Joe Durkin is an Investment Manager and arbitration specialist focused on disputes in the Middle East region.

Joe’s background in actuary and law provides him with a deep understanding of litigation risk. Prior to joining LCM, Joe had been based in the Middle East since 2008 as a partner with a Dubai based law firm for several years and prior to that was a lawyer with the international law firm Maples and Calder.

Joe has a deep understanding of the litigation and arbitration process in the region and has taken conduct of over one hundred commercial disputes in LCIA, ICC, DIAC, ADCCAC, DIFC Courts and DWT proceedings.

Joe has acted as legal advisor for several GCC headquartered banks, including Emirates NBD and First Gulf Bank and for the representative offices of Swiss banks in the Middle East.

Leading publishers have published his work, which includes the World’s Leading Offshore Jurisdictions, published by Sweet & Maxwell and Bloomsbury professional.

Described in Legal 500 as being “highly competent” in international dispute resolution, Joe provides “clear advice on the legal issues, but also understands the political and emotional stakes”.

Joe featured in the Expert Guides as a recommended expert in both the Construction and Real Estate and Commercial Arbitration guides. Joe is variously described and recognised as having “a masterful knowledge of dispute resolution and arbitration and combines that with an urbane charm that puts clients at their ease. I would say that he is the ‘go to’ man for any dispute before the DWT and DIFC.”

Joe is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb) and faculty member and lecturer in law with DREI, of the Government of Dubai Real Estate Regulatory Agency and a visiting lecturer at the University of Dubai, Master of Laws (LLM) in Arbitration and Dispute Resolution. He is admitted as a Solicitor in England, and Wales and Ireland.

Publications 

“The emergence of third party funding”; published in DriverTrett Digest (Issue 21, March 2021)

Joan is a commercial and operational professional and advisor, with over 20 years of senior experience in origination, business development, corporate operations and capital raising.

He has been an active member of the restructuring/distressed space in EMEA and transacted in over $2 billion of investment opportunities. Previously he was Partner & Chief Operating Officer of Sancta Capital Group, a Middle East focused value fund and Managing Director of Sancta Capital Advisors Limited, a DFSA regulated Category-4 firm. Prior to Sancta Capital, he was the Managing Director & SEO of Fulcrum Capital (Dubai) Limited, a DFSA regulated firm focused on arranging investment opportunities in the distressed debt marketplace.

He has also been former Vice President and Interim Managing Director of the first family office ever established in the DIFC, backed by a prominent member of the Saudi royal family and former director at Marcus Evans, a global business intelligence firm, responsible for sales and client relationships in EMEA. Joan trained in the Colombian Police force (including special forces unit) and is a current member of the reserve forces as Lieutenant.

Helene Roins is an Investment Manager in LCM’s Sydney office.

Prior to joining LCM in August 2020, Helene worked for an Australian litigation funder and before that spent more than 15 years in private practice, most recently as a Senior Associate at TressCox Lawyers (now HWL Ebsworth Lawyers) specialising in a range of litigation involving insolvency and restructuring, bankruptcies, insurance, intellectual property and other commercial disputes across State and Federal jurisdictions.

Helene was admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia in 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Business (Management) from University of Technology, Sydney.

James Foster is an Investment Manager in LCM’s London office, having joined in April 2020.

Before moving to the world of litigation finance James was a partner with the international law firm Gowling WLG. He has more than 30 years’ experience of international arbitration and litigation in the UK, the Far East and the Middle East with a particular focus on dispute resolution in the construction and infrastructure sectors. He is a former vice-chairman of the Society of Construction Law (Gulf) and has an MA in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford.

James is the co-author of the UAE chapter in the Law Business Research Guide to Litigation Funding, a global review of the law and practice of third party funding.

Hugo is an Investment Manager in our London office.

Prior to joining LCM he worked with another litigation funder originating, assessing and monitoring litigation and arbitration claims. Before moving into disputes finance, Hugo worked as a litigation solicitor at Norton Rose Fulbright and Gibson Dunn in Australia and the UK.

Who’s Who Legal 2020 selected Hugo as one of their 100 global Leaders in Legal Finance and named him among their global thought leaders in Third-Party Funding.

