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Latest Burford Quarterly Explores How Business and Economic Trends are Impacting Commercial Disputes Across Industries

By Harry Moran |

Burford Capital, the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today releases its latest Burford Quarterly, a journal of legal finance that explores the top trends at the nexus of law and finance.

Articles in the Burford Quarterly 3 2024 include:

  • The business and legal trends shaping healthcare

The US healthcare industry is one of the country’s largest. Business factors from consolidation to rising costs to lingering Covid-19 impacts are contributing to increases in major disputes, which are in turn driving shifts in how healthcare businesses pursue and finance recoveries.

  • Expert insights: Construction disputes roundtable

Burford moderates a roundtable of construction dispute experts as they discuss megaprojects, AI and the challenges of accurately forecasting and managing construction disputes.

  • The European perspective: Assessing the impact of the Unified Patent Court

A year after its launch, patent experts weigh in on the new UPC pan-European patent litigation system impacting 17 member nations, more than 300 million people and, increasingly, businesses and law firms pursuing corporate IP monetization, including expectations of increasing use and acceptance of the UPC.

  • Judges weigh in on financial disclosure

Judges at a recent legal finance industry conference explained why mandatory disclosure of legal finance is unnecessary and would hinder the efficiency of businesses pursuing their claims.

David Perla, Co-COO of Burford Capital, said: “Our latest Burford Quarterly takes an in-depth look at how economic factors and business trends are contributing to impacts on companies across industries. Of particular note is a close analysis of the US healthcare sector, where increasing consolidation and rising costs is causing more and larger disputes. We also talk to industry experts on topics including the rise in construction sector disputes and the impact of the EU’s Unified Patent Court, which for the last year has enabled businesses to enforce their rights across all 17 member nations much more effectively, leading to a big rise in interest in financing IP litigation in Europe.”

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 offices in New York, London, Chicago, Washington, DC, Singapore, Dubai, Sydney and Hong Kong.

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

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any ordinary shares or other securities of Burford.

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Moneypenny and VoiceNation Launch Intake Services to support new business drives for US legal firms

By Harry Moran |

Moneypenny and VoiceNation have an excellent service offering to help legal clients drive new business by responding quickly to new inquiries on their behalf.

The service means that VoiceNation’s team of professional US-based call handlers will help improve the conversion rate of new inquiries, by responding to them quickly on the phone, and qualifying them by asking a series of screening questions provided by, and tailored to, the client. As a result, legal firms’ own teams can focus on converting qualified leads, saving their teams time and effort.

VoiceNation’s highly trained professional call handlers know the importance of making a good first impression and the new Intake Service is backed by full CRM and Zapier integration.

How it Works

  • When a new completed web form arrives at a client’s CRM, this alerts VoiceNation’s OpenAnswer platform
  • OpenAnswer immediately flags to a VoiceNation agent about the lead
  • Using the completed web form details, the lead is qualified by phone, or any other required channel
  • All information requested by the client is then fed back into the client’s CRM for immediate conversion
  • The service integrates with all CRM platforms and contracts can be completed via Docusign

Eric Schurke, VP of Moneypenny and  VoiceNation said: ‘This service enables legal companies to respond to new leads before their competitors do. We’re doing the heavy lifting of sifting through new opportunities, efficiently and cost-effectively, by qualifying new leads, so in-house sales teams can then convert hot leads faster.  Our clients should see benefits of the new service really quickly, achieving faster new business growth.’ 

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Announcements Commercial People Moves

Nera Capital Expands European Presence with Strategic Move to Amsterdam  

By Harry Moran |

Top legal finance firm, Nera Capital, is expanding its presence in Holland by opening a new office in Amsterdam, due to its involvement in several high-profile legal claims in the WAMCA. 

The strategic move into innovative and renowned offices in the prestigious Zuidas district is largely driven by significant legal actions that will proceed through the Holland court system.

In January 2020 the Netherlands introduced a new piece of legislation known as the Wet Afwikkeling Massaschade in Collectieve Actie (WAMCA) which translates to the Settlement of Mass Damages in Collective Action Act.

It allows for collective legal actions, enabling multiple claimants to combine similar cases into a single lawsuit, and is a key factor in Nera Capital’s decision to increase its presence in the region.

Firm Director, Aisling Byrne, explained that this approach not only streamlines the legal process but also increases the efficiency and impact of group claims. 

