诉讼融资协议的实践困境及完善路径
Practical Challenges and Improvement Pathways of Litigation Funding Agreements

诉讼融资协议是一种通过出资方为诉讼当事人提供资金支持，帮助其支付诉讼成本的机制，已在澳大利亚、英国和美国等国形成了相对成熟的市场。然而，在我国诉讼融资仍处于起步阶段，面临法律空白、合同性质认定模糊以及公序良俗等问题。而反观域外的实践，尤其在商事诉讼中，诉讼融资为中小企业提供了有效的司法救济手段，本文认为，我国应通过立法明确诉讼融资的合法性，并通过许可制度、信息披露机制和行业自律等措施，探索诉讼融资机制的发展路径。在规范诉讼融资的同时，平衡出资方、融资方(当事人)及代理人的利益关系，确保司法公正和当事人权益的有效维护。
Litigation funding agreements are mechanisms through which third-party funders provide financial support to litigants, assisting them in covering litigation costs. This market has developed relatively maturely in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, litigation funding in China remains in its nascent stage, facing challenges including a lack of legal frameworks, ambiguity in the contractual nature of funding agreements, and issues concerning public order and moral standards. In contrast, foreign practices, especially in commercial litigation, have demonstrated that litigation funding can serve as an effective tool for judicial relief, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. This article argues that China should establish the legality of litigation funding through legislative action, and explore developmental paths for this mechanism by implementing a licensing system, disclosure requirements, and self-regulation within the industry. While regulating litigation funding, it is essential to balance the interests of funders, financed parties (litigants), and legal representatives, thereby ensuring judicial fairness and effectively safeguarding the rights of litigants.