About LawFinance

ASX-listed, LawFinance Ltd (formerly JustKapital Ltd) is a leading provider of financing solutions for the legal industry both in Australia and the United States. The Company delivers specialist funding in both jurisdictions and is committed to expansion opportunities that will escalate its growth trajectory domestically and abroad.

In Australia, the Company provides alternative financial solutions through its disbursement funding facility, which directly resonates with the immediate and emerging demands for alternate financing within the small-to-medium-sized legal sector.

LawFinance actively diversifies into offshore jurisdictions that directly align with the its funding mechanisms and return profile. Its specialist financial services offering has extended to the US via the acquisition of leading personal injury funder, National Health Finance (NHF).

LawFinance seeks to consistently achieve operational excellence to support scalability and growth in both markets.

Leadership Team

The Board of Directors and Senior Management team are highly regarded professionals with a breadth of domestic and international experience.

Tim Storey

Non-Executive Chairman
Tim Storey chairs Stride Property Group (NZX:SPG), is a Director of Investore Property Limited (NZX:IPL) and holds a number of directorships in various private and public companies. Mr Storey is a barrister and solicitor and was a partner at one of New Zealand’s premier law firms through to 2006 and has practised in both Australia and New Zealand, focusing on corporate, commercial and property transactions. He is a member of the Institute of Directors (NZ) and the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Daniel Kleijn

Chief Executive Officer
Prior to joining LawFinance, Daniel Kleijn was a Managing Director at Lazard and UBS focusing on M&A execution and funding across a variety of industries. During his career, Daniel executed over $100 billion of completed M&A transactions and more than $30 billion of restructurings, debt and equity raisings in Australia, Asia, the U.S., and Europe. Mr. Kleijn has a Master of Economics from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and is a mentor to CEOs of charities.

Anthony Murphy

Non-Executive Director
Anthony Murphy is Chief Executive Officer of Lucerne Investment Partners, an investment group that specialises in private wealth advice, funds management and corporate advisory services. The group secures and builds investor wealth, providing positive investment experiences and delivering consistent returns regardless of market conditions. Mr Murphy brings many years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the industry. He is a strategic and dynamic leader and also understands international business relations, particularly between Australia, Asia and US. Previous roles include Executive Director at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management and Senior Advisor at Ord Minnett.

David Wattel

Executive Director
David (Dave) Wattel graduated from the University of Illinois in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics before obtaining his Juris Doctor in 1988 from the Arizona State University College of Law. He is a founding member of Wattel & York, a multi-state personal injury and property damage law firm and has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years.  He currently is licensed in Arizona, Washington and Oregon. Mr. Wattel founded National Health Finance in 1999 and currently sits on the Board of Directors.

Phil Smith

Chief Financial Officer
Phil Smith has 20 years’ experience in corporate restructuring and turnaround, leading the development, and implementation of value-creating plans and restructuring capital structures for companies such as Harris Scarfe and Virgin Australia. Over the last decade, Phil has worked for KPMG China and most recently Deloitte in Australia. Mr. Smith has a Bachelor of Economics and Masters of Commerce in Professional Accounting from Macquarie University.

Anthony Hersch

Chief Operating Officer
Anthony Hersch manages LawFinance’s Australian operations. Mr. Hersch is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, a fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree. With over 20 years’ experience in finance, investment and accounting across chartered firms, banking and high net wealth family investment offices, he is uniquely positioned to lead the company’s disbursement funding business unit and driving expansion initiatives.

Craig Beatton

Head of Reporting and Compliance
Craig Beatton is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Mr Beatton has over 18 years’ experience in finance, investments and accounting experience across chartered firms. Prior to joining LawFinance, Mr Beatton was the Chief Financial Officer of Shaw & Partners.

Sarah Livesey

US Financial Controller
Sarah Livesey joined LawFinance as Head of Finance and Accounting for its US operations in 2018. Ms Livesey has over 15 years’ experience in finance and accounting in the UK, USA and Australia, to include being the US Finance Manager for IMF Bentham Limited. Ms Livesey is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Richard Cruz

President & General Counsel – National Health Finance
Richard Cruz graduated Cum Laude from the University of California, Irvine, before obtaining his Juris Doctorate from Arizona State University College of Law. Prior to working at National Health Finance, Richard represented injured clients in Superior Court, Court of Appeals, District Court, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and Bankruptcy Court.  Richard is licensed to practice in Arizona and Michigan, and an active volunteer for the State Bar of Arizona’s Ethics Committee. Mr. Cruz has been providing leadership and direction at National Health Finance since 2016.

Marialena Ziska

Marketing Director - National Health Finance
Marialena Ziska joined National Health Finance as Marketing Director in June 2019. Ms. Ziska is a results-oriented leader who brings over 25 years’ experience in marketing, communications, and business development to the company. Prior to joining National Health Finance, she held a series of senior management positions at eBay Enterprise (formerly GSI Commerce Inc.), Primavera System, Inc., and a division of GE Capital. Ms. Ziska holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Villanova University.