D. E. Shaw group in 2006 as an analyst primarily working on distressed credit-related investments, including restructurings, opportunities in stressed equities, litigation plays (including monetizing litigation assets), and bankruptcy liquidations. She has led the Litigation Investing team since its formation in 2018. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Johnson was an associate in the restructuring and finance group of the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz. She began her career as an investment banking analyst at Salomon Smith Barney Inc. Ms. Johnson graduated cum laude from Duke University with a B.A. in economics and received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, where she was a managing editor of the Columbia Law Review and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and James Kent Scholar.

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Robert KaplanPartner Kaplan Fox

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ROBERT KAPLAN

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PARTNER, KAPLAN FOX ROBERT N. KAPLAN is widely recognized as a leading plaintiff’s litigator and has led the prosecution of numerous Antitrust and securities class actions and individual actions, recovering billions of dollars for the victims of corporate wrongdoing. He was recently listed by defense and corporate counsel as one of the top 75 plaintiffs’ attorneys in the United States for all disciplines and has also been ranked as one of the top attorneys in the United States for securities litigation by Legal 500. Mr. Kaplan was recognized as Super Lawyer in the New York Metro Area. Mr. Kaplan sits on the boards of several organizations, including the Columbia Law School Board of Visitors, Board of Directors of the Carver Center in Port Chester, N.Y., Member of the Dana Farber Visiting Committee, Thoracic Oncology in Boston, MA, and Member of Board of Trustees for the Rye Historical Society.

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Ankur KapoorPartner Constantine Cannon

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Ankur Kapoor

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PARTNER, CONSTANTINE CANNON Ankur Kapoor is a partner at Constantine Cannon, with 25 years of experience in antitrust litigation. Most recently, Ankur has been co-lead counsel on behalf of a certified class of video-game publishers in In re Valve Antitrust Litigation, pending in Seattle federal court, as well as a member of the team representing over 60 major corporations in their credit- and debit-card swipe-fee antitrust action against Visa and Mastercard.  Ankur was also lead counsel for All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. (ANA) in a class action alleging price fixing of passenger airfares following a resolved Department of Justice investigation. Ankur is ranked in Chambers U.S.A. for “Antitrust-Mostly Plaintiff” and in U.S. News Best Lawyers for Antitrust Law & Litigation. He has also been named to Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal: Competition – Future Leaders. Ankur currently serves as the Technology Officer of the American Bar Association’s Antitrust Law Section.

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Chris KercherFounder Kercher Law

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Chris Kercher

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FOUNDER, KERCHER LAW

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Stephen KimChief Legal Office & General Counsel Avicanna

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Stephen Kim

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CHIEF LEGAL OFFICE & GENERAL COUNSEL, AVICANNA Stephen is Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Avicanna USA Inc., and responsible for all legal, regulatory, IP/tech, compliance, and human resources matters for Avicanna and its subsidiaries globally. Avicanna is a publicly traded commercial stage biopharmaceutical company with sales/operations in twenty-three countries. Prior to Avicanna, Stephen held roles of increasing responsibility at various publicly traded pharma/biotech and technology companies and practiced law with leading US and International law firms in New York and Toronto. Stephen graduated with a US law degree from the University of Detroit Mercy (JD, 1997) and a Canadian law degree from the University of Windsor (LLB, 1997)

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Jason LevinePartner Foley & Lardner

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Evan Meyerson

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FOLEY & LARDNER Jason Levine is an antitrust and commercial litigation partner at Foley & Lardner LLP in Washington, D.C. He has over 25 years of first-chair experience, representing corporate plaintiffs and defendants in enterprise-risk disputes, including prior roles as a partner at McDermott Will & Emery, Vinson & Elkins, and Alston & Bird. From 2022-25, Jason spent nearly four years as an Investment Manager at Omni Bridgeway, one of the world’s largest commercial litigation finance firms. He originated and managed investments involving billion-dollar antitrust and business disputes and directed the company’s U.S. antitrust strategy. Complementing his litigation practice at Foley, Jason also serves as a trusted counselor to parties and funders on funding-related matters, and helps plaintiff-side clients explore potential non-recourse financing for their matters. An honors graduate of Harvard Law School, Jason clerked for Judge Randall Rader on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Claudia LinaresFounder & CEO Fortalea Advisory

Stephen MedlockPartner Vinson & Elkins

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Stephen Medlock

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PARTNER, VINSON & ELKINS Steve Medlock is an experienced antitrust litigator who brings dedication, intensity, and commercial common sense to his representations of Fortune 500 clients, whether navigating through complex multidistrict class actions or successfully defending clients in grand jury investigations. Clients place their trust in Steve to develop unique and complex antitrust arguments for both defendants and plaintiffs. Steve’s unique mix of plaintiff and defense-side experience allows him to see the issues that exclusive defense-sided practitioners miss in a full range of antitrust matters, including corporate counseling, internal investigations, civil non-merger and criminal cartel investigations, and litigation. In these areas, Steve is known for providing practical advice that business executives can digest. Steve has secured victories for clients in major antitrust class actions and B2B antitrust cases alleging monopolization and attempted monopolization at critical stages, including winning dismissal prior to discovery and prevailing at summary judgment. His depositions and briefs have been quoted in the The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and Politico. Steve is a recognized as a part of the next generation of leadership in the antitrust bar. He currently serves as one of the editors of the forthcoming draft of the tenth edition of Antitrust Law Developments, the preeminent desk reference for antitrust lawyers.

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Brian MeltonPartner Susman Godfrey

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Brian Melton

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PARTNER, SUSMAN GODFREY Brian Melton is a nationally recognized lead trial lawyer who regularly tries and wins bet-the-company cases for both plaintiffs and defendants. He sits on the Executive Committee at Susman Godfrey – the nation’s premier litigation boutique – and the only law firm where he has practiced since graduating second in his class from the University of Houston Law School and clerking for Federal District Court Judge Tom Stagg. Melton has secured several momentous wins throughout his career and has established himself as trusted counsel and a sought-out trial lawyer for clients and colleagues alike. In fact, a streak of three trial wins in an 18-month period led the National Law Journal to name him a “Winning Litigator” in 2017. Landmark Wins Melton’s landmark victory for Beats headphone designer, Steven Lamar, in a nationally followed breach of contract lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine and Beats Electronics over the design of the now iconic beats headphones was covered from coast to coast, with outlets such as New York Times, The Guardian, Billboard, Bloomberg, Hollywood Reporter, NY Daily News, and the San Diego Union Tribune. Melton won a $25.25 million jury verdict for Lamar in California federal court. Melton later spent time convincing the Judge to double the value of the judgment to $52 million – at which point Apple settled the case for a confidential amount. Law360 featured the story in their “How They Won It” series and The Recorder also ran a feature story on Melton and his significant role in this case. Later that year, Melton won an injunction for pro bono client Team Fuerza, a local Hispanic soccer team, which was being railroaded out of the giant United Premier Soccer League. Melton got the team back in the league and received an apology from the UPSL President. Unique Background Notably, Melton is a West Point graduate, who served as an infantry officer, attaining the rank of captain. While serving his country, Melton commanded two platoons, and served as the aide-de-camp to the Commanding General of the Fourth Infantry Division. Melton graduated as the Honor Graduate of Ranger School, the Army’s elite leadership training course.

