Burford Capital strengthens Asia footprint with senior hire in Korea

Elizabeth J. Shin, Burford Capital's senior vice president and head of Korea / Courtesy of Burford Capital

Burford Capital, a global finance and asset management firm focused on law, has appointed Elizabeth J. Shin as senior vice president and head of Korea, signaling a further expansion of its Asia footprint, the company said Thursday.

The appointment marks Burford’s first senior hire in Korea. Shin will be based in Seoul and lead the firm’s initiatives in the country.

The strategic move underscores Burford’s commitment to supporting clients across the Asia-Pacific region and reflects growing demand for sophisticated legal finance solutions in Korea’s rapidly evolving dispute resolution market.

“Korea’s dynamic legal market, particularly its prominence in high-value patent disputes and complex commercial arbitration, presents significant opportunities for Burford,” said Quentin Pak, managing director for Asia at Burford Capital. “Korean companies are at the center of major cross-border commercial and global IP (intellectual property) matters, driving strong momentum across the Asia-Pacific region for innovative and flexible dispute finance.”

Pak added, “With Shin 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 previously served as a partner in the International Arbitration Team and Global Disputes Group at Lee & Ko. Her practice spanned multiple sectors, including intellectual property, construction, energy, shipping, automotive and shareholder disputes, and she has represented clients in international arbitrations under major institutional rules. She is also admitted to the New York State Bar.

“Joining Burford Capital presents a unique opportunity to deepen the firm’s engagement in the Korean market and support clients navigating increasingly complex cross-border matters,” Shin said. “As Korean companies become major players on the global stage, they are facing legal claims that require innovative financing tools to better manage cost, risk and enforcement. I am confident Burford’s legal analysis and investment expertise will help businesses realize the true value of their claims.”

Burford said it plans to offer Korean clients local insight combined with world-class cross-border dispute finance expertise through its established teams in Singapore, London, New York and other global financial centers.