Hugo holds an LLB from Monash University in Melbourne.

Publications

“Assignment of claims: a comparative analysis of the United Kingdom and Australia”; co-authored with Justin Ward (LCM) and Siba Diqer (LCM); published in INSOL International Quarterly Journal (2^nd quarter, August 2020)

Justin heads up the LCM Recoveries business globally and is based in LCM’s Sydney office.

In this role he has implemented some of the most innovative assignments in the Australian insolvency market.

Justin joined LCM in 2019 as a Portfolio Manager, focussing on solutions for funding insolvency-related claims, assignment of claims and debt purchase. He has been involved in the insolvency industry since 2009, with experience managing complex litigation both as an insolvency professional and as a litigation funder. He is at the forefront of the assignment of insolvency claims having completed a number of assignments in the Australian and UK markets. 

Prior to joining LCM, Justin ran a consulting and funding business servicing liquidators and secured creditors in the Australian market. This business had significant success funding matters which traditionally wouldn’t have been funded and in maximising returns for creditors.

Justin is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association. He has degrees in Information Systems and Accounting and a Masters in Business Law. 

Publications:

“Using Liquidator’s Examination Documents In Assigned Claims”; co-authored with Marcel Fernandes (12 Wentworth Selborne Chambers); published in LexisNexis Insolvency Law Bulletin (Vol. 21, No. 5 & 6, July 2021)

“Disputes finance as a corporate finance tool”; co-authored with Glenn Livingstone (KPMG); published in Acuity Magazine (August 2020)

“Assignment of claims: a comparative analysis of the United Kingdom and Australia”; co-authored with Siba Diqer (LCM) and Hugo Marshall (LCM); published in INSOL International Quarterly Journal (2^nd quarter, August 2020)

“Assigning claims: A practical update”; co-authored with Siba Diqer (LCM); published in the ARITA Journal (March, 2020)

Tobey is an Investment Manager and Head of Underwriting for LCM EMEA, based in our London office.

Prior to joining LCM in August 2018, Tobey was a partner at Enyo Law from its formation in 2010, specialising in commercial dispute resolution. He has extensive experience of a wide range of domestic and international courts, as well as ad hoc and institutional arbitration business, under English and foreign law.

He was previously at Addleshaw Goddard and Charles Russell, where he qualified and was a member of the Insurance and Reinsurance Group for a number of years. During this time he worked in-house for a London-based reinsurance market business and an overseas telecommunications regulator. He is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Matthew is an Investment Manager and Head of Origination for LCM EMEA, based in our London office.

Prior to joining LCM in August 2018, Matthew set up Chancery Capital with Nick Rowles-Davies in May 2017. Before that he was a Partner at Enyo Law, one of the UK’s largest and most respected litigation-only firms and was also a Director of Navigant, a global disputes consultancy. Having qualified as a Solicitor in 2003, Matthew has spent his entire career in the litigation and arbitration world and has seen disputes from all angles. He is one of the most well-known and respected individuals in the market.

Publications

“Pressure mounts for Ireland to embrace litigation funding”; published in CDR News (February 2020)

Roger is an Investment Manager and arbitration specialist in LCM’s Singapore office.

He has specialised in disputes finance since joining LCM in 2018 and is expert at identifying and assessing prospective funding opportunities, devising and structuring dispute finance arrangements, and working closely with LCM’s clients and their legal teams to assist with their claims’ efficient progress to a positive outcome.

For over 10 years Roger has been conducting a broad range of high value, complex, cross-border disputes with a particular focus in the energy, natural resources, financial and technology sectors. He has experience conducting arbitrations under the SIAC, LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL rules as well as ad hoc arbitrations. His experience also includes commercial litigation and insolvency-related litigation. He is admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales.

Prior to joining LCM, Roger was with the international law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner). After starting his career in London, Roger worked in BCLP’s Singapore and Hong Kong offices from 2012 onwards.

Roger is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). He graduated with a degree in jurisprudence from Wadham College, Oxford University in 2004.

