Deminor Wiki - Legal Community Week

History

Legal Community Week emerged from the growing need for a comprehensive international legal conference in Southern Europe that could rival established events in London, New York, and Singapore. The conference was initiated by LC Publishing Group, an international digital publishing company founded in 2011 that has become the largest legal publisher across Southern Europe and Latin America. LC Publishing Group, led by CEO Aldo Scaringella and Group Editor-in-Chief Nicola Di Molfetta, publishes market-leading titles including Legalcommunity.it, MAG, Financecommunity.it, and Iberian Lawyer, providing business intelligence to the legal, tax, and finance sectors.

The inclusion of litigation funding as a key conference theme represents a relatively recent but significant development, reflecting the liberalisation of third-party funding regulations across Europe and the growing acceptance of litigation finance as a legitimate tool for access to justice. As major international funders established operations in continental Europe, Legal Community Week became an essential venue for connecting funders with law firms and corporate legal departments.

Conference Structure and International Participation

Legal Community Week distinguishes itself through its comprehensive programming that combines substantive legal content with extensive networking opportunities and social events. The conference structure includes morning breakfast sessions hosted by major law firms, followed by panel discussions, keynote addresses, and parallel roundtables throughout the day. Evening events feature cocktail receptions, sporting activities including the traditional "Run the Law" morning run, and the unique "Rock the Law" music contest featuring bands composed of lawyers and business professionals.

Litigation Funding Context

Litigation funding, also known as third-party funding (TPF), refers to the practice whereby a third party provides financial resources to support litigation or arbitration proceedings in exchange for a share of any proceeds recovered. This financial arrangement enables claimants to pursue meritorious claims without bearing the full financial burden and risk of legal proceedings. Legal Community Week has emerged as a crucial venue for the litigation funding community in continental Europe, facilitating connections between funders, law firms, and potential claimants.

For example, Erik Bomans, CEO of Deminor, has featured in dedicated litigation funding panels, alongside corporate legal leaders and arbitration experts, discussing the growing role of funding in the Italian market. These sessions typically address regulatory developments, ethical considerations, portfolio funding arrangements, and the intersection of funding with collective actions under European Union directives. The conference has played a crucial role in educating the Italian legal market about litigation funding possibilities, contributing to the gradual acceptance of third-party funding in jurisdictions that historically viewed such arrangements with scepticism.

Market Impact

Legal Community Week has demonstrable impact on the European legal services market, particularly in facilitating cross-border collaboration and market entry strategies. For litigation funders, the event provides market intelligence about dispute resolution trends in Southern Europe.

The Italian market represents a particular opportunity for litigation funding, with the market being described as "decidedly underserved" by industry analysts, positions Italy as a "Blue Ocean" for litigation funding growth.

The conference's role in shaping market perceptions is particularly evident in the litigation funding sector, where presentations have helped demystify the role funding can play within the legal industry.

Broader Industry

Legal Community Week operates within the broader context of increasing globalisation and financialisation of legal services. The conference reflects and influences several industry trends, including the convergence of legal and financial markets, the rise of legal operations as a discipline, and the growing importance of data analytics in case assessment and management.

The event's emphasis on innovation and technology adoption has positioned it as a forum for discussing legal tech solutions. The 2025 edition included multiple sessions on AI's impact on legal practice, reflecting the profession's engagement with technological transformation.

Deminor Participation

The Deminor team, in particular CEO, Erik Bomans and Senior Legal Counsel, Giacomo Lorenzo, have regularly sponsored Legal Community Week over the years and also featured in various discussion panels, as the earlier reference highlighted.

Conclusion

Legal Community Week has established itself as a key gathering for the European legal community. The conference's comprehensive programming, prestigious awards, including the Legalcommunity Corporate Awards gala, and unparalleled networking opportunities make it a crucial venue for market intelligence, relationship building, and strategic planning. As the litigation funding market continues its development in continental Europe, Legal Community Week’s role in facilitating dialogue between funders, law firms, and corporate clients remains an important one.