Follow the money: Inside the world of judgment enforcement and asset recovery

January 22, 2026

Matthew Toma & Michael Redman

Summary

In this video, Michael Redman and Matt Toma explain how funded asset recovery helps businesses turn unpaid judgments and arbitration awards into real cash by combining capital with deep in-house enforcement expertise.

Matt Toma: Burford is the world's leading legal finance provider with unmatched expertise in asset recovery. Funded asset recovery is a solution that combines capital and expertise to help clients enforce court judgments and arbitration awards when debtors refuse to pay.

Michael Redman: There is no automatic payment mechanism in the legal system. Winning in court is sometimes only the beginning. Judgments remain unpaid because enforcement is costly and complicated as well as uncertain. Only 2% of in-house lawyers say they recover 100% of the value of their judgments and awards.

Matt Toma: Funded asset recovery transforms judgments into real income for businesses. Burford provides financing to cover enforcement costs, or we can purchase judgments and awards outright. When immediate liquidity is preferable to the carrying costs and risks of recovery in-house, purchasing judgments and awards outright can be a great option. Clients receive upfront capital that converts legal paper into cash.

Michael Redman: Unless we buy the judgment, the client remains in the driving seat. Unlike other funders, Burford has a deep tracing and enforcement expertise in-house, increasing our ability to assess cases and see them through. We have a deep track record of doing this kind of work all over the world, from common law jurisdictions to civil code countries onshore and offshore.

Matt Toma: We try to leverage the international networks that the debtors themselves have sought to exploit. So just because they're based in a country with a less than ideal legal system, it doesn't necessarily follow that their assets are.

Michael Redman: It's often the best option when assets are concealed overseas or hidden behind complex corporate structures. It's valuable when businesses lack the resources, time and expertise to manage enforcement effectively. Whether Burford funds, enforcement or purchases judgments, our capital is non-recourse, not debt or loan. We have an interest in recoveries only when and if the recovery succeeds.

Matt Toma: They gain access to enforcement specialists with extensive global experience. We combine scale, transparency and a proven track record of cross-border enforcement, and we offer flexible arrangements that adapt to the needs of each case. When clients fund their enforcement with Burford, they can be confident that they have the right partner in place to recover what they're owed.

This material has been prepared by Burford Capital Limited (together with its subsidiaries, “Burford Capital”) solely for informational purposes, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to subscribe for, buy or sell any securities, products or services or to adopt any investment strategy. The opinions expressed in this material are as of the date of this material and are subject to change at any time without notice, and Burford Capital does not have any responsibility to update this material to account for such changes. Unless otherwise specified, information contained in this material is sourced from and reflects the views and opinions of Burford Capital. Certain information contained in this material has been obtained from sources other than Burford Capital. While such information is believed to be reliable for purposes used in this material, no representation or warranty, either express or implied, is made as to fairness, accuracy, reasonableness or completeness thereof, and Burford Capital does not take any responsibility for such information. Certain information contained in this material discusses general market activity, industry or sector trends or other broad-based economic, market or political conditions and should not be construed as research or investment advice. There can be no assurances that any of the trends described in this material will continue or will not reverse. Past events and trends do not imply, predict or guarantee, and are not necessarily indicative of, future events or results. The information contained in this material is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal or tax advice or investment recommendations. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the reader.

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Follow the money: Inside the world of judgment enforcement and asset recovery

Summary

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