Addleshaw Goddard has today launched a cutting edge approach to funding civil litigation which reduces the cost of disputes and provides clients with more financial control and certainty during disputes than ever before.

Simon Twigden, Head of Litigation at Addleshaw Goddard said: "Civil Litigation is an expensive and uncertain process in the UK. By offering conditional fee agreements, after the event insurance, and third party funding (or a combination of all three) we're putting our clients fully in control of the amount of risk they take. We can reduce the day-to-day cost of running disputes; we can reduce (or eliminate entirely) the amount of our client's costs and expenses (including opponents' costs) if the client loses, and we can give our clients financial certainty in an inherently uncertain area.

"The litigation landscape is changing dramatically in the UK, especially for clients who might have had a good case in the past, but ruled out making a claim because of uncertainty and potentially high costs. Our approach is very different to the standard approach by other law firms and represents a great value proposition for clients. By standing shoulder to shoulder with them, backing our judgement and sharing the risk we're demonstrating more commitment to clients than ever before."

Funding options explained
After The Event Insurance
The unique aspect of ATE is that if clients lose the case and have ATE insurance, the insurer will cover them for their opponent's costs and expenses, but it will not charge clients for this (i.e. it waives the premium). Policies can be purchase after a dispute has arisen. If, however, clients do not loose the case, they are liable to pay the premium to the insurer, but this is often recoverable in full from the opposing party. This is therefore a win-win situation for clients.

Conditional Fee Agreements
A CFA is an agreement between Addleshaw Goddard and the client under which the client will pay the firm's fees at less than standard rates if the litigation fails, and at a standard rate plus a `success fee` if it is successful. The advantage to clients is that if they are successful, all of the costs can be recovered from the other side.

Third Party Funding
This is the provision of funds by those who have no connection with the litigation in return for a share of the proceeds. Funders will cover legal costs and expenses. If the client loses the case, the funder bears the costs the client has nothing to repay. This option therefore allows clients to transfer the financial exposure to some or all of their legal costs and expenses. In return, the funder requires a share of the damages if the client is successful win.

Addleshaw Goddard has branded its approach to litigation funding CONTRO£.

Further, more detailed information about Addleshaw Goddard's different funding options can be found at www.fundingcontrol.co.uk