Vice President, U.S. Commercial Underwriting

burfordcap•New York, NY

86d•Onsite

About The Position

Burford Capital is seeking to add a Vice President of Underwriting to our U.S. Commercial investment team. The position responsibilities primarily include identifying and analyzing litigation-related opportunities that Burford considers for financing. Underwriters will quickly evaluate the merits of legal claims, assess and price risks associated with the litigation, evaluate litigation budgets, negotiate financing deals from start to finish, and help develop new business for Burford. This position will involve communicating directly with law firms, in-house counsel and other corporate representatives, as well as Burford’s global investment team. The U.S. Commercial team is at the heart of Burford’s business model. Underwriters stand on the front line, identifying, analyzing, pricing and negotiating Burford’s investments in legal assets. They also frequently serve as the face of Burford to the market, both through their external relationships and through formal business development activities such as panels and publications. This position provides a unique opportunity for litigators to apply their experience to investing, and in doing so, participate in the exciting, market-disruptive growth of legal finance. The role will report to the Managing Director leading Burford’s U.S. Commercial business and be based in Burford’s New York offices.

Requirements

4+ years of broad commercial litigation experience from a top-tier U.S. law firm
Licensed to practice law in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Federal clerkship experience
Pre-law school professional experience, preferably in financial services (or relevant academic background)
Substantive experience with expert data analyses, valuation, or damages reports
A thoughtful litigator with an intuitive sense of the merits, value and risks of litigation
Commercial mindset, numerate and transaction-oriented, with the ability to price risk and explain (both internally and externally) the value of a deal
Team player and motivated learner who can work collegially with all members of the underwriting teams across Burford’s global offices
Entrepreneurial and self-directed
Strong communicator and outgoing, capable of participating in panels, conferences, and other client-facing business development opportunities on behalf of Burford
Excited to work in a fast-paced environment where both your legal skills and financial acumen will be fully utilized
Openness to some travel

Responsibilities

Evaluate and price litigation merits risks, assess litigation budgets, and negotiate financing transactions from inception through closing.
Work closely with Burford’s legal, finance and tax teams to structure, model, negotiate and close financing transactions, while minimizing legal and operational risks.
Build strong client relationships and actively identify financing opportunities with law firms and corporations.
Actively monitor ongoing investments, regularly interacting with clients and counsel as the litigation proceeds in order to facilitate successful resolution.