The Bentham Capital Team

Charlie Gollow has been an investment manager for IMF since 2003. Charlie, who is based in Perth and New York, has been focused on funding in the U.S. since 2009, and he mobilizes IMF financial, technological and other resources on behalf of Bentham. Charlie is also responsible for case selection, underwriting and portfolio management for Bentham.

Prior to joining IMF, Charlie practiced as a litigator for 16 years, the last six years as managing partner of a prominent West Australian law firm. Charlie has also served as in-house counsel to a large insurance company, focusing on litigation risk management. Charlie graduated from the University of Western Australia In 1984 with a degree in law.

Ralph Sutton heads up Bentham Capital in New York. Ralph has deep experience in litigation funding; before launching Bentham, Ralph was managing director of Validity Capital Partners, which focused on patent monetization. Ralph helped establish Credit Suisse's Litigation Risk Strategies group, where he was a principal for over four years, introducing innovative third-party funding to a traditional Wall Street investment bank.

Before entering the field of litigation funding, Ralph was a trial attorney and partner in entertainment law firms for over 15 years. Ralph graduated from Columbia College with honors in English, and received his J.D. from the New York University School of Law. After graduating from NYU, Ralph served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge G. Thomas Elsele for two years.

Jonathan Siegel is an Investment Manager to Bentham Capital in New York. At Bentham, Jon manages Bentham’s portfolio of investments, oversees operations and serves as counsel.

Prior to joining Bentham, he practiced corporate law for almost 30 years. As senior manager and general counsel to companies in the technology, marketing and manufacturing industries, Jon’s responsibilities have ranged from management of litigation to sophisticated public and private financings, among others.

He graduated from Colgate University with high honors in Political Science-International Relations, and received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. Jon also served as mayor and trustee of a small community in New York.

Ronit is counsel to Bentham, providing sophisticated litigation research and case analytics. Ronit oversees Bentham's due diligence process for all cases. She also advises IMF (Australia) on matters of US law.

Prior to working at Bentham Capital, Ronit was a trial lawyer and senior associate at two of the nation's premier law firms. She graduated from Yale University with distinction in philosophy, and received her J.D. from Columbia University, where she was a James Kent Scholar.

Diane Jones has been the CFO of IMF since June 2006 and became the COO of IMF in March 2009. She has extensive experience handling issues relating to litigation funding. Diane is responsible for Bentham's operations and finances, including financial risk modeling.

Diane has been a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for over 20 years. Before joining IMF, Diane spent 10 years with a Big Four accounting firm before moving to a private equity firm as its chief financial officer.

Hugh McLernon is a pioneer of litigation finance, with over 25 years experience in the industry. Hugh provides strategic guidance and direction to Bentham. Hugh founded IMF and in 2001 presided over its public listing on the Australian Securities Exchange. Prior to establishing IMF, Hugh was a practicing lawyer for over 20 years, as well as a crown prosecutor.

Hugh has also served as a board chairman, managing director and director of seven public companies variously involved in technology, property, finance, mining, and oil and gas.