Patrick Rode

REGULAR COLUMNIST

Patrick Rode is a German-qualified attorney specialising in complex commercial disputes and litigation finance. After starting his career at Latham & Watkins and later joining Chambers-ranked litigation funder Deminor he founded WINDORFER RODE, his Düsseldorf-based firm, which he has led for nearly five years

Patrick advises funders and investors on high-value litigation projects, cross-border enforcement, and secondary transactions, combining legal precision with a commercial understanding of funding economics. Beyond dispute resolution, his practice covers corporate and M&A matters, as well as AI-related governance and compliance, reflecting his passion for the intersection of law, technology, and innovation. He also acts as a trusted advisor to professional athletes, particularly footballers, navigating the legal and financial complexities of modern sports careers..

Articles

Germany’s Highest Court Creates Uncertainty on Mass Claim Aggregation: What the Truck Cartel Ruling Means for Funders

Long Read / May 13, 2026

By Patrick Rode The German Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, "BGH") yesterday delivered a landmark ruling that injects significant new uncertainty into the economics and logistics of funding mass cartel damages claims in Germany. In its decision dated 12 May 2026 [1] concerning the truck cartel litigation, the court held that extreme claim bundling can constitute abuse of rights – ...

AI Disputes in 2026: The End of “Move Fast and Break Things” Five Jurisdictions, One Message – Prove You Moved Responsibly, or Pay the Consequences

February 4, 2026

By Patrick Rode This article follows the 23rd WLF Litigation Summit panel on “Artificial Intelligence Disputes: Liability, Regulation & Ethics in Litigation” | Dubai, January 20, 2026. The question is no longer whether artificial intelligence will generate litigation, it’s whether companies can prove they deployed AI responsibly when disputes inevitably arise. This was the central theme that emerged from a ...

The EU Takes a Step Back: What the Commission’s Decision Not to Regulate Litigation Funding Means for Funders

December 6, 2025

By Patrick Rode The European Commission has closed the door on EU-level regulation of third-party litigation funding – at least for now. Commissioner Michael McGrath's announcement this week that the Commission will “prioritise monitoring” rather than legislating marks a significant victory for the funding industry and closes a chapter of regulatory uncertainty that has shadowed the sector for years. The ...
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Germany’s KapMuG Under Reform: What the Latest Legislative Changes Mean for Securities Litigation Funding

November 25, 2025

By Patrick Rode Germany's Capital Markets Model Case Act (Kapitalanleger-Musterverfahrensgesetz or “KapMuG") has undergone its most significant transformation since inception. Following reforms that took effect in July 2024, the mechanism for bundling securities claims has been fundamentally reshaped – with major implications for litigation funders operating in Europe's largest economy. From Experimental Legislation to Permanent Fixture Originally introduced in 2005 ...