Closing Our 25th Year: Reflections on a Quarter Century in Litigation Insurance

This past year marked a significant milestone for TheJudge Group: 25 years dedicated exclusively to litigation risk insurance. As we close the year and step into our 26th, it’s a moment to pause and reflect on what a quarter century in this specialised market has taught us. In an industry that has evolved rapidly, shaped by changing commercial realities, procedural reforms, and the needs of clients. Longevity has been earned through focus, credibility, and adaptability.

Since our founding, TheJudge has arranged more than 10,000 litigation insurance placements, supporting disputes valued at over $70 billion worldwide. But beyond the numbers, 25 years represents trust built case by case, relationships strengthened over decades, and a reputation shaped both by consistency and innovation in a highly specialised market.

The litigation market today is almost unrecognisable from its early-2000s origins. In 2000, the commercial litigation insurance market was barely established, largely limited to the UK, with maximum available capacity typically limited to less than £1 million for any given matter. Fast forward to 2025, and the market has permeated nearly every major dispute area and global centres, with policy limits extending into the hundreds of millions where required.  TheJudge has been a key player in the development and progression of the market throughout.

Focus as a differentiator

From the start, TheJudge made a deliberate decision to focus solely on litigation insurance. By avoiding the conflicts of interest that can arise in multi-line brokerage models, we’ve been able to concentrate entirely on one goal: helping clients and their advisers manage litigation risk effectively. This clarity of purpose has proved increasingly valuable as litigation insurance has moved from a niche solution to an essential part of modern legal strategy. What was once unfamiliar is now widely recognised as a key tool in managing risk and enabling access to justice.

Staying in our lane has proven to be a sound decision, never more so than in 2025, when the market experienced increasing fragmentation and political division. During this period, several liability insurers, reinsurers, and lobbyists sought to curtail market expansion, citing arguments around social inflation. While we strongly disagree with this rhetoric, it nonetheless prompted a number of large players, both insurers and brokers, to exit the market with little notice throughout 2025.

Representing claimants and plaintiffs on one hand, while potentially representing defendants through their liability insurance on the other, was always likely to create commercial tensions among insurers, particularly as the claimant insurance market continues to expand.

Innovation ahead of the curve

Over the years, TheJudge has consistently pioneered new solutions. More than 15 years ago, we introduced contingency fee insurance for law firms—well before such arrangements became mainstream. Since then, we’ve continued to innovate with bespoke products such as attorney fee insurance, fee-shifting cover, judgment preservation, and other solutions tailored to the realities of modern litigation and arbitration. These products have supported clients ranging from small businesses to household-name corporates, across multiple jurisdictions and dispute types.

Global reach, specialist expertise

As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Thomas Miller Group, TheJudge combines independence with the strength of a global network. Our access to international insurers and reinsurers allows us to structure creative, cost-effective solutions even in complex or novel disputes. What clients value most, however, is our ability to think laterally, problem-solve early, and align legal strategy with financial realities.

Recognition built over time

Sustained excellence is hard to achieve and easy to lose. Our consistent recognition by Chambers & Partners reflects the trust we’ve built over 25 years—we remain the only company to have been ranked Band 1 every year since the litigation insurance category was introduced.

Looking ahead

As we close our 25th year and enter our 26th, CEO Matthew Amey reflects:

“Our 25-year milestone is a testament to our team’s deep expertise, focus, and innovation. We’re proud to have helped shape the litigation insurance market and to continue delivering value to clients across the globe.”

While disputes will evolve, the need for thoughtful, expert risk transfer will not. Our commitment remains the same: to provide independence, specialist knowledge, and solutions that give clients confidence in the face of uncertainty.

And a huge “thank you” . . .

Finally, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the lawyers we have worked with over the years, as well as their clients; to the insurers and reinsurers who have supported, and continue to support, TheJudge; and, last but certainly not least, to all current and former members of our team whose dedication and expertise has helped build the company’s reputation, shape its values, and drive the business forward into its next quarter century.