Legalist
 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Eva Shang, CEO Christian Haigh |
| Headquarters | , |
| AUM | $1.5 billion |
| Website | www |
Legalist, Inc. is an American investment firm that specializes in alternative assets in the private credit industry. Currently, the firm manages approximately $1.5 billion[1] across three separate strategies: litigation finance, bankruptcy (debtor-in-possession or DIP) financing, and government receivables lending.
The firm’s clients include institutional investors such as endowments, foundations, hospitals, insurance companies, and family offices.[2]
History
The company was founded in 2016 by Harvard University undergraduates, Eva Shang and Christian Haigh, and was part of that year's Summer Y Combinator Demo Day.[3]
In November 2017, Forbes Magazine included Legalist's founders in its "30 Under 30" Law & Policy list and reported that Legalist had raised $10.25 million over the summer.[4]
In September 2019, The Wall Street Journal reported that Legalist had raised and closed its second fund of $100 million.[5]
In April 2020, AngelList named Legalist among the 52 best startups to watch out for.[6]
In March 2021, Reuters reported that Legalist had raised $50 million for its first bankruptcy fund.[7]
In August 2022, Legalist managed approximately $750 million across three distinct private credit strategies: litigation finance, bankruptcy financing, and government receivables lending.[2]
As of July 2025, Legalist manages approximately across $1.5 billion across its three strategies. This growth was driven by the company securing a new group of clients in the form of U.S. government contractors who recently lost support from the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE).[1]
References
- ^ a b "US contractors cut off by Doge given lifeline by private credit". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ a b Journal, Matt Wirz | Photographs by Marissa Leshnov for The Wall Street (2022-04-16). "The 26-Year-Old Dropout Lapping the Hedge-Fund Field". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660.
- ^ Biz Carson (August 24, 2016). "One of Peter Thiel's fellows created a new startup that will fund your lawsuit". Business Insider.
- ^ Bogaisky, Jeremy; et al. (November 14, 2017). "30 Under 30 Law and Policy". Forbes Magazine.
- ^ Will Louch (September 12, 2019). "Tech-Driven Litigation Finance Firm Raises $100 Million for Latest Fund". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Spaventa, Sara. "52 Best Startup Companies to Watch Out for in 2020". AngelList.
- ^ "Litigation funder Legalist bets on bankruptcies, expanding small-to-midmarket strategy". Reuters. 2021-03-18.