Roger is ranked for Litigation Funding in the Asia-Pacific region in Chambers & Partners 2020. Sources say that Roger is: “Engaging and always willing to go the extra mile, his expertise as an arbitration lawyer helps him come to grips with the nuances of cases he funds” and “It was obvious he read the matters very carefully. He gave me a very fair and reasoned viewpoint, which he did not have to take the time to do. His feedback was bang on, and absolutely what I needed to know”. He is also recognised in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Third Party Funding 2020.

PUBLICATIONS:

“A View From The Other Side: Advocacy Tips from Leading Arbitrators of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators”; sub-Editor Roger Milburn; published by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (2021)

“Enabling Legislation: Check; Code of Practice for Third Party Funders: Check; Third Party Funding for Arbitration in Hong Kong is Ready for Lift Off!”; published in the Kluwer Arbitration Blog (2019)

“Singapore court sets aside investment treaty award on merits for the first time”; published in the Practical Law Arbitration Blog (2017)

“Arbitration builds on progress in Asia”; published by South China Morning Post (2013)

Siba is an Investment Manager in LCM’s Melbourne office.

In this role she sources, assesses and manages LCM’s funding investment opportunities. She has over 12 years’ experience in corporate, property and financial litigation, banking, restructuring and insolvency.

Prior to joining LCM, Siba was at the law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, practising as a Senior Associate in the restructuring, insolvency and disputes group.  At Herbert Smith Freehills she had conduct of large scale proceedings, including: obtaining successful judgment on behalf of Herbert Smith Freehills for the recovery of $1.6 million in debt whilst defending a $400 million claim in negligence and breach of fiduciary duties; acting for PPB Advisory in its $150 million unfair preference claim against Optus; and acting for Tabcorp in implementing an $11 billion merger with Tatts by way of a scheme of arrangement.  Siba also undertook a six month secondment in the dispute resolution group at Australia and New Zealand Banking Group where she acted for ANZ in high profile litigation, including: defending ANZ executives in a defamation claim; and acting for ANZ in its action to recover $150 million in improper and related party payments from company funds and in defending a claim that security was improperly obtained and sold at an undervalue.

Siba also spent three years of her career as an Associate in banking at the law firm Allen & Overy LLP in Frankfurt am Main, Germany where she led numerous cross jurisdictional transactions, including: acting for Deutsche Bank in its enforcement of German law security provided by Luxembourg borrowers under a €1.6 billion English law governed loan; acting for Nokia Siemens Networks in obtaining a €1.2 billion forward start term and multicurrency revolving facility; and acting for Colfax Corporation company in the restructuring of its subsidiaries and the provision of security over 49 companies incorporated in England and Wales as a condition subsequent to an acquisition financing.

Prior to heading abroad, Siba was an Associate at the top tier international law firm, Minter Ellison Lawyers, in Brisbane practising in the corporate, financial litigation and insolvency team.

Siba holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Queensland (majoring in Psychology), a Bachelor of Law (with Honours) from Queensland University of Technology, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (with Excellence) from Griffith University and an Australian Restructuring & Turnaround Association certification in Insolvency (with Distinctions) from the University of Technology Sydney.

Siba was admitted to the Supreme Court of Queensland and High Court of Australia in 2008 and currently holds a Victorian practising certificate.

Siba is a member of the Law Council of Australia Business Law Section Insolvency and Restructuring Committee, a committee member of the Turnaround Management Association, a professional member of the Australian Restructuring & Turnaround Association, a member of INSOL and a board member of the Les Twentyman Foundation.

Publications

“Litigation – Risky Business for Liquidators”; co-authored with Anthony Burke (Clayton Utz); published in the ARITA Journal (Vol. 33 No. 1, March 2021)

“Assignment of claims: a comparative analysis of the United Kingdom and Australia”; co-authored with Justin Ward (LCM) and Hugo Marshall (LCM); published in INSOL International Quarterly Journal (2^nd quarter, August 2020) 

“Assigning claims: A practical update”; co-authored with Justin Ward (LCM); published in the ARITA Journal (March, 2020)

Recordings

“From private practice to investment management”; an interview with Sam Burrett for The Leading Lawyer Project, Episode 29 (April 2021)

Lina Kolomoitseva is a Senior Investment Manager, based in LCM’s Brisbane office. 

