As it looks to add firepower across its platform, litigation funder Validity Finance has expanded its Houston presence, bringing on a trial lawyer from a local litigation boutique.

Wendie Childress was senior counsel at litigation boutique Yetter Coleman, where she practiced for 17 years. She joined Validity on April 1 to help manage the company's portfolio in Texas and the Southwest, with a focus on due diligence and matter assessment.

“We see Houston, as we've always said, as a fantastic trial market,” said Ralph Sutton, Validity founder and chief executive officer. “It's filled with superb trial lawyers who are sometimes on the defense side, sometimes on the plaintiff's side. It's really a city that has the greatest of the Texas risk-taking tradition, wildcatting, [and] other forms of growth and entrepreneurship.”