Western Alliance Bank’s Jeff Richardson Named a National Law Journal Trailblazer

PHOENIX – Western Alliance Bank today announced that Jeff Richardson, Co-Founder of Digital Disbursements, has been named a Class Action/Mass Tort Litigation Trailblazer by The National Law Journal. Richardson was recognized for developing new tools that have transformed class action and mass tort settlement payments.

“Jeff is truly a worthy recipient of this honor, not only because he has built trailblazing technology but because his work puts more settlement money in the hands of class members, helping to improve justice for those who have been wronged,” said Francesca Castagnola, Senior Managing Director of Juris Banking Solutions at Western Alliance Bank.

Richardson is the only 2023 Class Action/Mass Tort Litigation Trailblazer who does not represent a law firm. “I congratulate all of the law firm lawyers who were named, and I’m glad that The National Law Journal also recognizes, like we do here at Western Alliance Bank, that technology can have a major impact on the legal community,” said Richardson. 

Digital Disbursements’ innovative payment platform facilitates the secure selection, disbursement and reporting of mass payments for clients across legal and other industries. Richardson, who practiced as a defense-side class action and mass torts attorney for nearly 30 years, co-founded the company, which is now part of Western Alliance Bank.

“We built Digital Disbursements based on a bone-deep desire to improve the delivery of payments to class members and mass tort victims,” added Richardson. This platform enables recipients to choose from a pay menu that includes direct to bank account options (such as Zelle and ACH), popular digital wallets (such as PayPal and Venmo), prepaid cards, and paper checks. 

Through this payment solution, Richardson and the team at Western Alliance Bank significantly improve the deliverability, cost, and security of settlement payments. “I am honored to have this work recognized by The National Law Journal,” said Richardson.

A graduate of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, Richardson served as a partner, chair of the Class Action Practice Group and member of the Governing Board of Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP before founding Digital Disbursements, which was acquired by Western Alliance Bank in early 2022. He also founded and invested in a number of other innovative companies and organizations. 

View Jeff Richardson’s profile, and the full list of winners, in The National Law Journal's Trailblazers 2023.