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Announcements Commercial People Moves

Burford Capital hires arbitration expert and legal finance industry veteran Mick Smith for senior European role

Burford Capital, the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today announces that arbitration expert and legal finance industry veteran Mick Smith has joined as Principal in its London office. He will join over 40 colleagues in London, and more than 140 globally. Smith will focus predominantly on the continued expansion of Burford’s business in Europe and especially its industry-leading role in global arbitration matters.

Mick Smith co-founded Calunius Capital in 2006. Prior to this, he practiced law at Freshfields in both London and Madrid and was an investment banker at JPMorgan Chase, Credit Agricole Lazard and Dresdner Kleinwort. Smith earned a degree in Mathematics and Law at Cambridge University, followed by postgraduate study in Law. More recently, he has also completed MSc modules in Data Science and Mathematics.

Christopher Bogart, CEO of Burford Capital, said: “I’m delighted that Mick is joining Burford in a senior role to help with the continued growth of our European and arbitration businesses. Burford already has a $1.2 billion European portfolio and is the world’s largest arbitration funder, and we are excited about Mick growing those numbers further. I have known Mick for many years as a collaborator and friendly competitor and am very pleased that he has decided to join the world’s leading legal finance platform.”

John Lazar, Managing Director of Burford Capital in London, said: “We are truly excited to welcome Mick to Burford’s London office, and I am personally looking forward to being able to work with him side by side after spending many years collaborating on a number of opportunities. Mick will serve in the senior role of Principal, where he will be focused on all aspects of our UK and European business. Mick adds to our over 40 employees in London, in addition to those in the DACH region, as we continue our investment growth both geographically and in scope.”

Mick Smith, Principal of Burford Capital in London, said: “I am thrilled to be teaming up with Chris, John and other colleagues, many of whom I have known and worked with for years. The opportunity to join Burford, the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, was too good to forgo and I look forward to playing a role in its continued expansion in Europe.”

Smith’s start date is 5 January 2021.

About Burford Capital

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 Sydney.

For more information, please visit www.burfordcapital.com.

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Announcements Comercial

NorthWall Capital Hits €2.9 B AUM on Private Credit Momentum

By John Freund |

NorthWall Capital has rocketed past €2.9 billion in assets under management after pulling in an additional €1.6 billion of institutional capital in 2025 alone. The London-based alternative credit manager says the surge reflects allocators’ intensifying hunt for scaled, multi-strategy platforms as Europe’s banks retrench and borrowers seek bespoke sources of credit.

A press release from NorthWall Capital details first-close totals across four distinct strategies. The flagship Credit Opportunities fund secured €731 million—already eclipsing its prior vintage—while the newly launched Senior Lending vehicle raised $503 million, translating to roughly $750 million of deployable firepower once leverage is applied. Asset-Backed Opportunities collected €252 million for collateral-rich loans in sectors underserved by traditional lenders, and the specialist Legal Assets platform locked down $169 million to extend the firm’s law-firm lending programme.

Founder and CIO Fabian Chrobog said the fundraising validates “the consistency of our approach” and NorthWall’s ability to craft solutions that resonate with investors and counterparties alike. With headcount slated to hit 40 by year-end, the firm plans to lean further into complex, situational credit born of bank deleveraging, regulatory shifts and sponsors’ need for certainty of execution.

Announcements Comercial People Moves

Victory Park Expands Legal Credit Leadership with Maleson Promotion

By John Freund |

Victory Park Capital (VPC), a global alternative asset manager specializing in private credit, has announced that Justin Maleson will expand his role to Managing Director, co-heading the firm’s legal credit investment strategy. The promotion underscores VPC’s ongoing investment in its legal finance capabilities and follows Maleson’s initial appointment in 2024 as Assistant General Counsel.

An announcement from Victory Park Capital details Maleson’s new responsibilities, which include sourcing, analyzing, and managing investments across legal assets, while maintaining oversight of the firm’s legal operations. He joins Chad Clamage in co-leading the strategy, working alongside team members Hugo Lestiboudois and Andrew Pascal, under the continued oversight of VPC CEO and founder Richard Levy.

Maleson brings a strong background in litigation finance and commercial law to the position. Before joining VPC, he served as a director at Longford Capital, where he specialized in originating and managing litigation funding transactions. His earlier tenure as a litigation partner at Jenner & Block further deepened his exposure to complex legal matters, equipping him with the expertise needed to navigate the nuanced legal credit space.

VPC’s legal credit team emphasizes an asset-backed lending model, prioritizing downside protection and predictable income streams. The firm aims to capitalize on inefficiencies within the legal funding market by leveraging its internal expertise and broad network of relationships. With Maleson’s appointment, VPC signals its intent to further scale its legal credit strategy, positioning itself as a key player in the evolving legal finance sector.

Maleson’s elevation comes at a time of increasing sophistication in litigation finance, where experienced legal minds are playing a pivotal role in portfolio construction and risk management. As VPC bolsters its leadership, the move may foreshadow further institutionalization of legal asset investing and heightened competition in a maturing market segment.

Announcements Consumer

Golden Pear Upsizes Corporate Note to $78.7M Amid Growth Plans

By John Freund |

Golden Pear Funding has extended and upsized its investment-grade corporate note to $78.7 million, further bolstering the firm's capacity to serve the expanding litigation finance sector. The New York-based funder, a national leader in both pre-settlement and medical receivables financing, said the proceeds will support working capital and fuel strategic growth initiatives.

A press release from Golden Pear outlines how the capital raise reflects continued investor confidence in the firm’s business model. CEO Gary Amos noted that the infusion is critical as Golden Pear seeks to scale alongside the “rapidly expanding litigation finance market.” CFO Daniel Amsellem added that the new funding aligns with the company’s capital allocation strategy, aimed at optimizing operational efficiency and executing strategic projects.

Brean Capital, LLC acted as the exclusive financial advisor and sole placement agent on the transaction.

Founded in 2008, Golden Pear has funded more than $1.1 billion to over 87,000 clients and remains one of the largest specialty finance companies in the U.S. Its business model spans legal case funding and medical receivables purchasing, with backing from a network of private equity partners that provide institutional support for continued expansion.