Lina has specialised in disputes finance since joining LCM in 2014 and is expert at identifying and assessing prospective funding opportunities, devising and structuring dispute finance arrangements, and working closely with LCM’s clients and their legal teams to assist with their claims’ efficient progress to a positive outcome. Lina has successfully managed a considerable portfolio of funded claims to resolution, and continues to oversee LCM investments across various sectors, jurisdictions and claim types. She is also a member of LCM’s investment committees for both the APAC and EMEA regions. 

Prior to stepping into her role with LCM, Lina was a skilled commercial litigator, having gained over a decade of experience in advancing complex commercial claims with respected private practice dispute teams. In that time, Lina’s practice was predominantly focused on trade practice, contract, negligence and insolvency disputes, as well as intellectual property and defamation actions. 

Publications:

“New rules for funders of insolvency claims: Business as usual for some, not for all”; published in Lawyerly Newsletter (15 September 2020)

Recordings:

“Asset-based debt alternatives in 2020”; a webinar with Nick Samios of Hermes Capital for Episode 26 of Lunch Money (September 2020)

Public Submissions:

“Litigation Funding Schemes: Guidance and Relief”; Australian Securities & Investments Commission Consultation Paper 345 (August 2021)

“Guaranteeing a Minimum Return of Class Action Proceeds to Class Members”; The Treasury and Attorney-General’s Department Consultation Paper (July 2021)

“Litigation Funding and the Regulation of the Class Action Industry”; Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services Inquiry (June 2020)

“Class Action Proceedings and Third-Party Litigation Funders”; Australian Law Reform Commission Inquiry (July 2018)

“Access To Justice – Litigation Funding and Group Proceedings”; Victorian Law Reform Commission Inquiry (September 2017)

Susanna is LCM’s Head Of Investments for APAC and is based in the Sydney office.

Susanna leads LCM’s team of Investment Managers in Australia and Singapore and oversees the sourcing, due diligence and management of LCM’s investment activities across the APAC region. 

Susanna joined LCM in 2014 as an Investment Manager and since that time has been responsible for managing a multi-million dollar portfolio of dispute projects consisting of commercial disputes, class actions, intellectual property insolvency claims and international arbitration.   By that management, Susanna has assisted a large number of companies, insolvency practitioners and individuals to realise results from their disputes which would not have been possible without litigation funding.  

Susanna is part of LCM’s investment committees for both APAC and EMEA and is intimately involved in most aspects of LCM’s business, taking part in regulatory and compliance and capital raising activities, investor relations and the expansion of LCM to new jurisdictions.  

Prior to joining LCM in 2014, Susanna was a litigation specialist with Norton Rose Fulbright in Sydney where she spent 12 years.  As a Senior Counsel in the litigation team, Susanna’s practice canvassed class actions, financial institutions disputes, contentious regulatory work (including work for the ACCC) and corporate disputes.  

Before joining Norton Rose Fulbright, Susanna practised in London for UK firm Hammonds Suddards Edge where her focus was on construction litigation. 

Susanna holds a Bachelor of Arts/ Laws from Macquarie University as well as a Master of Laws (Corporate and Commercial) from the University of New South Wales.  Susanna is admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court and continues to hold a current practising certificate. 

Susanna is recognised in Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Third Party Funding 2020. She is a regular presenter on issues relating to litigation funding and class actions.

Publications
“The Law and Litigation Funders”; published in ExpertsDirect newsletter (August 2021

“COVID-19 – Emerging Trends in Aviation Claims: The New ‘Normal’?”; co-authored with James Cooper (Clyde & Co) and Olivia Puchalaski (Clyde & Co); published in Clyde & Co Aviation newsletter (January 2021)

“Court of Appeal upholds declaration that funding agreement is valid”; published in Lawyerly newsletter (November 2020)

“Corporate Cashflow Management: Choosing the Right Finance Partner”; published by LexisNexis (September 2020)

“Litigation Funding Practice Note: Practical Law”; published by Thomson Reuters 2017

Recordings
“Class Actions Forum: Capital, Regulation and the Public Interest”; panel hosted by The Law Council of Australia (July 2021)

“Virtual catch up with a litigation funder”; an interview with Tom Balmer for Talks with TLS (August 2020)