Now Indians can bet on the outcome of court cases as litigation funding shapes up to be a new investment asset
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.MUMBAI: Investors are beginning to finance commercial lawsuits in India in exchange for a share of future settlements or court awards, as litigation funding— a niche alternative asset class long established in some global markets—starts to take shape locally.At least three entities, including alternative investment fund (AIF) Five Rivers, New Delhi-based LegalPay, a litigation funder, and Singapore-based ELF Partners, a litigation finance consultancy, are active in the space, marking early institutional entry into what is also known as third-party funding (TPF).Five Rivers, a Mumbai-based AIF, is in talks with investors to close its first fund of $25-50 million,according to Irfan Mughal, the managing director of Five Rivers. It positions itself as the first dedicated fund of its kind in India, offering investors exposure to returns linked to outcomes in commercial disputes.
AIFs in India require a minimum investment of ₹1 crore.LegalPay and ELF Partners have been operating in the space for a few years, primarily acting as intermediaries connecting investors to disputes for a fee and a share of potential payouts. Their investor base typically includes venture capital firms and high-net-worth individuals, with investment decisions made on a case-by-case basis, executives at these companies said.The market remains nascent, and participants say there are no reliable estimates of its size or deal flow, with firms typically bound by confidentiality agreements that prevent disclosure of case-level details.Under the structure, a commercial dispute is referred to a TPF firm, which evaluates the case before deciding whether to fund it.According to Pranav Mago, chief executive officer of ELF
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