The Equity Project

The gender pay gap

Women are significantly underrepresented at the senior-most ranks of law firms and earn less than their male peers.

What is The Equity Project?

Learn how Burford is helping provide an economic incentive to help close the gender gap in law.

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There’s no shortage of diversity and inclusion programs, but at the current rate of change women lawyers won’t approach equity for at least a generation.

To create real change, the economics of law must change.

A pragmatic solution

The Equity Project is a groundbreaking initiative designed to close the gender gap in law by providing an economic incentive for change through an initial $50 million capital pool earmarked for financing commercial litigation and arbitration matters led by women.

This includes matters where a woman lawyer is first chair; serves as lead counsel; chairs the steering committee; earns the origination credit; is the client relationship manager; or a women-owned law firm is representing the client.

With capital from The Equity Project, women can:

• Pitch clients with attractive alternative fee arrangements—and a built-in competitive edge
• Pursue leadership positions in significant matters
• Persuade firm contingency fee committees to take on matters that require significant investment but offer substantial success fees
• Ease pathways towards origination and client relationship credit
• Demonstrate innovation and ambition to land new clients and serve them well
• In-house lawyers can use litigation finance to showcase her financial savvy and leadership ability by meeting recovery targets without cost or risk to the business

As of December 31, 2020, we have surpassed this goal—with nearly $57 million committed to back women as a result of The Equity Project. In the year ahead we look forward to expanding our impact and to being still more ambitious in how we use our expertise and capital to provide economic solutions to big, seemingly intractable problems like the gender gap in law. 

Equity Project Champions*

*List in formation. Current as of 31 March 2021.

To stay up-to-date on Equity Project news, please join our LinkedIn group.