Events

Burford Briefing: Biglaw’s embrace of contingency litigation — a conversation with David Lat

August 14, 20268:00am – 10:30am EDT

Summary

The latest episode of the Original Jurisdiction podcast features the discussion from Burford's May 6 Burford Briefing, Biglaw's Embrace of Contingency Litigation, recorded live at the Harvard Club in New York.

Listen to the podcast to hear leading practitioners discuss how the shift toward plaintiff-side and contingency litigation is reshaping law firm strategy—and the role legal finance is playing in that evolution.

The economics of legal services are changing. As affirmative litigation opportunities and alternative fee arrangements gain traction among corporate clients, traditionally defense-oriented global law firms are expanding into plaintiff-side and contingency work to differentiate their practices and drive growth. Legal finance is playing an increasingly important role in enabling firms to manage risk and scale these efforts.

Moderated by David Lat, founder of Original Jurisdiction and Above the Law, the discussion features Eva Cole (Winston Taylor), Avi Weitzman (Paul Hastings) and Evan Meyerson (Burford Capital). Together, they explore how these trends are reshaping law firm strategy, financial performance and client relationships—and what comes next.

Panelists

Eva Cole, Partner, Winston & Strawn
Evan Meyerson, Managing Director, Burford Capital
Avi Weitzman, Partner, Paul Hastings

Moderator

David Lat, Founder of Original Jurisdiction & Above the Law

Originally held: Wednesday, May 6

Location: Harvard Club of New York City

Discussion topics included:

• The changing economics of legal services and the rise of affirmative litigation

• Why traditionally defense-oriented firms are expanding into plaintiff-side and contingency work

• How legal finance is helping firms manage risk and pursue new opportunities

• The implications for law firm strategy, financial performance and client relationships

About Burford Briefings

Burford Briefings bring together legal and business leaders for high-level discussions on the issues shaping the legal industry. Each event explores a timely topic through candid conversations with leading practitioners, offering practical insights into the evolving legal and business landscape.

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