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Chandra MetzlerManaging Partner & Co-Founder CM Squared

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Chandra Metzler

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MANAGING PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER, CM SQUARED Chandra Reddy Metzler co-founded CM Squared in 2017. She a Managing Partner with responsibility for all aspects of the business. As a family office and an independent sponsor, CM Squared distinguishes itself by structuring creative transactions that encourage optimal outcomes, align incentives and mitigate undesired risks. Litigation funding is a core strategy for the firm. Prior to CM Squared, Ms. Metzler was Head of Strategic Development for QVT Financial, a multi-billion dollar global alternative investment firm. In this role, she had overall responsibility for investor relations, capital raising and product development. She was also a member of the firm’s Risk Committee. Before joining QVT in 2013, Ms. Metzler was president of the financial lines division at AIG for the U.S. and Canada, leading a business with over $2 billion in revenue and over 500 employees. Prior to AIG, Ms. Metzler had various roles of increasing responsibility and revenue generation in capital markets, banking and investment research at Bank of America, Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan. Ms. Metzler earned her bachelor’s degree at Brown University in Economics, with honors, and Development Studies. She has a master’s degree in Economics from New York University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. While a graduate student, Ms. Metzler was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship.

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Evan MeyersonManaging Director Burford Capital

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Evan Meyerson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, BURFORD CAPITAL Managing Director, Burford CapitalEvan Meyerson is a Managing Director who leads Burford’s US commercial investment team, with responsibility for overseeing the underwriting, origination, and portfolio management functions.Prior to joining Burford, Evan was a litigator at Paul, Weiss and at Sullivan & Cromwell. His practice focused on complex civil litigation in federal and state court, antitrust, white collar defense, bankruptcy litigation, corporate internal investigations, and government investigations into sanctions, anti-money laundering, and accounting issues. Evan began his career as an analyst at Bain Capital, evaluating venture capital investment opportunities.Evan graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as Managing Editor of the Harvard National Security Journal. He graduated magna cum laude from Dartmouth College. He clerked for the Honorable Royce C. Lamberth of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

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Ian MillicanDirector, Investments Contingency Capital

Steven MoloFounding Partner MoloLamken

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Steven Molo

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FOUNDING PARTNER, MOLOLAMKEN Steven Molo, one of the country’s leading courtroom advocates, is a founding partner of the national litigation boutique MoloLamken LLP. He represents corporations, boards, funds, investors, inventors, and individuals in complex business litigation, white collar criminal matters, and IP litigation. His client base is international. Chambers and Partners calls him “fantastic in the courtroom,” “with lots of charisma,” a “fabulous courtroom litigator who lights up the room with his presence,” “very bright, imaginative, and creative in his approach to problems,” and “one of the most talented lawyers in the (New York) city.” Benchmark Litigation – which named him one of the top 100 Trial Lawyers in America – calls him “revered,” “an outstanding advocate and fearless in court,” who “delivers the goods.” Legal 500 includes Mr. Molo on its elite list of Leading Trial Lawyers and calls him “a rockstar litigator; a great lawyer,” with “terrific knowledge of the courts and the law,” “a force to be reckoned with” who “really excels in the courtroom.” It says he is “smart, creative, responsive, knowledgeable, and engaging; he has an excellent mix of traits that set him apart from his peers.” For the past thirteen years he has been named to Lawdragon’s list of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. Mr. Molo began his career as a prosecutor in Chicago, and then practiced with Winston & Strawn, where he was a senior litigator and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He spent five years as a litigation partner with the Wall Street firm Shearman & Sterling before founding MoloLamken in October 2009. He is also a solicitor on the Roll of Attorneys of the Law Society of England and Wales, and an Honorary Bencher of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple.

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John MorleyAugustus E. Lines Professor of Law Yale Law School

Andrew MutterEVP, Contingent Risk CAC Specialty

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Andrew Mutter

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EXECUTIVE VICE PRSIDENT, CAC SPECIALITY Andrew is an Executive Vice President at CAC Specialty and Leader of its Contingent Risk Insurance Practice, which has placed more than $5 billion in insurance coverage in the contingent risk markets. The team has received various accolades, including most recently the Business Insurance Innovation award for its work developing new products to insure the core value of IP assets to reduce innovative companies’ cost of capital.Andrew’s practice focuses on crafting bespoke solutions for Contingent Risk Insurance, providing strategic certainty around both contingent legal assets and contingent legal liabilities. On the basis of these policies, the Contingent Risk team help clients obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidity, release hundreds of millions of dollars from escrow, and facilitate hundreds of millions of dollars of debt restructuring and refinancing.As a lawyer at King & Spalding in Atlanta, Andrew gained significant insurance recovery experience successfully litigating over half a billion dollars in D&O and E&O claims on behalf of financial institutions. Andrew has extensive experience in consumer class actions, complex commercial litigation, business torts, and healthcare related investigations and business disputes.Andrew earned his J.D. from The University of Virginia School of Law. He received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University. He is also a former Teach For America teacher, with four years of experience in public education.

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Michael NicolasCo-Founder & Managing Director Longford Capital

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Michael Nicolas

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING DIRECTOR, LONGFORD CAPITAL Mike is responsible for the portfolio management of Longford Capital, including underwriting, investment selection, and overseeing the efforts of independent attorneys and other professionals as part of Longford Capital’s due diligence process. He is an accomplished attorney with more than 15 years of experience representing a wide array of corporate clients involved in complex litigation throughout the United States, including trial experience in the commercial litigation departments of two prominent national law firms, Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP and Gardner, Carton & Douglas, LLP (n/k/a Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP). Mike is a frequent speaker on commercial litigation finance, and has presented at numerous industry conferences and events. He is an honors graduate of Northern Illinois University College of Business and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

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Ryan PhairPartner Paul Hastings

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Ryan Phair

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Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings Ryan Phair is co-chair of the Antitrust and Competition practice of Paul Hastings. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate whose practice focuses on complex antitrust litigation and investigations. On behalf of plaintiffs, he has successfully recovered over $1 billion for his antitrust clients. On behalf of defendants, Ryan has an equally remarkable track record of success spanning dozens of complex cases, investigations and enforcement actions.

