On January 19, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on "third-party litigation financing" in response to a Congressional request first submitted by Representative Andy Barr (R-Kentucky). Given the GAO's mission—"to provide Congress with fact-based, nonpartisan information that can help improve federal government performance and ensure accountability for the benefit of the American people"—the report provides an important governmental view on legal finance, and many market participants contributed perspective and expertise to its analysis of the industry.