Law firm equity solutions
Flexible, partner-friendly equity capital funds long-term investment while preserving firm independence.
Flexible, partner-friendly equity capital funds long-term investment while preserving firm independence.
Law firms face increasing demands: investing in client-facing technology, the up-front cost of lateral teams, opening new offices, and pursuing mergers. Yet the traditional cash partnership model makes it difficult to fund long-term initiatives at scale.
Equity capital unlocks a stable source of funding for firms to execute strategy and capture market opportunities—all while maintaining their independence and culture.
Invest in technology and operations to serve clients more effectively
Strengthen teams with key hires and lateral groups
Launch new practice areas or offices
Pursue mergers and acquisitions with confidence
Restructure partner economics to promote fairness and sustainability
Structures vary by jurisdiction. In the UK and other markets where permitted, Burford can invest directly into law firm entities. In the US, we employ structures to deliver comparable economic benefits while complying with all applicable ethics rules.
As the leading global investor in law, Burford offers law firms a trusted alternative to traditional private equity. We provide patient, permanent capital that supports strategic growth without imposing an exit horizon. Our scale, sector expertise and track record with the world’s largest firms position us as a strategic long-term partner.
Case study: Equity financing for a boutique law firm
A top-tier UK specialist law firm sought to strengthen its partnership by deepening its core areas of expertise, expanding the service offerings, and pursuing opportunities in emerging markets.
With the firm transitioning to an ABS structure, Burford—in a market first for a litigation funder—took a passive equity stake. That injected immediate liquidity to support growth while leaving the firm with full control of its cases, strategy, and business decisions, including its subsequent merger with another top-tier UK boutique.
The new equity structure enabled the firm to invest in both established practice strengths and an emerging area of law. Supported by Burford’s capital and expertise, the firm was also able to introduce innovative risk-sharing arrangements for clients, further strengthening its competitive position—and all while retaining full independence and preserving its culture.
Invest in technology to improve efficiency and client service.
Strengthen teams with key hires and lateral groups
Expand expertise through new practice areas and geographic growth
Ensure sustainability by restructuring partnership economics.
Retain top talent with competitive and aligned compensation structures.
Pursue strategic M&A with the support of patient, permanent capital.
Gain a trusted partner with market-leading experience in legal service delivery.
Institutional quality: As the only dual-listed commercial legal finance provider (NYSE/LSE:BUR), Burford offers the scale and governance standards of a public company.
Permanent capital: With our own readily available, long-term capital, we can commit substantial resources quickly and be a partner for the long haul. We do not rely on an exit like a traditional private equity investor.
Efficient execution: We conduct our own diligence, enabling us to respond quickly and structure solutions tailored to each firm.
Unmatched experience: Our industry-leading team has earned the trust of the 92% of Global 100 firms that have sought our capital for their firms or clients.
Burford’s law firm equity strategy is designed to provide firms with the capital they need to grow while preserving independence and control. Our recent investment in Kindleworth complements that approach by supporting a platform dedicated to helping entrepreneurial lawyers build new firms.
Kindleworth works with lawyer-founders from inception, developing business plans and supporting law firm launches. It then manages essential functions—from finance to technology to HR and operations—on an ongoing basis, allowing lawyers to focus on clients and strategy.
Burford’s investment expands Kindleworth’s capacity to support new firms, including in the United States. Together, we’re creating a distinctive model for building and scaling the next generation of market-leading law firms.
Hear Burford leaders explain how equity investment structures can address the limits of the traditional cash partnership model and provide firms with sustainable capital for growth.
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New York
Aviva Will
London
Travis Lenkner
London
Patrick Savage
