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Law firm equity solutions

Flexible, partner-friendly equity capital funds long-term investment while preserving firm independence.

What equity enables
  • 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

How it works

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.

Why Burford

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.

Read all case studies

Burford and Kindleworth

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.

Learn more here