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Types of dispute

How cases arise will rarely determine whether or not we will support them.

Your expertise, and the type of investment you seek, are also important considerations for us. Some examples of our areas of specialism are set out below, and our information sheets highlight what we look for in each type of case. We fund all kinds of civil disputes except personal injury and divorce.

We operate in several jurisdictions, whether funding one case, a portfolio of cases, or a law firm. We support cases whether they are resolved through arbitration or litigation, and whether they are brought by one claimant or many.

Arbitration

Harbour funds parties from many industry sectors when they seek to resolve disputes through commercial arbitration or investor-state arbitration.

Competition

Harbour can fund businesses, consumers, or even States who wish to challenge anti-competitive behaviour. We are experienced in supporting follow-on claims and stand-alone actions.

Construction

In an industry where cashflow can be tight, Harbour’s funds and experienced team help parties resolve expensive and technical disputes.

Employment

Employees often face an uphill struggle when they seek to challenge the actions of their employers. Learn how Harbour helps them level the playing field.

Enforcement and Asset Recovery

Our long experience means we know securing a judgment on liability and quantum is only half the story. Learn how we can help with funding for enforcement and asset recovery proceedings.

Financial services

The business of financial institutions often gives rise to disputes over the mis-selling of products, or the mismanagement of funds. Harbour helps individuals and groups of claimants seek redress.

Fraud

The financial loss which can flow from fraud is often the very thing which prevents victims from seeking redress. Harbour funds fraud actions, as well as ancillary proceedings to ensure assets can be recovered.

General commercial

Where commercial transactions do not turn out as planned, litigation or arbitration may be a necessary tool. Harbour helps reduce the cost and risk of dispute resolution, freeing up your funds for investment in other areas of your business.

Group and class actions

Harbour is one of the world’s leading funders of group and class actions. We fund claims involving securities, shareholders, data breaches, consumer claims, mass torts, competition disputes, and more. We know where the risks arise, and what obstacles you are likely to face.

Insolvency

Creditors of insolvent entities may understandably be reluctant to spend money on pursuing claims. Harbour’s funds can help claimants and insolvency practitioners maximise the value of any claims in an insolvent estate.

Intellectual Property

Inventors and other intellectual property owners need to be alert to those who infringe their rights. Harbour can help them seek compensation for their losses.

Product liability

Defective products can cause untold damage to purchasers, users, and third-parties. Learn how Harbour can help them seek compensation for such damage.

Professional negligence

Harbour supports those who suffer loss or damage as a result of the negligence of their professional advisers. Learn how we help shareholders, creditors, insolvency practitioners and others to seek redress.

Shareholder

When shareholders – either individuals or groups – disagree with company managers on issues of ownership, control, profit distribution, or disclosure of key information, then losses can arise. Harbour has extensive experience in supporting shareholders in bringing claims to recover those losses.

Trusts

Harbour can help support disputes arising from a trustee’s mismanagement of a trust, or their improper distribution of trust assets, or a failure of proper accounting.

What we offer

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

Oz Minerals

A class action against Oz Minerals Limited in relation to its alleged failure to abide by various continuous disclosure rules.

KK Group

A claim by Kazakhstan Kagazy against its former directors and shareholders following the revelation of a large-scale fraud. 

Mercedes

A UK consumer case against Mercedes for its use of illegal emissions-cheating devices.

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