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Byron ReevesPaul C. Edwards Professor of Communication Stanford University

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Byron Reeves

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PAUL C. EDWARDS PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Elena S. ReyPartner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations Brown Rudnick

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Elena S. Rey

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PARTNER, HEAD OF LITIGATION FUNDING & CO-HEAD OF EUROPEAN SPECIAL SITUATIONS, BROWN RUDNICK Byron is a Media Psychologist and Professor at Stanford University with affiliations in Communication, Symbolic Systems, and the Human-Centered AI Institute. He is the author of over 200 publications and several patents related to effects of media in marketing, entertainment, politics, and mental health, and he is the author of two award-winning books about computing and media (The Media Equation and Total Engagement). He is the co-founder of two early-stage startups working on computational media applications in business, and he spent two years working at Microsoft Research developing products related to computer agents. New in 2026, Byron teaches a course at Stanford about computational simulations of human behavior, including for use in litigation research, and he has co-developed a research platform with Viewpoints.ai that is being used in law, insurance and finance to simulate human jury responses to legal matters.

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Ruth RizkallaPartner The Carlson Law Firm

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RUTH RIZKALLA

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PARTNER, THE CARLSON LAW FIRM Ruth’s experience in complex litigation has given her a unique edge in strategizing and litigating cases of systemic minor sex abuse that require significant foresight and familiarity with advanced legal principles. She has leadership background in complex and mass torts litigations and has represented injured victims involving defective products and dangerous drugs and devices. Ruth has spent her over two-decade career representing those injured through severe negligent acts of large corporations. She has served in numerous leadership positions in several coordinated complex and mass tort proceedings, and has spoken and presented at multiple conferences and seminars.

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SHAYNA E. SACKSPartner Napoli Shkolnik

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Shayna E. Sacks

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NAPOLI SHKOLNIK PARTNER, PUBLIC CLIENT GROUP Ms. Sacks provides experienced representation to individuals, communities, local and state governments in multiple mass torts, including healthcare litigation, defective pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, the opioid crisis, and complex environmental & emerging contaminant litigation. She has served as Plaintiffs’ Liaison Counsel and a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee on product liability multi-district litigations.

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Ed ScanlanCEO & Founder Bridge Legal

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Ed Scanlan

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CEO & FOUNDERBRIDGE LEGAL Ed Scanlan is a serial entrepreneur and litigation technology pioneer who transforms plaintiff-side legal portfolios into scalable, high-yield, risk-adjusted investments for capital partners. As Founder & CEO of Bridge Legal, Ed built a proprietary, AI-driven operating system that gives law firms and funders complete transparency from lead inception to filing—integrating case validation, workflow automation, and analytics to deliver 10x productivity gains and faster time-to-liquidity on funded matters. The platform empowers firms to capture market share at scale while enabling funders to deploy capital with unprecedented precision and control. Previously, Ed founded Total Attorneys, scaling it from startup to $30M+ recurring revenue without outside capital, earning spots on the Inc. 500, Crain’s Fast 50, and induction into the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Inc.. Ed partners with leading litigation funders to co-create portfolios with exceptional merit profiles, predictable outcomes, and durable returns—aligning capital efficiency with access to justice.

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Jennifer ScullionPartner SeegerWeiss

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Jennifer Scullion

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PARTNER, SEEGERWEISS Jen Scullion is a partner at Seeger Weiss, where she leads or co-leads the firm’s work in antitrust and related consumer matters for classes and for direct action (opt out) plaintiffs. She currently serves as a member of the Direct Action Plaintiffs Executive Committee in the MultiPlan antitrust MDL, co-lead for Seeger Weiss’s work for the Direct Purchasers in the Apple Smartphone Antitrust Litigation, and Co-Chair of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee for the Provider Track in the Change Healthcare Inc. Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, in addition to leading or co-leading the firm’s work in the Copaxone, “Proteins”, Fragrance, and Liquid Aluminum Sulfate antitrust matters. Jen has also co-led the firm’s work in the National Prescription Opioids and Socal Media Adolescent Addiction cases on behalf of local government and school districts. Jen is the co-author of the treatise New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act: Practice and Procedure (2026).

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Jonathan SelbinSenior Partner Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP

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Jonathan Selbin

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SENIOR PARTNER, LIEFF CABRASER HEIMANN & BERNSTEIN Jonathan D. Selbin is a senior partner in the New York office of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, where he has practiced for over 30 years, and a long-time member of the firm’s Executive Committee. He has led complex consumer protection, defective products, and sex abuse class action lawsuits in courts around the country against many of the world’s largest corporations and institutions. Together, cases in which Jonathan played a lead role have resulted in court-approved class action settlements with a combined total cash payout to class members in excess of $3.5 billion, plus other relief such as extended and enhanced warranties and implementation of best-practices institutional reforms. He has extensive appellate experience, having argued in the 1st, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 11th Circuits, as well as before state supreme and appellate courts. Jonathan is a leader in the firm’s funding of international consumer protection cases on multiple continents.

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Victoria Shannon SahaniProfessor of Law Boston University School of Law

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Victoria Shannon Sahani

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PROFESSOR OF LAW, BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW Victoria Shannon Sahani is the Associate Provost for Community and Inclusion at Boston University and a Professor of Law at Boston University School of Law. She previously served as Associate Dean of Faculty Development / Special Projects and Professor of Law at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. She started her teaching career and was promoted to Associate Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University School of Law. Associate Provost Sahani is an internationally recognized legal scholar in domestic and international arbitration law and third-party litigation funding law. She is an award-winning teacher and serves as an independent arbitrator, consultant, and expert witness. In addition to publishing numerous book chapters, law review articles, and essays, she co-authored the book Third-Party Funding in International Arbitration (Wolters Kluwer, 1st and 2d ed.) (with Lisa Bench Nieuwveld), the first book in the world on this topic. She is the immediate past Chair of the Academic Council for the Institute for Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Chair-Elect of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on International Law, a Counsellor of the American Society of International Law (ASIL), an Elected Member of the American Law Institute (ALI), and an American Bar Foundation (ABF) Fellow. Before joining academia, Associate Provost Sahani worked at the International Chamber of Commerce’s (ICC) International Court of Arbitration and practiced law at Pillsbury. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Harvard College and is licensed to practice law in New York and the District of Columbia.

