Harbour Litigation Funding Opens Hong Kong Office – Appoints Ruth Stackpool-Moore As Director.

28 September, 2015

 

 

Harbour Litigation Funding (Harbour) has appointed Ruth Stackpool-Moore as Director of Litigation Funding to lead its fast-growing Asia Pacific operation from a new office in Hong Kong. Ruth joins from the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC) where, as Managing Counsel, she led the arbitration team and managed the centre as Acting Secretary-General during the second half of 2014. Her work at the HKIAC, one of Asia’s leading global arbitral institutions, provides deep insight into the increasing number of claims handled in the region and has cemented her strong relationships within the Asian dispute resolution community. Her case management experience builds upon her solid private practice background having worked previously as an Associate specialising in international commercial arbitration and litigation with Debevoise & Plimpton in London, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe in Paris and Coudert Brothers in Paris and Sydney.

Harbour, one of the world's largest litigation funders acts as the sole investment sub-advisor to the Harbour Funds* which represent assets under management of over £400 million. The Harbour Funds invest in claims in Australia, Hong Kong and New Zealand with an expanding Australasian portfolio which includes new cases from Singapore. The Hong Kong office, located in the heart of the central business district, will operate as Harbour’s hub for the Asia Pacific region enabling the necessary responsiveness that local knowledge and physical presence provides.

Susan Dunn, Head of Litigation Funding, said: "Ruth is recognised as a leading authority on arbitration and litigation issues and is the ideal person to drive further growth for us in this region. Given our rising case demand from Asia Pacific, particularly class actions in Australia, opening an office in Hong Kong gives permanent in-region presence deepening our local connections. We are delighted that Ruth will be the person running that office for us."

Ruth Stackpool-Moore said: "I've seen first-hand how litigation funding can increase and improve access to justice and I'm looking forward to accelerating its progression across the world. We will be lobbying for change and increasing corporate and institutional awareness of third party funding in litigation and arbitration."

Peter Rees QC, international arbitrator at 39 Essex Street Chambers and member of Harbour Investment Committee said: “the availability of litigation funding will be an important element in further accelerating the growth of Hong Kong and Singapore as global centres for arbitration – having access to local expertise will be an important development”.