OUR PEOPLE
Our team are among the most experienced in litigation finance, and have been investing in commercial litigation for nearly 20 years. We maintain the highest legal ethics standards and do our utmost to preserve the attorney-client and other privileges. Our principals are licensed attorneys or certified public accountants.
DAVID DESSER
MANAGING DIRECTOR
David Desser has been a lead manager and investor in commercial litigation funds since 2004, and co-founded one of the first dedicated US funds in 2007. Previously, David was chief legal counsel and served in business development roles at two technology companies. He spent his early professional career practicing law at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP focused on mergers and acquisitions.
David received his JD from Georgetown University and his BA from Brandeis University, where he played on the men’s basketball and tennis teams. He is a 2-time finisher of the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
David lives in Chicago with his wife and three daughters.
CURTIS SMOLAR
MANAGING DIRECTOR /
CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
With over 20 years of experience as a litigator, Curt is a seasoned legal professional with a wealth of knowledge in various practice areas including complex litigation, bankruptcy, real estate, intellectual property, employment, and products liability.
Prior to joining Juris Capital, Curt served as General Counsel and Head of Underwriting at an established litigation finance fund, where he led the company to an impressive win/loss ratio on investments. He also played a crucial role in raising over $700 million in capital before his departure in January 2023.
Curt's legal career began at small firms before he became a commercial litigation partner at Fox Rothschild LLP. There Curt represented high-profile clients such as PayPal, eBay, and Bank of America. As a trial lawyer, Curt has brought cases through jury trial, bench trial, and arbitration.
JONATHAN COPE
Jonathan Cope, with over 20 years’ experience investing in public and private companies, serves as liaison to Juris Capital’s investors. Jonathan is also a principal of a Chicago-based fund focused on public equities investment, where he leads life sciences investing.
While working at a captive firm for Equity Group Investments (a Sam Zell investment arm), Jonathan focused on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and securities matters. He also practiced law at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP.
Jonathan holds a Masters degree in Molecular Biology, a J.D. from the University of Chicago and is a Phi Betta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate in Economics from Brandeis University.
Jonathan is a co-founder of an elementary school based in Chicago, and has sat on the Board of several Chicago-based non-profit organizations.
PETER PETRAKIS
Peter Petrakis has more than 30 years experience litigating complex civil and commercial matters. He has tried jury and bench cases, and successfully argued appeals, in state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the country.
Peter has represented national and international corporations, insurers, public utilities, and banks in an array of substantive areas including commercial disputes, products liability, banking, construction, environmental, bankruptcy, employment discrimination, ERISA, and international commercial litigation in foreign courts.
Prior to entering private practice, Peter was a judicial clerk for the Honorable Howard
C. Ryan, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, and was an editor at the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal.