The New York and London-based commercial finance provider, which is listed on London’s Alternative Investment Market, has expanded its litigation finance footprint into Asia.

Burford Capital, a UK-listed litigation finance house, is launching in Hong Kong to meet Asia’s growing demand for litigation and arbitration financing.

The new business will initially finance litigation claims brought in connection with insolvency in Hong Kong, as well as arbitration claims in the region. It will also provide asset tracing and judgment enforcement services.

“The volume and size of complex litigation and arbitration in Asia have been growing rapidly - and with that growth has come an increasing demand for financial solutions. Burford has until now been meeting this demand from its offices in London and New York, but it is high time for Burford to be present in Hong Kong as well,” said Burford's chief executive, Christopher Bogart.

“Since its founding in 2009, Burford has earned a reputation as the world's premier litigation and arbitration finance provider, and we look forward to serving the Asian market even more actively.”

Asian insolvency expert Rupert Purser, who previously served at Hill International and PricewaterhouseCoopers, will manage the business’s local investments. Meanwhile, Burford has put together an Asia advisory board to help support the expansion. This includes chairman Denis Brock, the chair of O'Melveny & Myers' international disputes and arbitration practice and the regional head of litigation for Asia; William Stone, formerly head of the Hong Kong Commercial Court and now an arbitrator in commercial disputes; and Charles Booth, a professor of law at the University of Hawaii and previously the University of Hong Kong, known for his work on Asian law.

Last month, Burford Capital revealed that its 48 per cent year-on-year increase in income for the half year to $40.6 million was driven by the performance of its litigation investment portfolio. Chief executive Bogart discussed the potential for making money from the litigation market considering law firms do not typically issue shares (see here to read more).