Burford Capital - Sustainability Overview

Corporate Responsibility Overview

Burford's strong commitment to the values and principles of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors is inherent to our business, core to our culture and evident in our actions and priorities. As the market leader of commercial legal finance, Burford has institutionalized an industry that delivers real social benefits.

Commercial legal finance benefits society insofar as it increases access to justice and the rule of law, both fundamental social goods. The global economy and modern society need strong, clear and efficient legal systems in order to function. Commercial legal finance supports these systems—and it also improves them. Commercial legal finance creates a more level economic playing field in commercial disputes, allocates capital to only the most meritorious commercial legal matters and facilitates access to justice for commercial litigants. As New York Supreme Court Justice Eileen Bransten rightly observed, “[L]itigation funding allows lawsuits to be decided on their merits, and not based on which party has deeper pockets.”

Legal finance helps to increase the efficient allocation of scarce economic resources, yet another social good. When companies and law firms finance commercial litigation and arbitration with Burford, they reserve their own capital to invest in their businesses where and when doing so will have the greatest benefit, whether that means hiring employees, spending on R&D or simply easing liquidity pressures that would otherwise harm the enterprise. This benefits our clients, their stakeholders and the broader economy.

In this sense, ESG is truly inherent to Burford's business. Nonetheless, we have also created a culture in which the core principles of ESG are evident.

The Equity Project

The Equity Project is an award-winning initiative to improve diversity in the business of law by providing an economic incentive for change in leadership in commercial litigation and arbitration.

Since launching The Equity Project in 2018, Burford has committed over $100 million to finance commercial litigation and arbitration led by women and racially diverse attorneys.

The Equity Project gives legal departments and law firms a tool to support change:

Fortune 500 companies can incentivize law firms to put women or racially diverse litigators or arbitration lawyers on their matters and ensure the diverse lawyers working on their matters are being awarded adequate origination credit.
Law firms committed to gender and racial diversity can encourage women and racially diverse litigators to take on matters that require significant investment but offer substantial success fees.

Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy Statement

It is the policy of Burford Capital to conduct all of our business in an honest and ethical manner. Burford takes a zero-tolerance approach to bribery and corruption. We are committed to acting professionally, fairly and with integrity in all our business dealings and relationships wherever we operate; to implementing and enforcing effective systems to counter bribery; and to upholding all relevant laws, including the UK Bribery Act 2010 and the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. We have internal policies and procedures to ensure compliance and expect the same standard from those we work with.

Sustainability Policies

Sustainability policies

UK Modern Slavery Act Transparency Statement

Introduction

This statement is made pursuant to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (the MSA) and sets out the steps that the affiliated UK entities of Burford Capital Limited (Burford) have taken and will continue to take to ensure that modern slavery or human trafficking is not taking place within our business or our supply chain.

Our Business

Burford 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 and the London Stock Exchange, 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.

Our Suppliers

Given that Burford’s business relates to global finance and litigation, our involvement in global supply chains and in physical product is limited. Our suppliers include property and facility management and maintenance, office supplies, catering and hospitality services provided to our offices. However, all new vendors are assessed internally and pre-screened before any initial payment for services is remitted and screened on an ongoing basis to ensure real time notification of any potential red flags.

Our Policy

Supply Chain

In December 2021, Burford published a standalone Supply Chain Policy. This Policy applies to all Burford operations, and it defines the commitments of Burford to upholding labor standards within its supply chain.

Standards of Conduct

Each employee always has an obligation to observe and follow the company’s policies and to maintain proper standards of conduct. Standards are enumerated in the Burford Employee Handbook.

Recruitment Policy

Burford operates a robust recruitment and onboarding programme, including conducting eligibility to work for all employees to safeguard against human trafficking or employees being forced to work against their will.

Global Screening

Burford screens all prospective clients and suppliers in high-risk jurisdictions. The comprehensive screen includes a history of legal and/or regulatory enforcement as well as any negative media coverage.

Whistleblowing Policy

Burford operates a policy so that all employees know that they can raise concerns about business practices, whether the issue is internal to Burford or in relation to an external client or supplier.

Our Performance Indicators

There is no evidence of, or serious risk of, modern slavery in Burford’s business or supply chains. However, Burford will continue to stay vigilant and monitor any changes to the business or supply chains that would warrant additional scrutiny.

Staff Awareness

On at least an annual basis, Burford sends a communication reminder to all employees of their obligations to monitor and escalate any concerns related to slavery or human trafficking to Senior Management.

Approval

This statement is approved by the board of directors of Burford Capital Limited on 16 May 2023 for and on behalf of Burford, pursuant to Section 54 of the MSA.

Modern Slavery Act Statement

Sustainability Overview