Burford Invests in Kindleworth to Back Next-Gen Law Firms

Burford Capital has taken a minority stake in Kindleworth, a London-based consultancy that helps top lawyers launch and scale independent practices, in a deal that underscores the funder’s interest in adjacent areas of the legal economy.

The transaction, which closed in August for undisclosed terms, gives Burford a foothold in a business that has supported the creation of more than 50 firms worldwide, including Pallas Partners and Three Crowns. Kindleworth provides back-office operations, compliance, technology, and growth strategy for entrepreneurial lawyers, lowering the barriers to spinning out of established firms.

Burford said the Kindleworth stake will be immediately accretive but not material to earnings per share. With what it reports as a $7.5 billion portfolio and ties to 94 AmLaw 100 and 92 Global 100 firms, the company presented the move as a natural extension of its scale and reach. Those figures are company disclosures, and the EPS guidance reflects Burford’s own statements rather than analyst consensus.

By backing Kindleworth, Burford is effectively buying into the pipeline of new boutiques — firms that often need external capital to chase complex, high-value disputes. For funders, the bet is clear: seeding tomorrow’s law firms also means seeding tomorrow’s litigation.

“Our minority investment in Kindleworth is a prime example of that strategy in action—expanding how we deploy capital, supporting innovation and creating value beyond traditional legal finance,” said Burford Chief Development Officer Travis Lenkner.