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Emily SiegelSenior Reporter Bloomberg Law

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Emily Siegel

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SENIOR REPORTER, BLOOMBERG LAW Emily Siegel is a senior reporter with Bloomberg Law. She covers litigation finance and writes about anything affecting or intersecting with the industry. She previously worked for NBC News as an investigative reporter. She earned a master’s degree from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.

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Ryan StephenCo-Founder & Managing Partner Pine Valley Capital Partners

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Ryan Stephen

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CO-FOUNDER & MANAGING PARTNER, PINE VALLEY CAPITAL PARTNERS Mr. Stephen has led, originated, and managed more than $2.5B in private financing transactions since 2009. Prior to co-founding Pine Valley Capital Partners, he served as Chief Financial Officer of Trinity Environmental Services, an oilfield waste management company operating across Texas and New Mexico. Earlier in his career, he originated, structured, and managed private credit investments in the energy sector with Guggenheim Partners in Houston. Mr. Stephen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Abilene Christian University and has extensive experience structuring complex transactions across multiple industries.

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Kelsey StokesSenior Attorney The Lanier Law Firm

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Ryan Stephen

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SENIOR ATTORNEY, THE LANIER LAW FIRM Kelsey Stokes is recognized as a national leader in mass personal injury litigation. Kelsey practices primarily in the areas of mass tort litigation, products liability, and complex commercial litigation. As Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee in multiple Hernia Mesh MDLs (Multi-District Litigation) at the federal level and 3 MCLs (Multi-County Litigation) in New Jersey, the home of Johnson & Johnson, Kelsey has spent countless hours fighting for victims of defective medical devices, ensuring their voices are heard and their suffering acknowledged. Her leadership in the litigation against C.R. Bard and Johnson & Johnson has not only changed lives but has also set a precedent for women in leadership roles within the legal industry. Kelsey is currently serving as Co-Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the second largest MDL in the country (MDL No. 2846, In re Davol, Inc./C.R. Bard, Inc., Polypropylene Hernia Mesh Products Liability Litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio). Appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in 2018, the MDL has over 23,000 cases consolidated there. Kelsey served as lead trial counsel for the three bellwether cases tried in MDL 2846. In 2024, as Lead Settlement Counsel for the Bard Hernia Mesh MDL, Kelsey Stokes successfully negotiated a path to resolution for over 30,000 plaintiffs. Kelsey currently serves as Administering Counsel for the Bard resolution and spends countless hours guiding plaintiffs’ lawyers across the country. In addition to her leadership roles at the federal level, Kelsey Stokes was appointed to lead three New Jersey state court consolidated actions against Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon, Inc.: MCL 627, In re Physiomesh Litigation; MCL 630, In Re: Proceed Mesh Litigation; and MCL 633, In re Prolene Hernia System Mesh Litigation. Kelsey was also elected Co‑Chair of the American Association for Justice Hernia Mesh Litigation Group by her peers, where she has served for over seven years. In addition to her responsibilities with the hernia mesh litigation, Kelsey was also appointed to the Phenylephrine Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee. She serves as Science & Expert Committee Co-Chair, as well as a Discovery Co-Chair for the litigation. Prior to leading the hernia mesh docket, Attorney Kelsey Stokes played an integral role in litigating transvaginal mesh cases to a successful resolution. Her work in the various transvaginal mesh MDLs gave her a wealth of knowledge overlapping with the knowledge required to successfully litigate hernia mesh cases. Kelsey has regular speaking engagements, sharing the knowledge she has gained managing MDLs as well as studying the science and legal issues applicable to medical device and pharmaceutical litigation. Through the course of her career, Kelsey has taken hundreds of depositions, including depositions of corporate witnesses, expert witnesses, and treating physicians. Kelsey has also defended the leading experts in their fields as well as hundreds of plaintiffs injured by various medical devices and pharmaceutical drugs. She regularly argues at hearings throughout the country and coordinates large-scale briefing on behalf of the MDLs she leads. Early in her career, Kelsey managed a large GranuFlo docket from case filing to resolution, successfully navigating clients through the settlement claims process. In addition to the above litigations, Kelsey Stokes performed considerable work on the Wright Hip and Accutane Litigations as well as Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), in which she was trial counsel in the first TRT trial in Cook County, Illinois in 2017. Kelsey’s practice also includes complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, and arbitration, resulting in multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts. Examples include arbitrations where she represented healthcare providers in contractual and payment disputes with insurers; a massive Ponzi scheme; and an off-shore commercial oil dispute. Attorney Kelsey Stokes’s experience also extends to catastrophic aviation accidents. Education & Memberships Kelsey Stokes earned a Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Mathematics and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. She received her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, where she served as Chief Managing Editor of the Journal of Consumer & Commercial Law. Kelsey is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Western, Eastern, and Southern Districts of Texas, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth Circuits. She is a member of the American Association for Justice, Texas Trial Lawyers Association, and Houston Trial Lawyers Association.

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Will WeismanDirector – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel Parabellum Capital

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Will Weisman

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DIRECTOR – COMMERCIAL LITIGATION, CORPORATE COUNSEL, PARABELLUM CAPITAL Will Weisman leads Parabellum Capital’s commercial litigation investment strategy. He originates, structures, and manages commercial litigation investments across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe. Before joining Parabellum, Will was a senior member of the investment team at litigation financier Therium Capital Management. Earlier in his career, he practiced complex commercial litigation at Proskauer Rose LLP, one of the nation’s premier law firms, and later joined Liberty International Underwriters, a global insurance company. Will frequently writes and speaks on litigation finance, regulatory developments, and other issues affecting the legal industry. He earned a B.A., with honors, from the University of Maryland and a J.D., cum laude, from Brooklyn Law School, where he served as an editor of the Brooklyn Law Review. Will also worked as a law clerk extern for Chief Judge Edward R. Korman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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Leanne WilsonManaging Director Contingency Capital

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Leanne Wilson

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MANAGING DIRECTOR, CONTINGENCY CAPITAL 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).

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R. Brent WisnerManaging Partner Wisner Baum

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R. Brent Wisner

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MANAGING PARTNER, WISNER BAUM 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 winning significant verdicts and settlements for his clients. Over the last several years, Brent has served on the plaintiff’s leadership for multiple mass torts, earned jury verdicts worth a combined $2.427 billion, and helped negotiate settlements in excess of $1 billion—all before the age of 40. While success in the courtroom is often measured exclusively by dollars and cents, Brent’s legal work has led to changes in business practices that will protect people and the environment for generations. Hundreds of media publications across the globe have asked for his perspective on a variety of pressing legal issues.

