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The Equity Project

Why businesses use Equity Project capital

Companies can use Equity Project capital to advance their diversity goals through their legal spend—by encouraging the firms that represent them to appoint female and racially diverse lawyers on their matters and award them appropriate origination credit. 

Start the conversation

Businesses can use Equity Project funding as a reason to talk to their firms about diverse representation and origination credit.

Promote change

Equity Project capital adds to businesses’ economic leverage to promote change that reflects their corporate values.

Improve business outcomes

Because Equity Project funding shifts legal costs and risk of loss to Burford, legal teams can promote diversity while improving business outcomes.

Paying it forward

When Equity Project investments resolve successfully and generate expected returns, Burford will contribute some of our proceeds to a charitable organization focused on advancing female and racially diverse lawyers on behalf of our client. Businesses and law firms using Equity Project capital can feel doubly good about their impact.  

Why law firms use Equity Project capital

Firms committed to gender and racial diversity can encourage female and racially diverse litigators to take on matters that require significant investment.

Win new business

Lawyers backed by Equity Project capital can offer their clients attractive terms and expand their contingency practices without taking on the full risk.

Allocate origination credit

The Equity Project eases pathways towards origination and client relationship credit for lawyers who have often been underrepresented in leadership roles.

Demonstrate innovation

Lawyers can use Equity Project capital to show innovation and ambition to land new clients and serve them well.

Equity Project financing criteria

Matters that meet Burford’s investment criteria qualify for Equity Project financing if one of the following criteria apply:

  • A female or racially diverse litigator serves as first or second chair
  • The firm representing the client is a woman- or minority-owned law firm (more than 50% of the equity is owned by female or racially diverse lawyers)
  • A female or racially diverse litigator receives origination credit for the matter or the client relationship
  • A female or racially diverse partner serves as chair of the plaintiffs’ steering committee or as plaintiffs’ lead counsel
  • A female or racially diverse barrister is leading the advocacy on the matter
Equity Project Champions
Miami Adriana Riviere-Badell
Partner, Kobre & Kim
London Akima Paul Lambert
Partner, Hogan Lovells
Paris Amy Frey
Partner, King & Spalding
Singapore Angela Ee
Asean and Singapore Turnaround and Restructuring Strategy Leader, EY Parthenon
Singapore Blossom Hing
Director, Dispute Resolution and Corporate Restructuring & Workouts, Drew and Napier
Singapore Brenda Horrigan
International Arbitrator
Washington Carolyn Lamm
Partner, White & Case
London Conway Blake
Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton
London Daniel Winterfeldt MBE KC (Hon)
Founder & Chair, Interlaw Diversity Forum; Managing Director & General Counsel - EMEA & Asia, Jefferies
Los Angeles Elizabeth Brannen
Managing Partner & Chair of Intellectual Property Litigation, Stris & Maher
New York Faith Gay
Founding Partner, Selendy & Gay
New York Maria Ginzburg
Partner, Selendy & Gay
New York Mylan Denerstein
Co-Chair, Public Policy Practice Group, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
London Lauma Skruzmane
Founding and Co-Managing Partner, Butler Reichline Skruzmane
Washington Lauren Weinstein
Partner, MoloLamken LLP
Philadelphia Roberta D. Liebenberg
Senior Partner, Fine, Kaplan & Black
Charlotte Ryan Dunigan
Senior Division Counsel, Corning, Incorporated
London Sophie Nappert
Sophie Nappert, International Arbitrator, Co-Founder, ArbTech
London Sue Prevezer KC
International Arbitrator, Mediator and Consultant, Brick Court Chambers
Washington Tara Lee
Partner, White & Case

Recognition for The Equity Project

GAR
Equal Representation Arbitration Pledge Award
Financial Times
Innovative Lawyers Awards: Stand Out in Diversity
NYLJ
Distinguished Leader (Aviva Will)
NYLJ
Trailblazer (Aviva Will)
Women Owned Law
Champion of the Year
NYLJ
Diversity initiative (Aviva Will)