Law firm equity funding: Powering the next generation of legal innovation

Law firm equity

February 11, 2026

Travis Lenkner & Patrick Savage

Summary

In this video, Travis Lenkner and Patrick Savage explain how Burford provides patient equity capital to help law firms invest in technology, talent, expansion and M&A, while preserving independence, culture and long-term strategy.

Travis Lenkner: The legal industry is evolving, and so are the ways law firms finance growth. Firms face increasing demands in this market: Investing in client facing technology, the upfront cost of lateral teams, opening new offices, pursuing mergers, it's quite a list.

Patrick Savage: We offer equity capital that unlocks a stable source of funding to execute strategy and capture market opportunities. Unlike traditional private equity, we're not chasing an exit. Our capital is patient and designed to help you grow while preserving your firm's independence, culture and strategy.

Travis Lenkner: With an equity investment from Burford, large firms and specialist firms can invest in technology and operations, add key hires and lateral teams, launch new practice areas or offices, pursue M&A with confidence, restructure partner economics for fairness and sustainability - all of those things and more to help them compete in the legal market as it stands today.

Patrick Savage: We also help maximize certainty of revenue, offsetting the risk of uncertain case outcomes or future revenue. This gives law firms the flexibility to invest in growth while staying fully in control, using structured solutions tailored to each firm.

Travis Lenkner: Private equity capital can clash with a law firm's long-term goals. PE firms operate on short timeframes, typically three to seven years, with a focus on maximizing profitability before exiting. That can mean aggressive cost cutting, pressured decision making, even forced sales, which can be at odds with a firm's long-term vision.

Patrick Savage: Burford is a finance firm led by former law firm lawyers. We understand how law firms work and how they grow. We invest from our own balance sheet with no artificial deadlines or exit pressure. Our approach is flexible and collaborative. Publicly listed in New York and London, we're the only dual-listed commercial legal finance provider offering the scale and governance of a public company.

Travis Lenkner: Our readily available permanent capital means we can commit substantial resources quickly and partner for the long term. We conduct all our due diligence in-house, making us fast and easy to work with. 92% of Global 100 law firms have sought our capital for their firms or their clients.

Patrick Savage: We're also investing strategically in the broader legal services ecosystem. Our recent investment in Kindleworth complements that approach by supporting a platform that helps entrepreneurial lawyers launch and scale their practices.

Travis Lenkner: Burford's success is aligned with the success of our law firm clients and partners. We are focused on building enduring firm value, not on generating quick returns through a resale.

Patrick Savage: Burford provides capital to help law firms launch, grow and succeed in all phases of their development.

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.

This material may contain “forward-looking statements”. Although Burford Capital believes that the assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future results and events reflected in forward-looking statements have a reasonable basis and are expressed in good faith, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause Burford Capital’s actual results and events to differ materially from (and be more negative than) future results and events expressed, targeted, projected or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this material and, except as required by applicable law, Burford Capital undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Law firm equity funding: Powering the next generation of legal innovation

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