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Thomas WhitePartner Sullivan Cromwell

Hon. Freda L. WolfsonFormer Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution Lowenstein Sandler

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Hon. Freda L. Wolfson

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FORMER CHIEF JUDGE, PARTNER & CHAIR, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION The Honorable Freda L. Wolfson (ret.) rejoined Lowenstein Sandler after a decades long career in the federal judiciary, including as Chief Judge of the U.S.District Court for the District of New Jersey. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, special master appointments in federal and state courts, including multidistrict litigations (MDL), servingas an expert, monitorships, internal investigations, and presiding over mock trials and oral arguments. Judge Wolfson leads the firm’s ADR practice, leveraging her judicial experience managing complex commercial cases to help clients achieve satisfactoryresolutions on a wide variety of civil and regulatory issues. Since joining Lowenstein, Judge Wolfson has frequently served as a special master and mediator infederal and state civil actions, which typically involve high-stakes disputes, including, among others, data breaches, corporate divorces and securities matters;pre-litigation and pre-arbitration matters; and mass consumer mediations. Judge Wolfson also represents and consults pharmaceutical clients in patent-relatedmatters. Additionally, Judge Wolfson has served as a mock judge for parties in high profile cases involving patents and pharmaceutical product liability. Judge Wolfson was nominated to the District Court in 2002, ascending to the Chief Judge post in 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as a U.S.Magistrate Judge for over 16 years, one of the few women and one of the youngest members of the district court in the nation. In 2014, she was appointed byU.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to represent the Third Circuit on the Judicial Conference Committee on the Administration of the MagistrateJudge System; she then served as Third Circuit District Judge Representative on the Judicial Conference of the United States. During her 36-year judicial tenure, Judge Wolfson authored thousands of opinions on issues such as securities litigations, shareholder derivative lawsuits,products liability, commercial transactions and financial fraud, civil rights, and constitutionality of federal and state statutes. She presided over a multitude ofcivil and criminal trials, including Hatch Waxman ANDA patent infringement cases; one of the largest excessive fees litigations associated with securities andmutual funds; employment discrimination matters; civil rights claims under section 1983; and white collar criminal cases. Judge Wolfson was also appointed by the Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Panel to oversee some of the nation’s largest MDLs, including In re Johnson & JohnsonTalcum Powder Prods. Mktg. Sales Practices & Prods. Liab. Litig., the second largest MDL in the country. She has extensive experience in complex discoverymatters and has successfully facilitated hundreds of settlements. Frequently recognized as a leader of the bar, Judge Wolfson has received such honors as the 2022 Donald A. Robinson Meritorious Service Award, the 2016Rutgers University Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award and the, 2002 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Rutgers University School of Law, the 2012Inductee of the Associate Alumni of Douglas College–Society of Excellence, the 2013 Women in the Profession Section’s Justice Marie L. Garibaldi Award forDistinguished Service and Excellence, and the 2008 Women’s Initiative & Leaders in Law Platinum Award from New Jersey Women Lawyers Association. Additionally, Judge Wolfson was selected as an American Bar Foundation Fellow.Upon her graduation from law school, Judge Wolfson initially practiced litigation at Lowenstein.

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Boris ZiserGlobal Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets McDermott Will & Schulte

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Boris Ziser

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GLOBAL HEAD OF STRUCTURED FINANCE, CLOS AND ALTERNATIVE ASSETS, MCDERMOTT WILL & SCHULTE Boris Ziser is McDermott’s Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs and Alternative Assets and a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He advises clients on asset-backed lending and securitization, warehouse facilities, secured financings, specialty finance lending, and other esoteric finance transactions. With more than 30 years of experience, he works across a wide range of asset classes, including life settlements, litigation funding, equipment leases, structured settlements, lottery receivables, timeshare loans, merchant cash advances, home equity investments (HEI), cell towers, intellectual property, insurance-related cash flows, and others. He also represents investors, lenders, hedge funds, private equity funds and finance companies in acquisitions and dispositions of asset portfolios, as well as financings secured by those portfolios.

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2026 agenda

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BECOME A SPEAKER

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

OPENing day: tuesday, SEPTEMBER 15

5:30 - 7:00 PM: Opening Reception

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

7:30 – 8:45 AM: Registration & Breakfast

8:45 – 9:00 AM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00 - 9:30 AM: KEYNOTE ADDRESS - THE PRICE OF JUSTICE: KEN FEINBERG ON FUNDING, FAIRNESS AND RESOLUTION

In this timely conversation, Feinberg will share his perspective on how funding is reshaping pathways to resolution, what information matters in settlement negotiations, and what safeguards are needed to preserve trust as legal finance continues to mature. Kenneth R. Feinberg, Mediator & Arbitrator, Law Offices of Kenneth R. Feinberg In discussion with Emily Siegel, Senior Reporter, Bloomberg Law

9:30 - 10:20 AM: STATE OF THE MARKET - LEGAL FINANCE 2026: THE MARKET SHIFTS DRIVING CAPITAL, STRATEGY AND DECISIONS

The economic, geopolitical, and regulatory forces reshaping legal finance in 2026The changing capital stack—how direct institutional entrants, banks, and new structures are reshaping competition and deploymentHow legal finance could evolve as capital becomes deeper, cheaper, and more specializedSpeakers: David Gialanella, Editor-in-Chief, Business of Law and The American Lawyer (moderator)Evan Meyerson, Managing Director, Burford CapitalMichael Nicolas, Managing Director & Co-Founder, Longford CapitalElena S. Rey, Partner, Head of Litigation Funding & Co-Head of European Special Situations, Brown RudnickRyan Stephen, Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Pine Valley Capital Partners

10:20 – 10:50 AM: Networking Break

10:50 - 11:20 AM: FEATURED INTERVIEW - INSIDE THE SILICON VALLEY SUPER TRIAL: ELON MUSK V SAM ALTMAN

Steven Molo, Founding Partner, MoloLamken

11:00 - 12:30 PM: BOARDROOM - HOSTED BY TSEG

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

11:20 - 12:10 PM: THE DEALMAKERS’ RUNDOWN - REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS & THE SHIFTING RISK PROFILE

How state-by-state regulation is changing where, with whom, and on what terms legal finance deals can be doneThe impact on structuring, diligence, pricing, disclosure, and capital deployment across the marketHow firms, funders, and advisers can keep transactions moving as regulatory risk becomes a commercial riskSpeakers: Bryan F. Aylstock, Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & OverholtzVictoria Shannon Sahani, Professor of Law, Boston University School of LawHon. Freda L. Wolfson, Former Chief Judge, Partner & Chair, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Lowenstein SandlerBoris Ziser, Global Head of Structured Finance, CLOs & Alternative Assets, McDermott, Will, & Schulte

