Corporate Counsel

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world from its principal offices in New York, London, Chicago, Washington, Singapore, and Dubai. Burford is expanding its team and seeking a Corporate Counsel for its international business, based in London.

The successful candidate will manage litigation finance and other corporate and commercial transactions in the UK, Continental Europe, the Middle East and Asia, as well as an array of related legal matters. This is a unique opportunity for a highly capable transactional lawyer to move beyond traditional private practice and take a hands‑on role in one of the most innovative and growing areas of law and finance. You will work closely with colleagues in the underwriting, tax, finance and legal & compliance teams to structure and execute sophisticated cross‑border transactions in an environment where your work will be impactful and help drive Burford’s global goals and growth.

The successful candidate will have the intellectual agility, drafting excellence and commercial acumen of a top transactional lawyer – combined with the curiosity, humility and teamwork that define Burford’s culture. The role will report to the Firm’s lead counsel in London and be based in our London office.

Burford Capital is the largest and most experienced provider of commercial finance to the legal sector in the world, with a core expertise in identifying and optimizing the value of legal assets for companies and law firms. Since its founding in 2009, Burford has worked with hundreds of law firms and corporations, including 94 of the AmLaw 100 and 92 of the Global 100 largest law firms. Our team has grown from five people at the end of 2009 to over 160 people today, including over 45 lawyers. Burford possesses the resources and expertise of a large company while retaining the flexibility and creativity of a startup. Team members are smart, creative, collaborative, curious, and confident. Everyone rolls up their sleeves to perform and engage collectively for the overall success of the business. Burford values rigorous thinking, clear communication, and efficient execution.

Burford is an “always on” environment in which everyone needs to be accessible by email when outside and weekends. Burford pays base salaries consistent with the financial services industry and favors incentive compensation to reward performance. Burford Capital is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, whether or not they have a disability.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE

The successful applicant will become a valued member of our growing Legal & Compliance Team that spans London, New York and Chicago. The Corporate Counsel will work with Burford team members from our offices across the globe, including in Continental Europe, Dubai and Singapore, collaborating with our underwriters and senior management to execute and manage our investments and advise on various other matters of importance to Burford’s international business.

It is imperative that this individual has a creative business mindset, excellent professional judgment, flexibility and strong attention to detail, as well as the ability to prioritise and multi‑task in our fast‑paced environment. This position is an active lawyering role. Although there will be instances of supervising outside counsel and junior members of the London team, in the main the job is hands‑on legal work. The Corporate Counsel will be low‑ego, focused on results and teamwork and able to drive projects independently to completion.

Burford operates in a dynamic asset class, so the successful applicant will need to possess the gravitas, financial acumen and experience to quickly understand the economic and legal aspects of our transactions and thrive on quickly getting up to speed on new concepts, jurisdictions and issues as we continue to break new ground on our investments. Adaptability, strong technical drafting skills and a breadth of cross‑border secured lending (or comparable) experience will be key attributes necessary to succeed in this role.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Litigation Finance Transactions: Managing and closing international litigation finance transactions, including drafting and negotiating term sheets; capital provision, claims/award aggregation, assignment and purchase agreements; security and intercreditor agreements; nondisclosure agreements; powers of attorney; escrow agreements and various ancillary transaction documents. Working closely with Burford’s underwriting, tax and finance teams – and, more often than not, clients – to structure, negotiate and progress transactions to successful conclusion, while minimising legal and operational risks and building strong stakeholder relationships. Identifying tax, regulatory and other structuring issues and managing legal ethics requirements related to Burford’s business together with Compliance and Finance colleagues. With virtually all transactions entailing a large cross‑border element, effectively and creatively tailoring investments to local law nuances, with local counsel guidance as needed.
• Other Corporate Transactions: Working on various corporate transactions arising in the course of Burford’s rapidly evolving international business, including with local counsel as appropriate. Other transactions the Corporate Counsel may work on include joint ventures, participations and other co‑investment structures, capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions, minority investments and intra‑group reorganisations, as well as restructurings of any of Burford’s existing transactions.
• Corporate Governance and Other Legal Matters: Drafting agreements, resolutions, policies, procedures and other documents to implement and manage internal corporate structuring needs, cash management requirements and governance initiatives. Reviewing, preparing, negotiating and advising on NDAs and third party vendor contracts. Advising on third‑party disputes and providing support as needed on litigation matters in which Burford is a party. Assisting with the development and maintenance of form agreements, other knowledge management resources and internal guidelines. Working effectively with Burford’s finance, tax, business development, marketing and other teams. Analysing and managing any legal issues that may arise in the conduct of Burford’s constantly developing business.

SKILLS DESIRED

• Qualifications & Experience: Admission as a Solicitor in England & Wales or in another jurisdiction of significance and relevance. 4‑6 years of corporate legal experience, including at least 4 years at a major law firm. Top academic credentials with demonstrated career progression. Strong background in cross‑border finance and secured transactions and technical drafting skills. Additional or alternative corporate experience, such as bankruptcy or Private or Public M&A, will also be useful or may be considered as an alternative.
• Core Competencies & Skills / Personal Attributes & Fit: Superior writing and analytical ability. Excellent interpersonal/people skills, including the ability to build relationships with highly sophisticated internal clients and to interact effectively at all levels of the organization. Judgment and self‑confidence, but also humility, open‑mindedness, respect for others (regardless of position), and enthusiasm for working as a team member. Excellent problem‑solving, organisational and communication skills – necessary to negotiate and interface with a myriad of internal and external contacts. Highly organised, with committed work ethic and strong attention to detail; able to work independently and prioritise and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously. Enterprising, highly intelligent, creative and proactive, and willing and eager to learn.