Litigation finance is a fast-growing industry that promises to level the playing field, promote access to justice, and serve as a new source of legal funding. In this episode, we welcome Aviva Will, President of Burford Capital, the leader in legal finance. To kick off our conversation, Aviva shares her journey, from graduating from Fordham Law to working at Cravath and Time Warner before taking the leap into the emerging field of litigation finance with Burford. She reflects on her role as President, balancing strategic leadership with the responsibilities of an industry-leading company. Next, Aviva dives into Burford’s unique business model, discusses the challenges that come with navigating the pace of the court system, and shares how Burford’s diverse portfolio allowed it to weather the pandemic. Aviva also outlines the essential questions Burford considers before investing in new clients, underscoring the company’s thoughtful approach. She addresses the debates over disclosure, regulation, and attorney independence. Finally, Aviva highlights Burford’s commitment to industry transparency and progress, discussing how she strives to move the industry forward with clearer standards and ethical practices. Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Welcome to Aviva Will, President of leading legal finance company: Burford Capital. 
• Graduating from Fordham Law, clerking, working at Cravath and Time Warner, and joining Burford Capital. 
• What motivated her to take the risk of working in the emergent field of litigation finance. 
• How Aviva sees her role as president at Burford and what an average day looks like for her. 
• An overview of Burford’s basic business model.
• The weight of responsibility the company carries as an industry leader.
• A more granular description of the world of legal finance.
• Navigating the challenge of the pace of the court system.
• What emerged for Burford during the pandemic and how this was supported by a diverse portfolio.
• Essential questions the company considers before investing in a new client.
• Why Burford’s case selection process is not affected by size.
• Considering the importance of staying aware of other aspects of the industry.
• The segmented nature of the industry. 
• Unpacking the concept of disclosure and its end goal as well as regulation. 
• Why Burford is committed to moving the industry in a particular direction. 
• Launching The Equity Project in 2018: the motivation and inception of the program. 
• Aviva’s belief that having a diversity of voices around the table leads to better decisions.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Aviva Will at Burford Capital

Burford Capital

Aviva Will on LinkedIn

The Equity Project

International Legal Finance Association

Fordham University School of Law Corporate Law Center