Disputes funder Burford Capital is financing its first arbitration in Singapore and has recruited from Herbert Smith Freehills in Hong Kong in the wake of recent reforms allowing third-party funding in the two jurisdictions.
Burford announced on 29 June that it is financing a Singaporean arbitration. While details of the dispute are confidential, GAR understands that Norton Rose Fulbright partner Camille JoJo in Hong Kong is acting for the funded party.
According to Burford, it is the first known example of a funded arbitration in Singapore since the city-state passed legislation in March expressly permitting third-party funding of international arbitration for the first time.
The funder has also hired former Herbert Smith Freehills lawyer James MacKinnon as vice president and member of its underwriting and investing team in Hong Kong, which passed its own legislation permitting third-party funding of arbitration and mediation last month.