12:10 - 1:00 PM: IN PERSPECTIVE - VIEW FROM THE TOP: LAW FIRM LEADERS ON AI, MSOS & THE NEW BUSINESS OF LAW

How AI is changing law firm operations, decision-making, and client deliveryWhat growing investor interest and MSO models mean for ownership, control, and independenceHow firm leaders are reshaping their business models for the next era of legal practiceSpeakers: Ed Scanlan, CEO & Founder, Bridge Legal (moderator)Hugh Carlson, CEO, Three CrownsMelinda R. Coolidge, U.S. Managing Partner, HausfeldDavid Cunningham, Chief Innovation Officer, ReedSmithKiley Grombacher, Founding Partner, Bradley/Grombacher

1:00 – 2:45 PM: Networking Lunch

2:45 PM – 5:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS MASS TORTS

IN FOCUS DEALMAKING

2:45 - 3:30 PM: SOLUTION CIRCLES - ABS & MSOs

As law firms explore external investment, ABS and MSO models are becoming one of the most consequential—and contested—developments in the US legal market. These facilitated, peer-to-peer working groups will examine: Regulation & structuring: navigating state-by-state restrictions on ownership, fee-sharing, management rights, and revenue modelsCapital & control: defining the boundary between commercial oversight and professional independenceThe commercial case: assessing whether external capital can deliver sustainable growth, stronger operations, and aligned long-term returnsCo-Facilitators: Matthew Dolman, Founding Partner, Dolman Law GroupShayna E. Sacks, Partner, Napoli ShkolnikR. Brent Wisner, Managing Partner, Wisner Baum

2:45 - 3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - FROM PARTNERS TO PARTING WAYS: WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE DEAL?

How firms and funders can manage performance, communication and changing expectations after a deal is completedWhat options are available when the relationship or funding structure no longer works, including refinancing and restructuringHow secondaries and other liquidity solutions can create an exit, transfer exposure or reset the parties’ positionsSpeakers: Kelly Daley, Principal & Founder, Celsia Capital (moderator)Megan Coleville, VP, Corporate Counsel – Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Fred Fabricant, Managing Partner, Fabricant Rubino LambrianakosPaul B. Haskel, Partner, Crowell & Moring

3:30 - 4:00 PM: Networking Break

4:00 - 4:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - DEALING WITH FIRMS IN DISTRESS: REFINANCING VS RESTRUCTURING

When refinancing remains viable—and when deeper restructuring is requiredHow firms and funders can stabilise distress as timelines lengthen and assumptions changeWhat happens when recovery is no longer possible—and whether the market needs a formal frameworkSpeakers: Jeff Cohen, Partner and Managing Director, Contingency CapitalRuth Rizkalla, Partner, The Carlson Law Firm

4:00 - 4:45 PM: INSURANCE SPOTLIGHT - THE WIDESPREAD USE OF INSURANCE (AND WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO JPIS…)

Why insurance is becoming integral to legal finance structures—and what capital providers now expect it to protectHow coverage, pricing, and insurer diligence are reshaping underwriting, economics, and capital deploymentWhat happened to JPI—and which products and risk-transfer models could define the market’s next phaseSpeakers: Tom Baker, William Maul Measey Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (moderator)Andrew Mutter, EVP, Contingent Risk, CAC Specialty

4:00 - 5:30 PM: BOARDROOM - CORPORATE LITIGATION LEADERS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

4:45 - 5:30 PM: LAW FIRM PERSPECTIVES - TRANSPARENCY ON TRIAL: DATA, STANDARDS, & THE FUTURE OF MASS TORT REPORTING

What firms should report to capital providers—and which metrics genuinely inform decisionsCreating consistent definitions, validation standards, and accountability across portfoliosHow better reporting can strengthen trust, identify risk earlier, and improve funding relationshipsSpeakers: Samuel Issacharoff, Bonnie and Richard Reiss Professor of Constitutional Law, NYU Law (moderator)Brooke Cohen, Founding and Managing Partner, Cohen HirschSteve Faries, Partner, Pulaski KherkherKelsey Stokes, Senior Attorney, The Lanier Law Firm

4:45 - 5:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - HOW TO EVALUATE AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAPITAL PARTNER

What separates a source of capital from a genuine strategic partnerHow to assess track record, flexibility, alignment, and execution—not just pricingWhere brokers and advisers add value in finding, diligencing, and negotiating with the right funderSpeakers: John Morley, Augustus E. Lines Professor of Law, Yale Law School (moderator)Cesar Bello, Partner, Director of Litigation Finance, Corbin Capital PartnersAlfonso Chan, Partner, CahillJonathan Selbin, Senior Partner, Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein

9:00 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.

5:30 - 6:30 PM: Networking Reception & Close of Day One

DAY TWO: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

8:30 - 9:00 AM: Registration & Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15 AM: Welcome & Recap

9:15 - 9:45 AM: DATA DEEP DIVE - WHAT THE DATA TELLS US: LESSONS LEARNED ON HOW TO INVEST

Where investments made between 2017 and 2021 underperformed, and what investors learned from themWhich deal characteristics have been most closely associated with successful outcomesHow those lessons are changing underwriting, portfolio construction and capital deployment todaySpeakers: Joseph Dunn, Managing Director, Legal Assets Co-Chief Investment Officer, Fortress Investment GroupWill Weisman, Director – Commercial Litigation, Corporate Counsel, Parabellum Capital

9:45 - 11:00 AM: PANEL DISCUSSION - UNLOCKING VALUE: THE RISE OF AFFIRMATIVE LITIGATION

How law firms and corporations are identifying and pursuing affirmative litigation opportunitiesWhy potentially valuable claims are often overlooked, deprioritized or left undevelopedHow affirmative litigation can shift the legal function from managing exposure to creating strategic and financial valueSpeakers: William Isaacson, Partner, Dunn Isaacson Rhee (moderator)Ellen Holloman, Partner, Kaplan MartinStephen Kim, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel, Avicannaa

11:00 - 11:30 AM: Networking Break

11:30 AM – 3:30 PM: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

IN FOCUS LITIGATION FUNDERS

IN FOCUS LAW FIRMS

CLOSED DOOR SESSIONS

11:30 – 12:15 PM: MASTERCLASS - AI IN PRACTICE: FINDING AND FUNDING BETTER CASES

How AI is being used to identify potential claims, surface overlooked opportunities and build stronger case pipelinesWhere AI can improve early-stage assessment, diligence and underwriting—and which decisions still require experienced human judgmentWhat funders and firms need to get right on data quality, validation and implementation before AI can produce better investment outcomesSpeakers: Byron Reeves, Paul C. Edwards Professor of Communication, Stanford University (moderator)Chris Kercher, Founder, Kercher Law

