Discovery and Litigation Funding in US Federal Courts 

One of the most common questions raised early in the litigation funding process is about discovery – how can information about a proposed or active litigation be communicated to a litigation funder without creating a disclosure risk during the discovery process?

To help address these concerns, we hosted a webinar, Discovery and Litigation Funding in US Federal Courts, in September 2021 discussing trends in US federal courts regarding discoverability of litigation funding agreements and other information shared with funders.  Participants heard three distinct perspectives – from a funder, a top litigator with experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants, and a leading academic on third party finance—on best practices for working with funders suitable for claimholders and their counsel.

The webinar was hosted by Woodsford’s Chief Investment Officer (US), Robin Davis together with John Goetz of Fish & Richardson and Bradley Wendel, Edwin H. Woodruff Professor of Law at Cornell Law School.

You can view a recording of the webinar here.

The panel of speakers:


John Goetz–Principal at Fish & Richardson P.C.

A trial lawyer who specializes in intellectual property litigation, Mr. Goetz’s patent practice spans an unusually wide array of technical areas, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, wireless communications, computer software, website design, online e-commerce, flash memory, graphics controllers, LED displays, chemicals, micro-electro-mechanical systems, navigation systems, and hybrid-electric vehicles. Mr. Goetz’s litigation expertise also includes trademark, trade dress, and trade secret cases involving retail consumer products.

Mr. Goetz has handled dozens of cases in U.S. district courts nationwide (e.g., Texas, New York, California, Delaware, Virginia, and Kansas) and at the International Trade Commission (ITC), including as lead trial counsel. His pretrial experience includes preliminary injunction hearings, over 70 depositions, motion practice, and Markman hearings. His substantial trial experience includes opening statements, direct examinations, cross-examinations, and closing arguments.

 


W. Bradley Wendel – Edwin H. Woodruff Professor of Law at Cornell Law School

Professor Brad Wendel joined the Cornell faculty in 2004, after teaching at Washington and Lee Law School from 1999-2004. Before entering graduate school and law teaching, he was a product liability litigator at Bogle & Gates in Seattle and a law clerk for Judge Andrew J. Kleinfeld on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
His teaching interests are in the regulation of the legal profession and torts, and his research focuses on the application of moral and political philosophy to problems of legal ethics.

 


Robin M. Davis – Chief Investment Officer, US at Woodsford

Robin M. Davis is an US litigator with substantial litigation and trial experience in high-value disputes, with particular expertise in patent infringement actions.  Robin leads Woodsford’s US underwriting and investment team for all types of litigation and arbitration as Chief Investment Officer for the United States.

Before joining Woodsford, Robin was a Partner at Radulescu LLP, a boutique patent litigation firm in New York City.  Earlier in her career, Robin was an Associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Hogan Lovells US.  She has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in district court patent infringement and has also advised clients on matters before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Robin’s substantial litigation expertise further extends to other types of intellectual property litigation, commercial disputes, and arbitration.  Robin was recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star: Top Rated Intellectual Property Litigation Attorney” in the New York metro area from 2015-2018.

Robin holds an S.B. degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Materials Science and Engineering, where she was a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honors society.  She received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and was a Notes Editor for the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy.