Litigation Finance Industry Group Director Leaves for FTC Role

The executive director of the International Legal Finance Association is leaving the trade group for a role as chief of staff to the new Republican commissioner at the Federal Trade Commission.

Gary Barnett led the group that represents the commercial litigation finance industry since 2021. He recently began his new role as chief of staff to commissioner Andrew Ferguson, according to the Federal Trade Commission office of public affairs director Douglas Farrar. Ferguson was sworn in at the beginning of April and most recently served as solicitor general of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to that role, he was chief counsel to Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky).

ILFA’s former executive director, Shannon Campagna will return in an interim position until the role is filled. A source close to Barnett said that the search for his replacement is already underway.

The organization represents 24 members from the commercial legal finance industry, which enables investors to pool money into the cost of lawsuits in exchange for a portion of any award that results from cases. ILFA spent $230,000 on federal lobbying last year hiring Miller Strategies and West Front Strategies, according to OpenSecrets.

“I would like to thank ILFA’s Board of Directors for the opportunity to serve, and I take great pride in all of the achievements our industry has secured over the past few years, none of which could have been accomplished without the support of our members,” said Barnett. “I am humbled and grateful to have served ILFA and look forward to seeing the association’s continued success.”

Prior to his position at ILFA, Barnett served in various positions at the Department of Justice under the Trump administration, most recently as senior counsel to the attorney general.