11:30 – 12:15 PM: CASE STUDY - BUILDING A PLAINTIFF-SIDE PRACTICE

The strategic and commercial case behind Vinson & Elkins’ move into plaintiff-side litigationHow the firm built the practice: selecting opportunities, assembling the team and integrating contingency work into the wider businessWhat the firm has learned about economics, risk, culture and scaling—and what others should consider before following the same pathSpeakers: Stephen Medlock, Partner, Vinson & Elkins

11:30 - 1:00 PM: BOARDROOM - INSTITUTIONAL ALLOCATORS COUNCIL

This session is by invitation only. To request an invite, contact: Chloe Culver

12:15 - 2:00 PM: Networking Lunch

2:00 - 2:45 PM: THE INVESTOR LENS - WHAT FUNDERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL IN A TIGHTER MARKET

Why institutional investors allocate capital to some litigation fund managers—and reject othersWhat allocators are really testing when they assess strategy, team, track record, pipeline and riskWhat can turn investor interest into a commitment—or cause an allocation to fall awaySpeakers: Chandra Metzler, Partner & Co-Founder, CM Squared (moderator)Mervin Burton, Partner, Head of Research, Beatrice Advisors

2:00 - 2:45 PM: GETTING PRACTICAL - WHY GOOD CASES DON’T GET FUNDED

What funders are seeing in the market today, and how appetite, capacity and return expectations are shaping investment decisionsWhy apparently strong cases still fail to secure funding, from weak economics and incomplete diligence to poor strategic fitHow firms can present opportunities more effectively, with the evidence, analysis and commercial clarity funders need to reach a decisionSpeakers: Ankur Kapoor, Partner, Constantine Cannon (moderator)Debra Bogo-Ernst, Partner & Chair, National Class Action Litigation Practice, Willkie Farr & GallagherSarah Johnson, Head of Litigation Investing, D. E. Shaw & Co.Ryan Phair, Partner & Co-Chair, Antitrust and Competition Practice, Paul Hastings

2:45 -3:30 PM: PANEL DISCUSSION - WHEN THE CASE TURNS: MANAGING APPEAL, ENFORCEMENT AND OUTCOME RISK

Why a major judgment may still be far from a realizable recovery—and the appellate, foreign-law, sovereign and enforcement risks that remain after trialHow claimant counsel, defence counsel and funders assess and stress-test those risks at different stages of a caseWhat happens when the legal or commercial assumptions underpinning a matter change—and how the parties can reset strategy, expectations and next steps without relying on hindsightSpeakers: Claudia Linares, Founder & CEO,Fortalea Advisory (moderator) Jason Levine, Partner, Foley & LardnerJennifer Scullion, Partner, SeegerWeissThomas White, Partner, Sullivan Cromwell

2:45 - 3:30 PM: MASTERCLASS - SKIN IN THE GAME: WHEN TO SELF-FUND, CO-FUND OR SHARE THE RISK

How to determine which matters to finance and when to bring in external capitalHow case economics, portfolio exposure, cash flow and risk appetite shape the choice between self-funding, co-funding and full risk transferLessons learned from funding structures that underperformed, became misaligned or failed to deliver the expected outcomeSpeakers: Suneal Bedi, Associate Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Indiana University (moderator)Robert Kaplan, Partner, Kaplan FoxBrian D. Melton, Partner, Susman Godfrey

9:00 AM – 3:30 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.

3:30 - 5:00 PM: Closing Reception

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CAC is now part of The Baldwin Group. Together, we deliver greater specialization, expanded
capabilities, and deeper expertise to help clients navigate today’s evolving risk landscape. By
combining CAC’s industry and product expertise with Baldwin’s national platform and distribution
network, we provide seamless access to a full suite of risk management solutions. Our unified
team serves clients across retail, specialty, reinsurance (including London and Bermuda), and
MGA platforms.

Fabricant LLP is a dynamic IP litigation boutique with unparalleled success enforcing or defending patent infringement claims involving the most important and cutting-edge technologies. We are experts representing plaintiffs and defendants in all high-tech industries including, audio processing, smartphone, semiconductor, automotive, payments, computer hardware and software, LED displays and lights, GPS location services among many others. Fabricant LLP is regularly ranked among the most active U.S. law firms representing patent owners in the courts and before the PTAB where it has achieved win rates for defeating validity challenges far above the national average.

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.

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.

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Brown Rudnick is a leading international law firm that provides exceptional, client-driven service in global litigation, crisis management, brand and reputation management, life sciences, technology, intellectual property, and litigation funding. Our lawyers have extensive experience leading high-profile cross-border matters and are recognized by Chambers, Legal 500 and Law360 for excellence.

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world.

Cathedral CPAs & Advisors helps litigation finance firms build the financial infrastructure needed to grow with confidence. We provide fractional CFO and controller services, back office solutions, strategic advisory, and comprehensive tax support, including preparation, structuring, and strategy. Our team works with leadership to improve reporting, strengthen controls, manage complexity, and support informed decision making. Clients gain experienced financial leadership, practical insight, and scalable support without the expense of building a full internal finance department.

Contingency Capital is a global asset management business focused on credit oriented legal assets. Contingency Capital was founded in November 2020 by Brandon Baer. We invest in legal assets where the primary driver of value is a legal, tax or regulatory process.

Our investment team is comprised of credit and distressed investors who are also former transactional attorneys and litigators. Collectively we have decades of multifaceted experience investing in legal assets.

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with operations in the United States, Europe, and MENA. Drawing on significant government, business, industry, and legal experience, the firm helps clients capitalize on opportunities and provides creative solutions to complex regulatory and policy, litigation, transactional, and intellectual property issues. The firm is consistently recognized for its commitment to pro bono service, and its comprehensive programs and initiatives to advance the professional and personal development of all members of the Crowell community.

The D. E. Shaw group is a global investment and technology development firm with more than $90 billion in investment and committed capital as of June 1, 2026, and offices in North America, Europe, and Asia. Since our founding in 1988, we have earned an international reputation for successful investing based on innovation, careful risk management, and the quality and depth of our staff.

Leading organizations turn to global law firm McDermott Will & Schulte for a better way to address legal challenges, connect with those at the forefront, and drive stronger outcomes. Working across more than 20 offices globally, our 1,750+ lawyers act on data-driven insights, deep relationships, and unmatched industry experience to deliver on our commitment of Always Better.

MoloLamken is a law firm focused exclusively on representing clients in complex disputes. It handles civil, criminal, and regulatory matters, as well as appeals, across the United States. The firm’s clients span the globe. MoloLamken is involved in some of the most significant disputes of the day.

