Definition

Relating to a legal practice where a person helps another party in a lawsuit in exchange for a share of the proceeds.

Example

The lawyer's champertous agreement raised ethical concerns about the fairness of the case.

Conversation

Did you hear about that case involving champertous agreements?

Yeah, it sounds really complicated and a bit shady too.

I wonder how often these champertous situations actually happen in court.

Probably more than we think, especially with all the legal loopholes out there.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Champertous is derived from the Old French word 'champart' (meaning sharing or partnership) and the suffix '-ous' (meaning full of or characterized by). The term originally referred to a situation where a party shares in the profits of a lawsuit, thus characterizing the nature of the involvement as one of sharing or partnership in legal matters.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sharing' ('champart') in a legal context, which helps you remember that 'champertous' refers to being involved in a partnership regarding legal claims.

Visually Confused Words