Ms Byrne added: “For Nera Capital, this system means a more robust and coordinated effort in legal pursuits, ensuring clients benefit from a comprehensive and streamlined legal strategy.

“Our expansion into Amsterdam reinforces Nera Capital’s desire to establish a stronger foothold in a key European financial and legal hub, positioning us at the centre of key industry developments and opportunities. 

"Leveraging our cutting-edge technology and embracing legal frameworks like the WAMCA reflects Nera's dedication to ensuring that we remain at the forefront of the industry.

“The move marks more than just a new office - it's another strategic step in our expansion, giving us the platform we need to further scale our operations and continue delivering top-tier service for our clients and partners.”

The change comes at a fruitful time for the legal funder, which is undergoing a period of heavy growth.

In recent months Nera Capital has continued to build its success through acquiring positions in a number of cartel and anti-trust claims in various jurisdictions, including the USA whilst also onboarding several new prominent funding partners. 

Reflecting on Nera’s recent success, Ms. Byrne noted that the expansion into Amsterdam aligns with the company’s core priorities of fostering collaboration and expanding strategic networks.

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Announcements Commercial Deals

Westbrooke Associates Expands into The Litigation Funding Sector

By Harry Moran |

Westbrooke Associates announces its expansion into the burgeoning litigation funding sector, marking a new chapter in its legacy of connecting investors with high-growth, socially impactful opportunities.

As a brokerage known for identifying innovative investment vehicles, Westbrooke Associates is now expanding into litigation funding, a niche asset class that has seen rapid growth in the UK and globally. Litigation funding provides financial backing to individuals and small businesses that would otherwise be unable to afford legal representation. This growing financial tool has proven essential in levelling the playing field in the legal system, enabling claimants to pursue justice against larger, well-funded opponents.

With rising litigation costs and increasingly complex cases, the demand for litigation funding has surged, particularly in markets such as the UK, which boasts one of the most advanced regulatory environments for this asset class. The global litigation funding market is experiencing extraordinary growth, with revenues projected to reach $43 billion by 2033, up from $17.1 billion in 2023.

As one of the most compelling alternative investment opportunities today, litigation funding offers investors a low-risk, high-return asset class that remains largely uncorrelated with traditional financial markets. This makes it an attractive option for portfolio diversification, especially during times of market volatility.

A report by Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP highlights that the top 15 litigation funders in the UK saw assets grow to a record £2.2 billion in 2020/21, an 11% increase from the previous year. With such exponential growth, Westbrooke Associates is poised to help investors capitalise on the robust potential of this asset class.

Westbrooke Associates' expertise in sourcing profitable investments that align with strong ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) standards makes this a natural step forward. The firm has already established a successful collaboration with Addlington-West Legal Limited, offering investors access to litigation funding opportunities that prioritise both financial returns and social impact.

Litigation funding not only delivers strong returns but also plays a pivotal role in supporting justice. Westbrooke’s unique investment model ensures a rigorous due diligence process, with cases thoroughly vetted to back only those with strong chances of success. Investors benefit from fixed returns—typically generated within 18 months—while also supporting businesses that face significant financial barriers due to litigation costs.

Moreover, Westbrooke Associates' commitment to protecting investor capital is evident via the surety bond offered by Addlington-West Legal. This guarantees 100% capital protection in the event of unsuccessful claims, ensuring investor security and peace of mind. This level of risk mitigation, combined with relevant regulatory compliance, makes litigation funding a particularly attractive opportunity for Westbrooke Associates’ clients.

For investors seeking a safe, high-potential asset class, litigation funding through Westbrooke Associates represents an ideal investment opportunity. The firm’s longstanding reputation for identifying forward-thinking ventures is further bolstered by this new foray into the litigation funding space. Westbrooke Associates continues to demonstrate its ability to deliver innovative and socially responsible investment opportunities that align with the evolving needs of its investor base.

As the litigation funding market continues to grow, Westbrooke Associates is at the forefront of offering investors access to this dynamic and impactful sector. Whether you're a seasoned investor or looking to diversify your portfolio, Westbrooke Associates ensures that every investment opportunity provides both profitability and a positive societal impact.

For more information about how to invest in litigation funding through Westbrooke Associates or to request the Investment Memorandum, please visit www.westbrookeassociates.com or call 0203 745 0294.

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