MoloLamken provides experienced advocacy – for claimants as well as defendants – before judges, juries, arbitral forums, and courts of appeals, including the Supreme Court of the United States. The firm also represents clients in regulatory and criminal investigations and conducts internal investigations.

Parabellum Capital is a leading financier of commercial and intellectual property litigation. Founded in 2012, its principals pioneered the commercial litigation funding market in the United States and remain on the forefront of shaping the asset class as the industry evolves. Parabellum’s team has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the commercial litigation arena, with a focus on structuring aligned transactions with claimholders and counsel.

BRONZE SPONSORs

Curiam Capital LLC is a private investment firm that provides financing for law firms and high-value litigation. Curiam invests in most types of commercial litigation in areas such as commercial business disputes, securities, antitrust, intellectual property, international arbitration, and bankruptcy and insolvency. Curiam’s team has decades of experience evaluating litigation claims and takes pride in making quick but well-informed investment decisions. Curiam funds both individual cases and portfolios of cases.

Eve Legal is the AI operating system that plaintiff law firms use across the entire case lifecycle to handle more cases, reduce time on desk, and increase settlement values. Over 1200 firms choose EveOS to grow faster and deliver stronger client outcomes.

One platform. Every partner relationship.

Lexamica is a full-service referral platform connecting lawyers across the country. Expand your network, strengthen relationships, and scale referral revenue with Lexamica.

Saul Ewing is a full-service, law firm with specialized practices in IP and Litigation Finance. Our attorneys advise litigation funders, investors, insurers and other clients by underwriting and analyzing litigation risks surrounding potential litigation claims, jury verdicts, case merits, and appeals of intellectual property, patent, trade secret, and commercial cases.

Media Partner

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. Through separate publications, we also cover the UK, Canadian and Australian insolvency markets (Insolvency Insider UK / Insolvency Insider Canada / Insolvency Insider Australia).

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

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Insight. Access. Commercial Outcomes.

LF Dealmakers Annual Forum is where the legal finance market comes together to do business. Bringing together senior leaders from law firms, funders, investors, corporates, insurers, and the wider disputes ecosystem, the Forum is designed to drive the relationships, partnerships, and commercial conversations that move deals forward. As the market matures and capital becomes more selective, LF Dealmakers goes beyond theory to focus on how capital is actually being deployed, partnerships structured, and opportunities executed in practice. Our value lies in convening the full legal finance ecosystem in one place — connecting those originating claims, deploying capital, structuring opportunities, and driving disputes forward. The result is a highly focused environment for meaningful conversations, strategic alignment, and real dealmaking.

How do we do this:

Pre-arranged 1:1 meetings with relevant participants

8+ hours of dedicated networking time designed for real conversations

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

21+ focused sessions tackling capital deployment, liquidity, underwriting, AI, regulation, insurance, co-funding, and the evolution of law firms

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

THE DEALMAKERS EXPERIENCE

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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 portfoliosUnderstand how funders assess risk, structure deals, and price opportunities in a more selective marketBenchmark your funding and growth strategy against leading claimant firms across EuropeExplore alternative fee arrangements, portfolio models, and firm-level financing strategiesAccess investors and advisors to support expansion, case development, and balance sheet managementStay ahead of how capital is reshaping litigation strategy, firm economics, and competitive positioning

Funders

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 typesBenchmark your underwriting, portfolio construction, and deployment strategies against leading fundersUnderstand how law firms are structuring, packaging, and presenting opportunities in today’s marketAccess origination partners, co-investment opportunities, and new distribution channelsExplore emerging asset classes, including ESG, securities, and cross-border collective actionsStay ahead of regulatory developments, capital flows, and structural shifts impacting returns

Investors

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 strategiesAccess funders, law firms, and platforms originating and managing opportunitiesEvaluate risk, return profiles, and structuring approaches across jurisdictions and asset typesExplore entry points into legal finance, including co-investment, private credit, and secondary marketsBenchmark allocation strategies against other institutional investorsStay ahead of how capital is flowing into and shaping the legal finance market

Insurers

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 disputesExplore opportunities to partner with funders and law firms on risk transfer and capital solutionsBenchmark underwriting approaches, pricing models, and emerging insurance productsAccess key stakeholders originating and structuring large-scale claims and portfoliosExplore how insurance can enhance capital efficiency, mitigate downside, and support deal structuresStay ahead of trends in claims, portfolios, and structured risk across jurisdictions

Claimants & Corporations

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 exposureExplore strategies for pursuing complex, cross-border, and high-value disputesAccess funders, law firms, and advisors to structure and execute claims effectivelyBenchmark your approach against leading corporates and claimant groups across EuropeUnderstand how funding impacts control, governance, and outcomesStay ahead of how disputes are being originated, financed, and executed in today’s market

Secure Your Seat

REGISTER TODAY

Companies Attending Include:

Court of Appeals of Lisbon

Stuttgart Regional Court

UK High Court

VENUE & Accommodations

eventi & second

Experience the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers in Manhattan’s Chelsea district. This year, the forum returns to the sophisticated Kimpton Hotel Eventi (851 6th Avenue) and the adjoining SECOND event space (849 6th Avenue), together occupying an entire NYC city block. With sleek modern design, soaring ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, both venues offer breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline — the perfect setting for high-level networking, dealmaking, and strategic discussion. A limited number of premium rooms at Kimpton Hotel Eventi are available at a special rate of $649++ 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 registrant.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

GENERAL FAQs

Where will the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum be held?

The 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be held on September 15-17, 2025 at the Kimpton Hotel Eventi & SECOND event space. This event is colocated with our 3rd LF Mass Torts event. You may find additional information regarding the venue on our Venue page.

How do I register for the event?

Registration for the 9th Annual LF Dealmakers Forum will be open soon.

What's included with my registration?

All registered attendees will have access to the following: Admission to main conferenceNetworking functions including breaks, lunches, and receptionsOnline event platform and mobile app to schedule 1:1 meetings and direct messagingRecorded sessions after the event to view on-demand

Why does my registration need to be approved?

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.

What criteria do you look for when reviewing 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.

How long will it take to review my registration?

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

Why was my registration declined or waitlisted?

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.

How do I pay my registration fees?

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.

How do I sponsor or get involved in the event?

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.

How do I submit a speaking proposal?

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.

How do you select topics and speakers?

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.

How do I schedule my 1:1 meetings?

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.

Who can schedule 1:1 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.

What is your refund policy if I need to cancel my registration?

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.

Can I send my colleague if I cannot make it?

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.

Who can I contact regarding a question or concern?

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