Bentham IMF expands Investment Team following launch of a new US Fund

Daniela Raz, former General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer for LightRay Companies, a distressed asset investor, and Fiona Chaney, a former trial lawyer from a Los Angeles-based litigation firm, join Bentham’s New York and Los Angeles offices, respectively. 

As a former General Counsel and a litigator who practiced for 15 years with litigation-only firm Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, Daniela is well-equipped to assess investment opportunities and advise Bentham’s clients with practical business judgment and an understanding of the nuanced factors companies weigh when making decisions involving risk. Her addition to the team bolsters Bentham’s ability to execute on its strategy of becoming a leading capital provider to companies seeking to put their meritorious litigation claims to work as assets. She has the knowledge and perspective to collaborate with general counsel, c-suite executives and board members on strategies for financing the pursuit of such claims. Additionally, her experience handling a wide variety of complex litigation claims at Kasowitz, where she primarily represented plaintiffs in a wide range of complex commercial matters, will make her an asset for Bentham in its evaluation of commercial litigation claims.

 

“As companies become more interested in realizing the capital and risk management benefits of litigation finance, they’re looking to reputable funders with a history of success and investment professionals who understand the unique factors they weigh when deciding whether and how to pursue litigation claims,” said Allison Chock, Bentham’s US Chief Investment Officer. “Daniela’s experience in-house, combined with 15 years spent representing large companies in all manner of complex litigation matters, makes her the right fit at the right time for our company,” she added.

Fiona Chaney’s trial skills, gained over 15 years spent focusing primarily on insurance coverage litigation practicing at large law firms, and, most recently, at a Los Angeles-based litigation boutique, enhance Bentham’s capabilities in evaluating opportunities to invest in insurance subrogation and other complex litigation matters. Fiona is particularly experienced in representing clients in the entertainment and sports industries – sectors where Bentham sees ample opportunity to grow relationships with firms and companies pursuing commercial claims. She has also handled white collar and government investigation matters. Fiona also has experience in IP litigation and patent licensing programs.  

“Bentham is funding a wider array of commercial litigation matters as interest in funding continues to grow,” said Charlie Gollow, Bentham’s US Chief Executive. “Fiona brings a new area of expertise to our team, which positions us to broaden the types of matters we source and evaluate as we work towards deploying the fund launched last week,” he added. “We’re excited to add her to our Los Angeles office, and we’re delighted that hiring both women increases the diversity on our investment team.”

Daniela and Fiona possess impressive credentials. Daniela clerked for the Honorable I. Leo Glasser of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and was a Marvin M. Karpatkin fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union. She earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Law) and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard College. She is admitted to practice law in New York and California. 

Fiona is an editor and co-author of the New Appleman Sports and Entertainment Insurance Law & Practice Guide (LexisNexis, 2014). She earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School where she was a member of the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A. in Political Science from the University of San Diego.

For further information regarding Bentham IMF and its activities, please visit www.benthamimf.com.