diego-gennaro-zQSIt7E5hK0-unsplash

NEWS

Therium Launches In Oslo as First Litigation Funder in Scandinavia

1st June 2016

Henrik Berg, Henrik Jensen and Trond Jacobsen to lead Therium in Scandinavia

Therium Group Holdings Limited, a leading global provider of litigation finance globally with over $300 million in committed capital, is launching operations in Scandinavia as Therium Nordic AS, headquartered in Oslo. Therium Group Holdings is one of the largest and most established litigation financing firms in the world.

Therium has identified a substantial market for litigation funding in Scandinavia, with demand being driven by the increasing number of legal disputes, especially in energy and construction, and the high and rising costs of legal claims. Litigation can be lengthy and the costs can be prohibitive. Litigation funding or litigation finance, as it is sometimes referred to, allows individuals and companies to take on litigation and arbitration cases that they might not otherwise be able to afford, and/ or to hedge the costs and risks involved in such matters. Therium pays for all of the costs, including adverse costs in the event that the case is lost, and only receives payment if the case is won.

Henrik Berg is joining Therium Nordic as CEO, Henrik Jensen is joining as Chairman, and Trond Jacobsen as board member. Henrik Berg has more than 20 years of experience as a management consultant in Scandinavia, having worked for firms including PA Consulting Group, Qvartz and Pareto Group. He holds an MSc in economics and business administration from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration, with studies at the London School of Economics.


Henrik Jensen is an experienced lawyer and has been admitted to the Supreme Court of Norway. Henrik founded and is an active owner of two law-firms (Legalis and Legal24) and a legal insurance company (Legal Insurance Group) in Norway and Scandinavia. Henrik completed his first degree in law in Oslo, followed by a Master of Law at the Max-Planck-Institute in Munich, with a thesis on EU copyright-law. Trond Jacobsen has extensive experience as a lawyer and entrepreneur. In addition to Therium Nordic AS, Trond, together with Henrik, founded Legal Insurance Group and Legal24. Trond graduated in law from the University of Oslo, specialising in international law.

John Byrne, Co-founder and CEO of Therium, said: “We are delighted to launch Therium Nordic and introduce litigation finance to law firms, companies and individuals in Scandinavia under the leadership of Henrik Jensen, Henrik Berg and Trond Jacobsen. Scandinavia is an important market for Therium and is a focal point for key sectors that we focus on, such as oil and gas.”

Henrik Berg, CEO of Therium Nordic, said: “Litigation funding will help to solve a key challenge facing claimants when deciding whether or not to pursue a claim, without undermining the law firm industry’s hourly fee business model. Crucially, funding provides access to justice for those who might not otherwise be able to meet the costs of a claim. Therium is the pre-eminent global litigation funding firm and we are excited to develop Therium’s funding propositions to meet the needs of the Scandinavian market.”

Henrik added: “The sharp downturn in the Norwegian oil and offshore industries has given rise to a growing number of claims. Conflicts in onshore infrastructure construction contracts, such as in road and rail projects, are also at a record high. This rising tide of disputes, as well as the fee pressure on law firms, make this an ideal time to launch Therium Nordic.”

Therium Nordic’s initial focus will be to fund individual litigation and arbitration cases. The firm will also review group litigation and class action cases, an area which is expected to see increased activity. Core litigation cases will include breach of contract cases within the oil and offshore industries as well as cases in construction and real estate, seafood-industry insolvency cases, commercial torts, complex commercial litigation, domestic and international arbitral matters, as well as insurance disputes.

Neil Purslow, Co-Founder of Therium, said: “As well as providing funding to meet the costs of a claim, financial directors of companies in the UK, the US and other jurisdictions look to Therium to transform a claim into an asset, by removing the cost of litigation from the company’s balance sheet and freeing up cash flow. We look forward to working with our partners in Scandinavia and helping Scandinavian companies to use litigation funding for such strategic purposes and give them a competitive advantage.”

Therium Nordic is located at Hammersborg torg 3, in the center of Oslo. All enquiries should be sent to post@therium.no.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Therium Nordic AS team

Henrik Berg

Henrik is CEO of Therium Nordic. He has more than 20 years of experience as a management consultant in Scandinavia, having worked for firms including PA
Consulting Group, Qvartz and Pareto Group. He holds an MSc in economics and business administration from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business
Administration.

Henrik Jensen

Henrik is Chairman of Therium Nordic AS. He is an experienced lawyer and has been admitted to the Supreme Court of Norway. Henrik founded and is an active
owner of two law-firms (Legalis and Legal24) and a legal insurance company (Legal Insurance Group) in Norway and Scandinavia. Henrik completed his first
degree in law in Oslo, followed by a Master of Law at the Max-Planck-Institute in Munich, with a thesis on EU copyright-law.

Trond Jacobsen

Trond is a board member of Therium Nordic AS. He has extensive experience as a lawyer and entrepreneur. Together with Henrik he founded and is an active
owner of law firm Legal24 and Legal Insurance Group. Trond graduated in law from the University of Oslo, specialising in international law.

About Therium

Founded in London and Jersey in 2009, Therium is one of the most established global litigation financing firms, with a market-leading track record of
generating superior returns for its investors. In April 2015, Therium secured $300 million to invest in commercial litigation financing, the largest ever
single investment in the litigation funding sector, globally. In April 2016, Therium became the first European litigation finance company to launch a full
service business in North America, Therium Inc., which is headquartered in New York.

Therium has consistently been at the forefront of innovation in litigation finance, pioneering the combined use of insurance tools alongside funding
vehicles, and introducing portfolio funding products into the UK. The firm’s ability to develop innovative funding arrangements complements its rigorous
approach to and experience of funding a wide range of commercial disputes in varying jurisdictions. www.therium.no

Media Enquiries:

Norway/Scandinavia

Henrik Berg
+47 91363615
henrik.berg@therium.no

United Kingdom

Desiree Maghoo
+44 (0)7775 522740
dmaghoo@questorconsulting.com