In a decision with significant implications for the UK litigation funding market, the High Court has confirmed that insolvency administrators can enter into litigation funding agreements and pay funders ahead of so-called “super priority” creditors, where doing so serves the purposes of the administration. The ruling in Re Cross Transport Ltd (In Administration) [2026] EWHC 1636 (Ch), handed down on 30 June 2026 by ICC Judge Jones, resolves a tension that has been a growing concern in the insolvency market, not only in the UK but also in other jurisdictions applying similar insolvency rules. The background Cross Transport Ltd entered…

We are pleased to share that Stonward has once again been recognised in the Litigation Funding category by Chambers & Partners, in the 2026 Europe-wide edition. Guido Demarco, Director and Head of Legal Assets, has also been ranked again this year. As one client noted in Chambers’ research: “Guido possesses the rare combination of litigation and transactional legal expertise, and is capable of navigating both the merits and viability of a potential funding transaction and then structuring it in a commercially reasonable manner.” This recognition reflects our continued commitment to excellence in the litigation funding market. Learn more: https://chambers.com/department/stonward-litigation-funding-litigation-support-58:2816:80:1:23304027

On 24 March 2026, Spain’s Supreme Court handed down Judgment No. 368/2026 (appeal 5782/2023, ECLI:ES:TS:2026:1875) in the so-called “Cables BT/MT cartel” case. The ruling addresses two questions of major significance for competition law enforcement in Spain: how time gaps between anticompetitive episodes should be treated when a common plan exists, and what criteria the competition authority may lawfully use to calculate fines. Beyond its technical legal interest, the judgment carries direct strategic implications for businesses that purchased cables from the sanctioned manufacturers during the cartel period and may have suffered overcharges. At Stonward Litigation Finance, we analyse the key aspects…

The Seventh Circuit’s recent decision in Carina Ventures LLC v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation offers a stark narrative about the perils of third-party litigation funding. [1] What began as Sysco’s antitrust claims ultimately evolved into a procedural battle between Sysco and its funder, Burford Capital. When Sysco sought to settle the underlying disputes for a reported global figure of USD 50 million, Burford exercised its contractual right under Capital Provision Agreement (“CPA”) to withhold consent. What followed was an emergency relief before an arbitral tribunal and ultimately a preliminary injunction preventing Sysco from settling. Months later, Burford and Sysco resolved their…

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has finally settled a question that has long divided Spanish courts: when does the limitation period start for damages claims following an antitrust infringement decision by the Spanish Competition Authority (CNMC)? In its judgment of 4 September 2025, in Case C-21/24 (Nissan Iberia), the CJEU ruled that the limitation period begins not when the CNMC publishes its decision online, but when that decision becomes final after judicial review. In practice, this means that claimants have more time to seek compensation, since the five-year period set by the EU Damages Directive will…

On January 28, 2025, the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered a pivotal judgment (C-253/23, ASG 2 v. Land Nordrhein-Westfalen) that will have far-reaching implications for litigation funding and collective redress in the field of EU competition law. This decision addresses the conditions under which claimants harmed by anti-competitive conduct can assign their right to damages to legal service providers, enabling the bundling of claims—an issue central to mass harm and cartel damages actions. Background of the Case The case originated from a claim pursued by ASG 2 Ausgleichsgesellschaft für die Sägeindustrie Nordrhein-Westfalen GmbH (“ASG…