Video: Why London matters: A world hub for commercial litigation

January 20, 2026

James MacKinnon & Geoff Nicholas

Summary

In this video, James MacKinnon and Geoff Nicholas explain why London remains the leading global forum for complex disputes and how legal finance supports high-stakes litigation.

James MacKinnon: I've worked in the Middle East and in Asia, and one constant has remained throughout my career: London's central role in global disputes.

Geoff Nicholas: Despite competition from other legal markets, London continues to attract complex high-stakes commercial cases. Businesses choose the English courts for their neutrality, commercial sensibility and London's global connectivity.

James MacKinnon: The city also boasts world-class legal talent with leading global law firms typically headquartering their international disputes practices in their London offices.

Geoff Nicholas: In 2024-25, London's Commercial Court handed down 256 judgments, nearly two-thirds involving international litigants, 93 different nationalities in all. Tools like worldwide freezing injunctions also make London the go-to venue for fraud and asset tracing cases, helping to ensure enforceable outcomes.

James MacKinnon: The UK's ratification of the Hague 2019 Convention has restored much needed certainty for businesses, closing the post-Brexit gap with UK commercial judgments once again being easily recognized across the EU. And English law itself continues to shape commerce far beyond Europe, as the Lord Mayor of London recently noted, "The rule of law is one of the UK's great exports." We see UK judges sitting in important dispute centers, including Singapore, Hong Kong and the Middle East. But of course, cost remains a key consideration for businesses engaged in disputes.

Geoff Nicholas: England's loser-pays cost-shifting regime increases financial risk, and clients often face demands for security for costs. That is precisely why legal finance has become a widely accepted feature of London litigation, providing non-recourse capital that offsets disputes, costs and unlocks liquidity, transforming litigation from a financial liability to an asset.

James MacKinnon: Burford is the largest legal finance firm in London equipped to support clients in multi-year disputes. We are the only legal finance firm that is dual-listed in London and New York with our own permanent capital.

Geoff Nicholas: We have extensive in-house capabilities including diligence, enforcement, asset recovery and ATE insurance. And that means we're fast and we can deliver end-to-end solutions. With over 50 professionals across the UK and Europe, we provide expert support at every step.

James MacKinnon: London remains the leading forum for global disputes and Burford stands ready to provide the capital and expertise clients need.

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.

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Video: Why London matters: A world hub for commercial litigation

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