Liverpool litigation funder expands with £20m credit facility
Liverpool-based ‘lendtech’ litigation funder, Sandfield Capital, is expanding following a £20m credit facility from London’s Ampla Finance.
The funding is the first tranche of a £100m fundraise being led by private debt finance specialist Altimapa Capital, which is transforming the way SMEs secure funding by engaging directly with a network of more than 600 institutional investors.
Sandfield works with a panel of specialist law firms and funds cases in specific legal areas including housing disrepair claims against landlords, claims against companies for loss or breach of customers’ personal data, mortgage interest miscalculation, and claims against finance brokers for failing to disclose commission earned on loans or mortgages.
All Sandfield’s loans are fully insured so, in the event that the claim is unsuccessful, the individual has nothing to pay.
Sandfield, which also has an office in London, was founded in 2020 by Steven D’Ambrosio, who had previously held senior roles at Close Brothers Group, and with backing from a private investor.
The company’s unique platform enables claims to be processed rapidly while ensuring regulatory compliance. It also has a unique approach to underwriting cases with a fully insured investment product intended to reduce losses and improve the scalability of the product.
Sandfield, which currently employs eight staff, now plans to expand its team with the creation of 10 jobs at its operations centre in Liverpool in the year ahead to help it meet market demand.
Steven Ambrosio said: “Sandfield Capital provides access to justice for individuals who may otherwise be unable to pursue a claim.
“We support cases in areas of clear demand which have been overlooked by other finance providers and help tenants, home owners and others to seek justice through the courts. This funding will help us to meet the growing demand and is the first phase in our journey to raise £100m to transform our business and help us bring access to justice for many more individuals.”
Pedro Tavares, CEO and founder of Altimapa Capital, said: “Sandfield Capital has a well-thought-out business model and a sound proposition, however, as a niche operator, it failed to tick the right boxes for traditional funders. We are delighted that we were able to find the right match and structure a deal that highlights the expertise and professionalism of all parties involved.”
Ampla Finance is an alternative commercial and consumer finance business that provides funding for borrowers and private individuals who require funding for life events such as divorce or inheritance.
Its CEO, Richard Kennerley, said: “We’re seeing a number of evolving tech trends in the civil litigation arena. Sandfield is well placed to capitalise on these advancements whilst also providing its client base with a high quality, ethical and comprehensive offering.”
