5 minutes with Carrie Tendler

How did being a partner at Kobre & Kim prepare you for your role at Burford Capital?

The values of Burford Capital and Kobre & Kim are very similar.  Each firm emphasizes collaboration and innovation, high standards for success, hands-on leadership and earning their stature at the top of their respective fields. It was a seamless transition from one firm to the other. As a partner at Kobre & Kim, I learned how to think about commercial solutions as well as legal ones, to think quickly and creatively, and to problem-solve. Those skills all are serving me well at Burford.

What are some of the most challenging aspects of enforcing judgments in international cases? What advice would you offer to corporate legal departments struggling with judgment enforcement issues?

You must have a coordinated strategy. A strategy where you have lots of people in different jurisdictions doing their own thing is doomed. I’ve seen cases (not mine!) where counsels in different jurisdictions filed conflicting papers. I would also advise you to start thinking about enforcement issues early in the litigation. You don’t want to take positions in merits discovery for example that could box you in post-judgment (for example, negotiating a merits-focused protective order).

How do you envision the role of legal finance evolving over the next few years?

I expect legal finance to grow substantially over the next few years. At first, it was a novel prospect. Now, all the major corporate and law firm players both in the US and elsewhere know about legal finance and understand its availability as an option to shift some of the financial burden and risk in complex, high-value cases. I also expect those end users to become more discerning customers of legal finance, placing an increasing value on identifying a legal finance partner that has the best reputation and experience in the industry. More specifically, I think we will continue to see a growth in the use of litigation finance in the bankruptcy space.

What do you want the legal community to know about The Equity Project? What aspects of the initiative do you find particularly compelling?

The Equity Project is an initiative at Burford that earmarks funds for litigation and arbitration matters handled by traditionally underrepresented lawyers. It economically incentivizes firms to have female and racially diverse lawyers lead the cases. I have so many colleagues that have benefitted from the Equity Project. It has allowed them to take on matters that their firms otherwise would not have, to lead those matters rather than having to turn them over to someone else and to be able to land clients that otherwise might have gone elsewhere.

5... best restaurants in Westchester.

This is hard! We have some good ones!

5.  Café Alaia and Odo (tie!)

4.  Oko of Rye

3.  Inn at Pound Ridge

2.  Goosefeather

1.  Leno’s Clam Bar (total dive but amazing clams and burgers!)