Corporate Legal Counsel

Job Description

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.

The Firm has created a new position for a Corporate Counsel who will handle litigation finance and other corporate and commercial transactions, as well as a variety of other legal matters relating to, among other areas, operations, regulatory requirements, corporate structure and governance. This is an opportunity for a very smart and motivated person to carve out a unique and valued role within the Legal & Compliance team, which has a need for an additional legal expert to work hand-in-hand with our underwriting, business development, finance and operations teams. The successful candidate for this new position will become the 12th member of Burfords global Legal & Compliance team, which spans the New York and London offices in addition to Chicago.

The role will report to the Deputy General Counsel and be based in Burfords Chicago or New York office.

Company Overview

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.

Burford pays base salaries consistent with the financial services industry and favors incentive compensation to reward performance. Burford provides competitive health care benefits and a 401k matching program. Burford Capital is committed to increasing diversity and maintaining an inclusive workplace culture. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of their ethnicity, race, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status, whether or not they have a disability.

Position Requirements

Litigation Finance Transactions

Managing and closing litigation finance transactions, including drafting and negotiating term sheets; financing, security and intercreditor agreements; nondisclosure agreements; powers of attorney; escrow and control agreements; KYC documentation and various other documents and agreements as needed.

Working closely with Burfords underwriting, tax and finance teams to effectively structure, navigate, negotiate and progress transactions to successful conclusion, while minimizing legal and operational risks and ensuring positive client experiences.

Spotting tax issues and managing legal ethics requirements related to Burfords business.

Working with local counsel in non-U.S. jurisdictions on matters of security and other local law issues.

Other Corporate Transactions

Working on various corporate transactions arising in the course of Burfords rapidly evolving business, including with outside counsel if appropriate.

Other transactions the Corporate Counsel may work on include joint ventures, participations and other co-investment structures, capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions, minority investments and intra-group reorganizations.

Corporate Governance and Other Legal Matters

Drafting agreements, resolutions, policies, procedures and other documents to implement and manage internal corporate structuring needs, cash management requirements and governance initiatives.

Reviewing, preparing, negotiating and advising on NDAs and third party vendor contracts.

Advising on third party disputes and providing support as needed on litigation matters in which Burford is a party.

Assisting with the development and maintenance of form agreements, other knowledge management resources and internal guidelines.

Working effectively with Burfords finance, tax, business development, marketing and other teams to facilitate their successful functioning.

Analyzing and managing any legal issues that may arise in the conduct of Burfords constantly developing business.

Skills Desired

Qualifications & Experience

4 -6 years of corporate legal experience, including at least 4 years at a major law firm.

Top academic credentials with demonstrated career progression.

Strong background in finance and secured transactions. Additional corporate experience, such as bankruptcy or mergers & acquisitions, is also desired.

Significant exposure to cross-border transactions is a plus.

JD licensed in Illinois or New York.

Core Competencies & Skills / Personal Attributes & Fit

Superior writing and analytical ability.

Excellent interpersonal/people skills, including the ability to build relationships with highly sophisticated internal clients and to interact effectively at all levels of the organization.

Judgment and self-confidence, but also humility, open-mindedness, respect for others (regardless of position), and enthusiasm for working as a team member.

Excellent problem-solving, organizational and communication skills -- necessary to negotiate and interface with a myriad of internal and external contacts.

Highly organized, with committed work ethic and strong attention to detail; able to work independently and prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

Enterprising, highly intelligent, creative and proactive, and willing and eager to learn.

Summary

The Corporate Counsel will be a valued member of our global Legal & Compliance team and will play an important role collaborating with our underwriters and investment leadership on documenting and closing our investments and advising them and our other teams on various matters of importance to Burfords business. The person in this position will get to work with Burford team members from our offices across the globe. It is imperative that this individual have a creative business mindset, excellent professional judgment, flexibility and close attention to detail regarding documentation, as well as the ability to prioritize and multi-task in our fast-paced environment.

This position is an active lawyering role. Although there will be instances of supervising outside counsel, in the main the job is hands-on legal work. The Corporate Counsel will be low-ego, focused on results and teamwork and able to drive projects independently to completion. He/she will possess the gravitas, credentials, financial acumen, and experience to quickly understand the economic and legal dynamics of our transactions, faithfully document and negotiate them, and counsel a sophisticated group of internal clients on the unique issues they present. As Burford continues to grow and expand into new complex business areas and more global jurisdictions, this is a great opportunity for a skilled corporate transactional lawyer who enjoys novel challenges to operate at the unique intersection of finance and law.

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