The litigation finance outfit Lake Whillans has hired former Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott litigator Christopher Hagale as a managing director. Hagale brings expertise in accounting malpractice and trade secrets, and expands Lake Whillans’ geographic footprint to the Midwest.

The hire is the latest by Lake Whillans since it closed a $125 million fund raise in January. The company has been growing slowly but steadily. Last April, it hired Garrett Ordower, a former associate from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, who is at the company’s New York office.