Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0596Champerty · Co. Dublin

Fintech firm ordered to disclose source of funding in High Court champerty case

QPQ Ltd, an Irish-registered fintech firm, brought proceedings in 2024 in the High Court in Dublin against Dutch national Geert Schute, alleging he breached a shareholder agreement by copying the firm's blockchain technology to develop a rival product. In a judgment in July 2026, Judge Michael Twomey ordered QPQ Ltd to disclose the source of its litigation funding, noting a public interest in determining whether the case was funded in contravention of Irish criminal law through champerty. QPQ Ltd asserts the funding comes from its parent company QPQ AG, while the judge noted messages suggesting there could be other third-party funders. Schute denies the claims, and the case is set to return to court the following week.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court15 Jul
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • QPQ Ltd, an Irish-registered fintech firm, brought proceedings against Geert Schute alleging he breached a shareholder agreement by copying the firm's blockchain technology to develop a rival product.
  • Champerty, the funding of litigation by a third party with no interest in a dispute in exchange for a share of the proceeds, is illegal under Irish criminal law.
  • It is not in dispute that QPQ Ltd does not have the means to fund the litigation, and QPQ Ltd asserts the funding comes from its parent company QPQ AG.
  • Schute denies the claims.
When
QPQ Ltd brought the proceedings in 2024.
Where
The case is being heard in the High Court in Dublin.
In court
  • In July 2026, Judge Michael Twomey ordered QPQ Ltd to make disclosures to allow the court to determine if the case was funded in contravention of Irish criminal law.
  • The judge noted that messages indicated there could be other third-party funders and said there is a public interest in granting the disclosure order.
  • The case is set to return to court the following week.
Other details
Ireland has five times more High Court judges per capita than England and Wales.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatQPQ Ltd is an Irish-registered fintech firm (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSchute denies the claims (irishtimes.com)
  • whatChamperty is the funding of litigation by a third party with no interest in a dispute in exchange for a share of the proceeds, and is illegal (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIt is not in dispute that QPQ Ltd does not have the means to fund the litigation (irishtimes.com)
  • whatQPQ Ltd asserts the litigation is being funded by its parent company QPQ AG, and funding by a parent company is allowed (irishtimes.com)
  • whenQPQ Ltd brought proceedings in 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge noted the messages indicated there could be other third-party funders (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said there is a public interest in granting the disclosure order (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case will return to court the following week (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIreland has five times more High Court judges per capita than England and Wales (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jul2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Fintech firm ordered to disclose the source of its funding in High Court action

    First report of the High Court disclosure order in the QPQ Ltd v Schute case regarding potential unlawful third-party litigation funding (champerty).

    accused, Geert Schute, Dutch, named, non-irishGeert Schute