Team

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LOCKE CAPITAL TEAM

Nick Johnson

Founder and CEO

Nick founded Locke in 2021. He is also the founder and CEO of Armadillo Litigation Funding, a litigation fund based in Houston, Texas, and the owner of Johnson Law Group, a firm with offices in the US and the UK, which is a market leader in mass tort litigation and has recovered over $1b for its clients.

Nick is admitted to the State Bar of Texas and licensed to practice in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. He holds a BA in Political Science from Duke University and a JD from the University of Houston.

Nick Pontt

Managing Director

Nick leads Locke's growth, drawing on a career combining extensive experience in domestic and cross-border dispute resolution and funding. Prior to moving from private practice, Nick was the Head of Financial Services Litigation at Browne Jacobson LLP, where his work included acting for the Trustee of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC and the estate of Bernard L. Madoff.

Nick holds an LLB and BA from Flinders University, and an MBA from the University of Oxford where he was a Said Foundation Scholar.

Nick Sulman

Chief Investment Officer

Nick manages Locke's investment diligence and pricing. He has extensive litigation and arbitration experience, particularly in the areas of fraud and asset recovery, insolvency, financial services and regulatory enforcement. Nick has acted for a range of individuals, companies and insolvency professionals, often in high-value disputes with a cross-border dimension.

He holds a LLB and a BA from Monash University and is admitted as a solicitor in both Australia and England and Wales.

Dave Drew

General Counsel (Corporate)

Dave manages Locke's legal and corporate affairs and assists on investment diligence. He specialises in complex litigation, cross-border investigations and asset recovery as well as corporate, regulatory and commercial matters. Dave has extensive experience in government and legislative affairs, having worked for both the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Shadow Attorney General.

Dave holds an MA in Politics from Nottingham University, a LLM from UCL and is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Cole Johnson

Portfolio Manager

Cole refines and implements Locke's investment strategy across the portfolio. He has a background in finance, primarily based in venture capital and litigation funding. Cole has worked on and helped structure projects in Asia, North America, and Europe.

He holds a BA in Political Science from Duke University.

Sarah Hamilton

Associate Counsel

Sarah sits across Locke's investment diligence and corporate affairs. She has experience in a broad range of litigation and corporate matters, including commercial litigation, asset recovery and insolvency. Sarah has acted for a range of clients, from start-ups through to large national organisations, from both the public and private sectors.

Sarah has a LLB from the University of Derby and studied the LPC at Nottingham Law School. She is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.

Hannah Turner

Investment Associate

Hannah works on Locke's pricing and also assists with investment diligence. She is responsible for many of the pricing innovations that underpin Locke's funding solutions.

Hannah holds a BSc(Hons) in Finance, Investment and Risk from The London Institute of Banking and Finance.