Burford Capital, a global finance and asset management firm specializing in legal finance, has appointed Elizabeth J. Shin as Senior Vice President and Head of Korea. Based in Seoul, Shin will lead Burford’s initiatives in the country, reflecting the firm’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Shin brings extensive experience in international arbitration and complex cross-border disputes. Prior to joining Burford, she was a partner in the International Arbitration Team and Global Disputes Group at Lee & Ko, where she represented clients across sectors such as intellectual property, construction, energy, shipping, automotive, and shareholder disputes. She has handled arbitrations under major institutional rules, including the ICC, LCIA, SIAC, KCAB, and SCC, and is admitted to the New York State Bar.
Quentin Pak, Managing Director of Burford Asia, highlighted the strategic importance of this appointment: “Korea’s dynamic legal market—especially its prominence in high-value patent disputes and complex commercial arbitration—presents significant opportunities for Burford. Korean companies are at the center of major cross-border commercial and global IP matters, driving strong momentum across the Asia-Pacific region for innovative and flexible dispute finance.” He added, “With Elizabeth on the ground in Seoul, we are meaningfully deepening our footprint in this important market and enhancing our ability to support Korean clients with capital and strategic insight for high-value matters.”
Shin expressed her enthusiasm for the role: “Joining Burford Capital presents a unique opportunity to deepen Burford’s engagement in the Korean market and support clients as they navigate increasingly complex cross-border matters. As Korean companies become major players on the global stage, they are now confronting legal claims that require innovative financing tools to better manage cost, risk, and enforcement. I am confident that Burford’s legal analysis and investment expertise will help businesses realize the true value of their claims, and I look forward to collaborating with leading companies and law firms to explore ways to achieve the most desired outcomes for our clients.”
This expansion into Korea aligns with Burford’s broader strategy to double its portfolio to approximately $15 billion by 2030, in part by extending its geographic reach. The firm has been actively enhancing its global footprint, as evidenced by its recent strategic investment in Kindleworth to support the launch and expansion of next-generation law firms. This partnership combines Burford’s global reach with Kindleworth’s services to support lawyers in establishing and scaling successful practices.
Burford’s move into Korea comes amid rising interest in legal finance throughout Asia, particularly among law firms and companies facing multijurisdictional patent and commercial arbitration disputes. With established teams in Singapore, London, New York, and other global financial centers, Burford offers clients in Korea the benefit of local insight paired with world-class cross-border dispute finance expertise.