Funding family cases: finance firm launches free guide for family lawyers 

Legal financing company, Ampla Finance, has joined with family law experts to create a free guide on litigation funding. The guide aims to assist practitioners in their discussions with clients around borrowing to fund cases, to ensure these conversations are held in compliance with FCA and SRA regulations.

‘Litigation funding in family cases: A practitioners' guide’, provides an overview of the regulations and practice underpinning funding discussions with clients. It highlights key practical considerations, gives examples of the main issues that may arise and suggests how they may be addressed, and aims to help lawyers develop a “consistent and client-focused approach.”

Louise Hall, Commercial Director of Ampla Finance, said: “In our conversations with family practitioners, member firms and industry peers, it quickly became evident that, whilst the volume of guidance around litigation funding at consumer level is significant, there is a surprising absence of profession-facing advice currently available.

“As such, we believe there is a real gap in the market for clear advice for lawyers, which we hope to fill with this guidance.”

The guide was written by Nigel Shepherd, ex-Chair of Resolution and former head of family and children at Mills & Reeve, based on advice from Simon Popplewell, a barrister at Gough Square Chambers and specialist in consumer and financial services law. 

Shepherd commented: “We’re pleased to provide what we are sure will be a useful tool for family lawyers and their compliance teams. 

“I know from my many years as a practitioner that when it comes to discussing the funding options with clients it can be difficult to provide the information and help clients’ needs, whilst at the same time remaining in step with regulatory obligations.”

Emily Finn, a family solicitor at Clarke Willmott, has welcomed the launch of the guide: "Family law proceedings can be an extremely stressful experience. How the cost of those proceedings will be funded is often an additional stress in an already very difficult time, and this can be intensified even further by the complex regulations in the area of litigation funding.

"The Ampla guide is helpful in cutting through the complexities, and offers a very useful and practical summary of regulations and best practice for family lawyers."  

The guide is available, free of charge, for all family law practitioners and their compliance teams. A formal opinion from Mr Popplewell on the regulations that underpin funding conversations will also be made available to Ampla Finance partner firms.