Eight years of excellence – Woodsford ranked in Chambers & Partners 2025
Woodsford continues to lead the way in global litigation funding and we are proud to be recognised in multiple jurisdictions for the eighth consecutive year in Chambers & Partners litigation funding guide. This year’s Chambers rankings recognise Woodsford across Australia, the UK, Canada and Europe, reflecting our position as a leading global player in litigation funding and collective redress. In [...]
Woodsford in Lawdragon’s 100 Global Leaders in Litigation Finance
Woodsford team recognised in the 2025 Lawdragon 100 Global Leaders in Litigation Finance We're pleased to announce that our Chairman, Olivier Bonavero, our CEO, Steven Friel, our Chief Investment Officer, Charlie Morrris and our Chief Operating Officer & GC, Jonathan Barnes, have been recognised as leaders in the field of litigation finance. Woodsford has been consecutively ranked in Lawdragon 100 [...]
Woodsford’s Investor Group Rebuts Standard Chartered Strike-Out Attempt
A group of institutional investors organised and funded by Woodsford has been given the green light to proceed to trial. Various Claimants v Standard Chartered PLC - [2025] EWHC 698 (Ch) Institutional investors who have collectively suffered losses in excess of £1.5bn, arising from disclosures of corporate governance failures at Standard Chartered PLC, have succesfully resisted an attempt by the [...]
Woodsford supports JGA Saddler in major Australian Tesla class action
Braking Bad: Woodsford provides funding for Tesla class action in respect of phantom braking and empty promises The action, filed by law firm JGA Saddler, alleges Tesla Australia and Tesla US marketed and sold motor vehicles manufactured by Tesla US that are defective, resulting in dangerous and potentially fatal ‘phantom braking’, and that the company made promises around the vehicles' [...]
Introducing the ICGN Committee Members from Woodsford
Woodsford's Steven Friel and David Haughan welcomed as members on ICGN (International Corporate Governance Network) Committees We're pleased to announce that our CEO, Steven Friel is appointed as a member on the ICGN Global Policy Committee and our Investment Officer, David Haughan is a member of the ICGN Future Leaders Committee. Each committee plays a significant role in shaping meaningful [...]
Charlie Morris interviewed by Investment & Pensions Europe (IPE)
Investment & Pensions Europe interviews Charlie Morris (CIO) for Reckitt/Indivior Case Study As part of IPE's December 2024 Magazine, Charlie Morris (Woodsford's CIO) spoke with IPE to discuss the Reckitt/Indivior shareholder action. The article explains the reasoning for the Merseyside Pension Fund participating in such securities actions and how they are an essential part of an institutional investor's stewardship toolkit. [...]
Woodsford supports major Google AdTech class action in Australia
Google ad tech class action launched in Australia A class action was filed on 16 December 2024 in the Federal Court of Australia in respect of Google's misconduct in the digital advertising space. The action is brought on behalf of Australian domiciled website and app publishers who have, it is alleged, suffered financial losses as a result of Google abusing [...]
The Varieties of Investor Stewardship Conference
Woodsford's CEO, Steven Friel discusses the role of Litigation as a critical tool in Investor Stewardship at the Varieties of Investor Stewardship Conference The third Investor Stewardship Conference organised by the King's Global Investor Stewardship Research Group witnessed active partnership from experts and academics alike who came together to discuss the current and future directions of investor stewardship. Our CEO, [...]
UK CJC launches its Litigation Funding Report and Consultation
The UK Civil Justice Council (CJC) takes a step towards litigation funding reform with its report and consultation Natasha Doris of CDR Magazine interviewed our CEO, Steven Friel on the recent litigation funding report. A move to reform the litigation funding sector is being put into motion with the UK Civil Justice Council (CJC) publishing its interim report on litigation funding [...]
The evolving nature of Dutch litigation and its Impact on Funders
Going Dutch: Understanding Funders' Perspectives on the dynamics of Dutch Litigation Dippy Singh from CDR Magazine recently interviewed our Investment Officer and Dutch-qualified lawyer, Bram Berends. Since the introduction of the WAMCA regime in January 2020 the acceptance and use of litigation funding in the Netherlands has been given an impetus. The Dutch court's decision brings into question its effect [...]
Woodsford & Piper Alderman Launch Isuzu Diesel Emissions Class Action in Australia
Piper Alderman and Woodsford commence defeat device class action against Isuzu Motors Limited Woodsford is proud to again be partnering with leading Australian law firm, Piper Alderman, in commencing their second diesel emissions class action of 2024. Having previously commenced an action relating to defeat devices alleged to be fitted in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, the present claim, commenced on 14 August [...]
Woodsford team ranked as industry experts in Lexology’s Who’s Who Legal
Woodsford team recognised as thought leaders in Lexology's Who's Who Legal (WWL) The WWL list highlights the contributions of some of the leading practitioners in the legal world, including those who have significantly shaped the industry of third party funding. We are pleased to announce that our CEO, Steven Friel, our Chief Investment Officer, Charlie Morrris, our Chief Operating Officer [...]
Shein’s potential London IPO raises investor concerns
Shein’s London IPO: Could it be going out of fashion? Najiyya Budaly from Law360 recently interviewed our CEO, Steven Friel. Speculation surrounds the fast-fashion company, Shein and its recent quest to launch an IPO in London. Given the concerns looming around the Singapore-based company’s labour practices, questions have arisen regarding the redress available to investors to recover losses that might [...]
Chambers and Partners: Woodsford recognised for its excellence
We are proud that Woodsford’s international business has been ranked highly for the seventh year in a row in this year’s Chambers & Partners litigation funding guide. We are one of only a handful of businesses ranked in the UK, Australia, Canada and Europe. Our CEO, Steven Friel and Chief Investment Officer, Charlie Morris were noted and ranked as individuals. Highlights [...]
Collective Actions: The light at the end of the tunnel
Collective Actions Framework Natasha Doris of CDR Magazine recently interviewed our CEO, Steven Friel. When investee companies breach standards of corporate governance and even their own ESG policies, collective escalated engagements provide shareholders with the opportunity to step in and obtain redress. While discussing the current landscape of opt-in and opt-out collective claims in the UK, Steven remarks on how [...]
CAT Approves £25m Settlement in Trains Class Action Against Stagecoach
Settlement Approved in Woodsford Backed Class Action Against Stagecoach South Western On Friday 10 May 2024, London’s specialist competition court, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”), handed down a judgment approving a £25m settlement between the class representative, Justin Gutmann, and the settling Defendant, Stagecoach South Western Trains Limited (“Stagecoach”). It is estimated that in excess of 1.4m rail passengers (“class [...]
