About Hartwell Funds

Hartwell Funds is a Western Australian dispute funder. It was established to address a market gap in dispute finance (often referred to as “litigation funding”):

  • to service claims deemed too small for existing market operators; and

  • to provide an offering with the requisite prudential oversight to protect the interests of both claimants and investors.

Hartwell’s name derives from Western Australia’s fifth Premier and Attorney General of the State, Sir Walter Hartwell James KCMG. Sir James championed social causes like women’s suffrage, and served as the inaugural President of the Law Society from 1928 to 1930. He was also a founding member of the University of Western Australia and was elected its Chancellor in 1930.

AALF accredited funder

Hartwell is a funder member of the Association of Litigation Funders of Australia. Hartwell director Sophia Kailis sits on the board of AALF as its sole WA-based director.

AALF is a professional body which seeks to enhance the Australian litigation funding market by:

  • providing education, training and information about litigation funding and the litigation funding market;

  • engaging with government, legislators, and other policymakers to help shape the legal and regulatory framework of litigation funding in Australia; and

  • promoting best practice and ethical behaviour amongst litigation funders in Australia.

AALF recognises that in working with Hartwell, parties seeking litigation funding obtain access to the high quality standards that define the legal finance industry.

Promoting access to justice

One of Hartwell’s foundational pillars is a firm commitment to the advancement of access to justice in Western Australia. We fulfil this objective in the following ways:

  • Executive Director Aaron McDonald chairs the Board of the Subiaco Justice Centre, a not-for-profit community legal centre based in Subiaco providing access to legal services to people in need.

  • Executive Director Sophia Kailis is the Deputy Chair of Sussex St Community Legal Service, a non-profit community legal centre based in Victoria Park providing access to legal services to people in need.

  • Hartwell is a corporate member of WA Charity Direct, a professional-led organisation committed to supporting individuals, charities and community groups in need of financial assistance.

  • Hartwell is a proud sponsor of Piddington Society, a Western Australian organisation which supports community legal centres through its various funds, events and initiatives.