About us

Harbour is the largest privately-owned, dedicated litigation and arbitration funder in the world.

Since our foundation in 2007 we have become trusted advisors and providers of capital to law firms, corporates and claimants, supporting them in progressing high-value commercial disputes all over the world. We have funded 155 cases, in both common and civil law jurisdictions, and in several arbitral forums.

Harbour raises and invests its own capital – we are not a funding broker. This allows us to provide funding arrangements tailored to suit your specific needs. Our interests are aligned with the claimant’s, and our processes are straightforward and transparent. Our funding is flexible and responsive to the myriad of challenges presented by litigation and arbitration.

Funding is not all we offer. Our team includes experienced former private practice litigators and finance professionals, whose blend of skills, expertise, and networks are all made available to help you maximise the value of your claim, and to bring it to a successful conclusion. Our investment committee includes highly experienced Queen’s Counsel whose insights and scrutiny help validate a claim, and help build confidence and reassure a board, shareholders or creditors, that the case has good prospects.

Our funds are never leveraged, and the entire budget for each case we support is ringfenced, so funds are always available to meet the commitment we make to you and are not dependent on other cases succeeding. We are recognised by industry directories as a market leader and we pride ourselves on being a transparent partner for your project. Many of our investors have supported us across several of our funds, and our best business comes from repeat funding for some of the world’s leading law-firms and their clients. We are a founding member of the Association of Litigation Funders of England and Wales and were involved in drafting its Code of Conduct. The current Chair of the Association is a member of the Harbour team.

We are also a founding member of the International Legal Finance Association (ILFA) that launched in September 2020. ILFA represents the global commercial legal finance community and aims to promote the highest standards of operation and service in the sector. ILFA’s mission is to engage, educate and influence legislative, regulatory and judicial landscapes as the global voice of the commercial legal finance industry.

Obtaining redress is rarely easy or straightforward, but Harbour’s expertise and resources are here to help.

Our history

Since our inception in 2007, we have been at the forefront of the growth and development of the dispute funding industry.

Global reach

Dispute funding has grown rapidly internationally, and Harbour is at the forefront of this growth.

Social responsibility

As has been recognised by senior judges and arbitrators, dispute funding has an important role to play in unlocking access to justice, particularly in cases where an “inequality of arms” exists.

If you require assistance, please contact us.

The litigation funding market is increasingly crowded but Harbour stands out as one of a handful of providers who are reliable, commercial and pragmatic in their approach.

— Paul Worth, Joint Head of Litigation Eversheds Sutherland

You are dealing with professionals who both understand the ups and downs of litigation, but also have the commercial awareness of which cases are likely to work for them.

— Richard Leedham, Mishcon de Reya

Often in funding matters, timing and responsiveness is vital. I have always found the Harbour team alive to these issues, and committed to prompt turnaround.

— Chambers and Partners 2022

They operate at the Rolls-Royce end of the market, funding serious cases with staff who can actually add value in the context of litigation. It's very useful to have a litigation funder who does not back seat drive. They bring very useful and objective solutions.

— Chambers & Partners 2020

They have real depth of experience in funding group claims, better than other funders for the UK. Real experts in that area.

— Chambers & Partners 2020

Harbour are like royalty. Very, very good, very polished and very sophisticated. They give you a very quick turnaround, and get cases in and out the door. The thing I like about them is that when they are not interested, they give you a quick no.

— Chambers & Partners 2020

They are experienced and know their market, which really helps when they are in front of clients. They also have a track record with which many of the newer funders struggle to compete.

— Paul Worth, Joint Head of Litigation Eversheds Sutherland

Harbour is not afraid to talk about out-of-the-box commercial agreements and to bring in other high-end firms who can add value to the process in Australia. Sophisticated and high-end funding, very complex cases. Love their thinking and their ingenuity.

— Chambers & Partners 2020

We don’t see Harbour as just funders – we see them as business partners – and that we are in the case together to get the best result for the clients (or the class).

— Johnson Winter & Slattery

Impeccable reputation in the marketplace.

— Chambers & Partners 2019

Never met a funder so involved – they work hand in glove with their clients.

— Chambers & Partners 2019

Early on, thought-through decisions are reached about cases which means minimum frustration for clients. As cases progress the team are always willing to discuss any aspect while maintaining the correct distance.

— Richard Leedham, Mishcon de Reya

They listen to what you say, then form their own view and put in a realistic contingency to use if needed.

— Chambers & Partners 2019

The perfect funder needs to be somewhere between a traditional lawyer and a hedge fund manager. It’s essential to have a legal understanding yet to be very commercial.

— Ben Williams, King & Spalding

Case studies

Ford Motor Co.

A class action against Ford Motor Company in relation to the sale and leasing of various vehicles on the basis of allegedly misleading fuel consumption representations.

Marriott

A representative action against Marriott International for their failure to safeguard the personal data of tens of millions of guests. 

Valeant Pharma

A Canadian class action against Valeant Pharmaceuticals in relation to the sale of a product allegedly in contravention of consumer protection legislation.

Our team

We have a diverse group of people, all of whom understand what is required to progress a case. All have specialist litigation and arbitration experience in numerous jurisdictions. They have the creativity and problem solving capacity to take your case to completion.

Meet everyone

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